cannabisnews.com: Amsterdam's Smokin' Coffee Shops Amsterdam's Smokin' Coffee Shops Posted by FoM on December 16, 2000 at 21:16:29 PT By Susan Breitkopf Source: Washington Post What Amsterdamers take for granted is difficult for many Americans to understand. Mayonnaise on french fries? Commuting by bicycle? Marijuana in a coffee shop?In these shops--which are more prevalent on Amsterdam streets than Starbucks outlets in the Washington area--anyone over 18 can walk in, buy a couple of grams of marijuana for about $12, roll it up with paper provided by the shop and light up. If smoking is not your thing, the shops will sell you marijuana baked into a "space cake" or brewed into a tea. And here's the oddest thing: If you choose to indulge in a cannabis product, you will be all but free from threat of arrest in the land of tulips and windmills.See if you can follow this: Drug use is legal, but possession is not. How you can smoke marijuana without possessing it is a discussion to be had between bong hits. Having less than five grams (.18 ounces) is a minor offense, kind of like jaywalking in Washington, and is rarely enforced. Coffee shops are permitted to sell the stuff, but it has to materialize out of thin air, because possession of more than five grams is a major offense. Even if it were legal to stock the shops, suppliers would need a magic wand, because it's illegal to grow it.You can buy marijuana or hashish in a coffee shop but not alcohol, although booze flows freely at Amsterdam's cafes and bars.Confused? It seems the lawmakers are, too.In the shops, you'll find people from all walks of life: locals and tourists, twentysomethings and sixtysomethings. Lest you think the country is full of stoned loafers, the Dutch economy is one of the strongest in Europe (indeed, in 1999, the economy grew more and unemployment was lower than most of its neighbors). And studies have shown that marijuana use is lower in the Netherlands than in the United States (15.6 percent of Dutch people admit to having used marijuana in their lifetime vs. 32.9 percent in the United States).In the 25 years since Amsterdam liberalized its drug policy, many coffee shops have cropped up on these narrow streets and winding canals, though their number is dwindling. From small and intimate holes-in-the-wall to international chains, every smoker can have their favorite.The Grasshopper (Oudebrugsteeg 16), near Amsterdam's main train station, is many visitors' first stop or primary destination. Crowded with American college students and a smattering of young Europeans looking for a good time, the Grasshopper resembles a Georgetown bar on a Saturday night.Kandinsky (Rosemarijnsteeg 9) is a small local favorite with comfortable couches and an approachable staff. Besides the standard marijuana and hash selections, the chocolate chip cookies are reason enough to visit.The Bulldog is the McDonald's of coffee shops, with seven branches in Amsterdam (main location: Leidseplein 13-17), a bike rental service and a budget hotel, as well as restaurants in Vancouver, Canada, and Ibiza, Spain. Nary a native in site, tourists seem to stop here to gawk and smoke after buying wooden shoes and clicking pictures of windmills.Off bustling Leidseplein, De Rokerij (Lange Leidsedwarsstraat 41) has a decidedly "Arabian Nights" feel, with lots of candles, mats on the floor and intricately carved chairs. Packed and loud with an unfriendly staff, this coffee shop is not for the uninitiated. The crowd is less mainstream and more experienced than Bulldog's and the Grasshopper's.Of course, if these spots don't seem like your cup of tea, don't worry: You can also get coffee in a coffee shop.--Susan BreitkopfFor more information on Amsterdam's coffee shops, contact the Netherlands Board of Tourism at 888-464-6552: http://www.holland.com/Source: Washington Post (DC) Author: Susan BreitkopfPublished: Sunday, December 17, 2000 Address: 1150 15th Street NorthwestWashington, DC 20071© 2000 The Washington Post Company Contact: letterstoed washpost.comWebsite: http://www.washingtonpost.com/Feedback: http://washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/edit/letters/letterform.htm Related Articles:Blowing Dutchhttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread7979.shtmlThe Real Sin City of Amsterdam http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread7113.shtml Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help Comment #17 posted by PARVEZ on August 09, 2002 at 16:37:30 PT: Weekend in Amsterdam just got back from Amsterdam. just wicked. plenty of draw/hash. stoned for 3 days. My friends say i went to Amsterdam