Thirty of Holland's biggest cities are in favor of legal cannabis production.

April 27, 2005

A new cannabis debate lit up in the Netherlands Wednesday as the country's largest cities called for production of the drug to be legalized. Such a move is likely to further frustrate neighbor Germany.

A telephone poll of the 30 biggest cities in the Netherlands published in the Trouw daily showed that a majority of the cities are in favor of legalizing, under strict conditions, the production of cannabis.

Despite the growing call from local authorities, the government stood firm on its stricter policy towards soft drugs, in a country where cannabis use and sale have been decriminalized for three decades.

"If we are having problems because of our liberal drugs policy than somebody should explain to me how these problems are going to go away if we go even further with our liberal policies," Justice Minister Piet Hein Donner said during a parliamentary debate on Wednesday.

During the debate, several parties including the opposition Labour party called for the government to regulate cannabis production. Even the parliamentary faction of the governing VVD liberal party called for a legalization of cannabis production within the European Union.

Legal production a lure for German smokers?

Even raising the debate to parliamentary level is likely to further frustrate neighbor Germany which continues to struggle with the amount of German citizens crossing the border for the sole purpose of getting legally stoned.

German Interior Minister Otto Schily has often clashed with Donner over the subject of the Dutch coffee shops, establishments which legally sell cannabis and other so-called soft drugs over the counter.

Schily, a vehement opponent of the Dutch attitude to soft drugs, has urged his counterpart to close the coffee shops, saying that the sale of any drugs advocated their use. And while there has been ground given on the subject of joint police patrols along the two countries’ shared border in a bid to combat drug trafficking and the possible sale of cannabis to Dutch nationals only, there is still conflict over the Dutch attitude on its own soil and its consequences.

Dutch say Germans should mind their own

But Donner argues that the Dutch drug policy and the existence of coffee shops offered Dutch authorities an opportunity to keep a close check on drug use. “Even though I understand the German opinion on the question of coffee shops, I must say that it is a question for the Dutch and not a problem for our neighbors,” he said at a heated summit with Schily in Berlin in 2003.

Since 1976, the Netherlands have decriminalized the sale and use of cannabis in so called coffee-shops. A typically Dutch invention, these special cafes are authorized to sell up to five grams (one sixth of an ounce) of cannabis to people over 18. Production of cannabis remains illegal as do hard drugs like cocaine and heroin.

Any moves to decriminalize the production of cannabis in the Netherlands is likely to cause further friction with Schily unlikely to shift on his stance that the availability of drugs in Holland promotes drug tourism among Germans and, on a wider scale, encourages the illegal drug trade in Europe.

Regulation would solve legal problems, say mayors

The mayors of the major Dutch cities, including Maastricht and Amsterdam, argue that a regulated production of cannabis would solve many of the problems connected with illegal cannabis plantations, the main source for the underworld trade.

"The drugs policy is schizophrenic because although it is legal for coffee-shops to sell cannabis, the production is illegal. It is like telling a baker that he can sell bread but is not allowed to buy flour," Maastricht mayor Christian Democrat Gerd Leers told AFP recently.

Dutch border towns like Maastricht and Heerlen receive over a million so-called drugs tourists each year. These tourists, mostly from France, Belgium and Germany, come to the Netherlands to buy cannabis.

To combat illegal cannabis plantations in people's attics and basements, the mayors call for a regulated and controlled production of cannabis for sale in coffee-shops.

Legal production will not cure ills, says Donner

But Donner dismissed the argument, saying that the legalization of cannabis production would solve neither the problems of drugs tourism or of illegal growing. "How will we get one drugs tourist less by regulating cannabis production for sale in coffee-shops?" Donner asked the parliament.

Moreover, he argued, illegal cannabis plantations in Maastricht alone grow more drugs than are consumed in the city's coffee-shops. "Regulating the cultivation for coffee-shops will barely have a noticeable effect on the existing illegal production," Donner said in a letter sent to parliament Wednesday.