but i cant remember............. [ Post Comment ] Comment #16 posted by oliver stoned on June 20, 2001 at 15:22:33 PT: Tcherno hash and low weed Hello, i'm french. Here in france it's the same: "Tchernobyl hash" and very low weed... The only solution is Netherlands or Switzerland.... The vegetal's page [ Post Comment ] Comment #15 posted by adam leblanc on March 23, 2001 at 09:18:52 PT: pictures Please send some Pics of buds. And please send some pics of hookas, bongs, pipes, etc. [ Post Comment ] Comment #14 posted by Big Dan on March 23, 2001 at 01:31:53 PT: bored of english skunk ui need some decent amsterdam skunk iam bored of the english shit we get over here.well as for are hash you mayswell smoke keroseen its absoult shit i need help [ Post Comment ] Comment #13 posted by chris on February 19, 2001 at 22:25:22 PT: visiting amsterdam I am going to amsterdam in april or may. ALthough, i am not sure if this is a good time to go. are there good times to visit amsterdam, if so, when; This will be my first time there. What should i know when i get there? [ Post Comment ] Comment #12 posted by Lemming on February 14, 2001 at 11:26:19 PT: Amsterdam Coffeeshops For further info on Amsterdam's Coffeeshops please check out the Amsterdam Coffeeshop Directory at:www.coffeeshop.freeuk.com Amsterdam Coffeeshop Directory [ Post Comment ] Comment #11 posted by jimi on January 11, 2001 at 23:12:49 PT: land of the free my a** i was talking to a guy from Germany that the company i work for called in because of a problem the other day. he was there for nearly a week before i saw him say a word to anyone. then all of a sudden, outta the blue, he said where is all this "freedom" that i hear of in Amerika? i said wha... but before i could finish he let off. he'd obviously had a run in with one of our local cops the nite before when he decided that he was thirsty for some good 'ole american brew. the cop didn't recognize the car as being local (very small county), followed him back to the hotel and sat in wait for him across the street. bubba just knew he had him a dope smuggler.to make a long tirade short, the guy just wanted to kick back and have a few brewskis before retiring. he just didn't know that you can't let anyone see you drink them. he was busted and searched for having an open container on private property in public view, huh?to top it off he was busted the next morning on the way to work (about three miles) for not wearing his seat belt.needless to say this peed him off! he was wondering where all the "freedom" is? he said that in his country, Germany, you can pop a top and walk anywhere you dang well please. and as far as the seat belt thing, he said that they didn't even have speed limits much less were required to wear seat belts. he said that as long as we keep getting spoonfed here in Amerika, and that as long as we were TOLD that the economy was going well, and we weren't relegated to abject poverty, that we would just keep truckin' along at our 9 to 5's and be happy. he even told me that most of us that are registered to vote didn't go to vote this presidential election. hoo damn rah! he certainly hit the nail on the head. when we as Americans can't sit back and take in a lungfull to take the edge off the day, we are in the prison of our own making.this country ceased being a country for the people a long time ago. we sold it to the highest bidder, and they bought it. ever pay attention to the way the Powers behind all buy and sell third world countries for a bowl of rice?the communists said it a long time ago... that they would take over this country... with our permission... that they would take it without firing a shot...that while we thought all was well they would pluck us like a ripe fruit.none of us should gripe a bit when the united nations slides into our country and takes over our police force. after all Clinton has already given it to them. our Constitution is no more, we are already under totalitarian rule. just go to your favorite search engine and type in Executive Orders- Clinton. You will see just how much of this country Clinton has given away while we were all asleep at the wheel. he did say when he very first took office that his administration would be one run by executive order. he wasn't lying. go ahead and type in New World Order- United Nations just for general purposes. you'll have to weed thru the extreme fundanentalist crap, but there's a lot of good research gone into where this country is headed. if anywhere. we're surrounded. and we sold them the poles to put up the fence with. if i'm free, then i have a right to own my property without paying