Although the government wants to uphold the Dutch model that distinguishes between the soft drug, cannabis, which it says poses limited health risks and hard drugs, which pose "unacceptable risks", it wants to curtail drugs tourism.

Donner is also in favor of a reduction of the number of coffee-shops which already fell from 1179 in 1997, to 754 in 2003. According to the Dutch justice ministry, citing scientific research, the existence of coffee-shops has not led to a rise in cannabis consumption. Cannabis consumption among people aged 15 to 65 is lower in the Netherlands than in France, Britain or the United States.

Copyright: 2005 DW

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I can by a jug of Everclear...a carton of Pall Malls. Absolute poison. But the gov isn't saving me from myself there. Kids are huffing spraypaint. Are they going to ban - regulate spraypaint?

I understand what's your main focus and priorities!

I'm also focusing on Cannabis legalization first, but I still think that Prohibition=Corruption and that ALL drugs should be a health issue and not a judicial one.

I also want to say that I'm very proud of your work and great Cannabis activism FoM..BRAVO!

Take care dear Friend!

Marc

This one is for all the reformers in NL

How are you going to replace all that money from taxes on pot you currently enjoy? The same substance you hate and want to get rid of.

Maybe you could forgo your paychecks while you tell everyone your going to reduce education spending to pay for the drug war you just created that should go over well.

About 2 years ago and before, I was only against cannabis prohibition too, but some people in the CCC Yahoo group made me see the light in realizing that ALL the drug prohibition is bad and a horrible solution.

You know that there are some "legal" pharmaceutical drugs that are far worse or as dangerous as "street drugs" don't you FoM?

Drugs are drugs, and whether they are legal or not, if people want them, they will get them.

How many people die with bad street drugs?

If our governments would legalize ALL drugs, the quality of these drugs would be regulated and ONLY consenting adults could buy them.

Our government would also generate billions of dollars of much needed revenues in these sales, taxpayers would save billions of dollars in the justice and incarceration systems, our Police forces would have more tax dollars focused or real crimes like rapes, child abuse, etc., and it would surely end most of organised crime..so we would live in a safer society.

All the drug corruption would end also.

Like booze and tobacco, most of ALL drugs would be out of the hands of most school kids too..because of regulation.

Remember that even if ALL pharmaceutical drugs are "legal", it doesn't mean that they are ALL safe and that no one can abuse them.

By the exception of cannabis, some illegal drugs if misused or overused can be as toxic as well..even tobacco which is legal!

Proper drug awareness should be part of our educational system, but taught by our teachers with the TRUTH and not by cops with disinformation.

There will always be some people experimenting with drugs FoM and Friends..whether they are legal or not.

Some will abuse, go out of control and even die, but most that will experiment with different drugs don't "stick" there and they survive...again it doesn't make a difference if the "drug" is legal or not.

But the consequences of drug prohibition actually destroys more reputations and lives than helping anyone...and it certainly made us waste too many tax dollars for too many years and for nothing!

Marc

It's unfortunate to say that "jealousy" is one of the main cause for discord, hatred and war in this world, but it's a negative feeling that I never experienced.

If the US administration want to do something good for US and the world, they should end prohibition (all kinds) right now!

Today, because of drug prohibition, and just like during alcohol prohibition, we have some drug-corrupted politicians, judges, lawyers, cops, etc.

And while these corrupted people enjoy being above and manipulating the laws, hundreds of thousands of Americans and people around the world are in jails or being "EXECUTED" for the same offenses or less!

And how many permanently ill people all over the world could have their quality of life improved and extended if it wouldn't be of cannabis prohibition?

Prohibition=Corruption...always had and always will!

We must put an end to this nonsense NOW before more innocent people die when some of their "leaders" have a "good time"!

Marc

Marc

I think there is a percentage of Americans, red staters if you will, that due to lack of self esteem or whatever, are intimidated by intelligence. Hence the derogotory statements you hear from some conservatives about liberal, intellectual elitists.

I think this certain percentage of Americans is intimidated by the idea of a thinking man, an intelligent man, a bright president.

These people much prefer someone in their own image, going on blind faith rather than critical thought and intelligence.

But then, I'm just being a liberal elitist. The intelligence part is all relative.

Let's not be blind in this whole matter, OK? LOL lmao

ALL of Canada and the world (except US)know that Mr Dubya "*******" in the 2 last elections.

Let's not forget that it was only 51% of Americans that voted for him in the last elections! LOL lmao...and I'm blowing a "f""t" for anyone saying that the whole process was "clean".

He's a dictator and he's there until the end...or whoever decides to replace him...you have an idea who that might could be.

Marc

That's great news to find out what the Dutch mayors think about cannabis, but is it also their government's opinion?

Is the Dutch government majorly in favor of cannabis legalization in their country?

Are there ANY possible obstacles they could face from Mr Dubya's fascist administration if they would even "think" of legalizing cannabis?

Believe me, ANY countries which are seriously considering going against the US drug policies (or ANY other policies as a matter of fact)will end out in trouble!

Marc

On the contrary, it is better to have illegal grow operations using pirated electricity. It keeps down the cost of killer bud to 480 dollars an ounce. So what if a house burns down here and there every once in a while. Big deal, cannabis is illegal and there ain't no changin' that.

Over-taxed citizens must continue to pay for a feckless drug war at a cost of tens and hundreds of billions of dollars. Cannabis must remain illegal and prohibition of the plant must continue. It can't be any other way. Let them take Prozac.

Why should the Netherlands be allowed to be free to do what we, the powers that be, don't want them to do? Time to put the screws to Shell Oil.

There ain't no good news anymore.

April 27, 2005

AMSTERDAM — The Cabinet has reaffirmed its opposition to setting up a cannabis boulevard in border regions where coffeeshops can be established en masse, claiming it is undesirable in the campaign against drugs tourism.

Justice Minister Piet Hein Donner and Democratic Reform Minister Alexander Pechtold made the announcement during an emergency debate about the nation's soft drugs policy with MPs on Wednesday.

Pechtold landed himself in hot water on Monday when he came out in favour of cannabis boulevards, a plan proposed by Maastricht Mayor Gerd Leers to combat inner city drugs problems.

The Democrat D66 minister said it could be an interim solution, but his remarks ran contrary to the coalition government accord. He is also an advocate of the European-wide legalisation of soft drugs.

Minister Donner — who is doggedly waging a crackdown on coffeeshops and drug problems — subsequently met with Pechtold on Tuesday and said after the meeting that the two ministers did not have a difference of opinion.

The joint statement on Wednesday also said that legalising soft drugs in the Netherlands is not an option.

The ministers said if municipal councils want to move coffeeshops to city limits, it is their responsibility to decide and arrange this. But both Donner and Pechtold are opposed to "concentrated locations" of coffeeshops.

The statement comes after reports that a majority of the mayors of the 30 largest Dutch cities support the legalisation of cannabis.

Twenty of the 30 mayors — including the mayors of Amsterdam, Leeuwarden, Utrecht, Lelystad, Deventer and Tilburg — are in favour of legalising cannabis.

Four of the mayors backed a crackdown on illegal cannabis cultivation, while six were unavailable or refused to comment, newspaper Trouw reported on Tuesday.

Utrecht Mayor Annie Brouwer pointed to current fire risks, tension in residential area and the illegal tapping of electricity as reason for setting up a regulated cannabis industry.

The current policy of tolerating the sale of cannabis but outlawing its cultivation has led to criticism that the regulations are contradictory.

A new survey by pollster Maurice de Hond found that 49 percent of Dutch people support the legalisation of cannabis, while one-third would prefer stricter laws. Some 63 percent are opposed to people cultivating cannabis in their home.

Copyright Expatica News + ANP 2005

MPP The Marijuana Policy Project is pleased to announce the talent line-up for their 10th Anniversary Fundraising Gala in Los Angeles on May 9, http://www.mpp.org/releases/nr20050407.html Talk show host Montel Williams is serving as the honorary chair of the event.