taxes. if i'm free then i have a right to drive my car with out a tag or inspection sticker. if i'm free then who cares if i kill myself while driving down the road without a seat belt? if i'm free why can't i smoke any weed that grows in the dang ditch that i well please. if you're free, why can't you? the links a joke, but relevant and truejimi http://www.infowars.com [ Post Comment ] Comment #10 posted by Stripey on December 19, 2000 at 22:54:14 PT And. . . Thanks FF. . . forgot to say so. . . [ Post Comment ] Comment #9 posted by Stripey on December 19, 2000 at 22:53:40 PT You know. . . For "The land of the free," The government sure takes a helluva lot away from us. . . damned beurocrats. . . [ Post Comment ] Comment #8 posted by freedom fighter on December 18, 2000 at 19:59:09 PT well munojelly Dutch probably thought that McBizzare was tripping on something when he said tat. :) Dutch also probably think that the americans are so loco that whatever they have to say probaby goes from one ear to another. :) Dutch probably are in awe with the fact that in the land of free, we have put several people in prison for life because they had a cannabis seed in their cars.Hey, Stripey, you look so darn good in RED! I would'nt blame you if you take off! Be safe! [ Post Comment ] Comment #7 posted by Stripey on December 18, 2000 at 10:02:34 PT God Bless Amsterdam! Screw America. I'm getting tired of the politics here anyways. . . I'm just about willing to give up my guns and my chances at Hollywood (I'm an actor) for the opportunity to get high without getting busted, ruined, embarassed, or shot. [ Post Comment ] Comment #6 posted by mungojelly on December 17, 2000 at 19:20:36 PT: go dutch! If the dutch and amerikan models of cannabis prohibition come into contact, it is the dutch model which will win. No amount of lecturing about the evils of marihuana could possibly overcome direct contact with the experience of freedom. (The best that the McCzar could do to fight against the danger of the dutch was to flatly lie about their country.) We need to open lines of communication between amerika and the netherlands. I think if the dutch understood what is going on here in amerika, they would be more vocal in criticizing our drug policy. Anyone here who is in contact with nederlanders, make sure they understand what is going on! Encourage them to share with amerikans their experience of living in a country with liberal laws -- laws that are respected by the people. [ Post Comment ] Comment #5 posted by ras james RSIFWH on December 17, 2000 at 13:20:43 PT RELIGIOUS FREEDOM the day the rastaman can buy and or grow the holy herb without any threat of arrest by law officials from the united states of america...yes that day will be the day true religious freedom is finally achieved in this country...the TREE OF LIFE can not be chopped down by the world's only supper power. a NATURAL MYSTIC has entered america's political winds...so rastas cast your sails to the ALMIGHTY'S WIND; and give all praise and thanks to JAH RASTAFARI. [ Post Comment ] Comment #4 posted by michael on December 17, 2000 at 07:45:09 PT: Both are served, or were. Dutch Flowers on Herengraugt has bud and brew, or they did in 1995:-) [ Post Comment ] Comment #3 posted by kaptinemo on December 17, 2000 at 07:35:14 PT: She forgot one important thing Namely, the absence of drunken, bellicose louts seeking to pummel senseless their drinking companions - before said companions get the same idea. Very refreshing, indeed, from the behavior found in most American bars immediately after payday.I've been to Holland 4 times, and just fifteen minutes worth of soaking up the atmosphere you find in Amsterdam tells you several things about the US method of drug control.First, plain and simple, Americans been lied to from the git-go. Nearly everyone I met, in nearly every coffeeshop I visited, was polite, friendly (they couldn't get over that an American my age would share a pipe with them... nor could they believe the horror stories I told them about the US DrugWar), fairly well heeled... a far cry from the shambling, destitute, slavering murderous wrecks that Barry described the denizens of these shops as being. Walking into the Grasshopper on a Friday evening was like walking into a combination block-party and carnival. Well lit, an upbeat staff, laughter, music...and no fights. Jokes being told in every language (but you wouldn't believe how many people speak excellent English) and everybody getting along...even the soccer enthusiasts.(Oh, sure, there are some hard drug addicts and dealers in Amsterdam. And they can spot a tourist a mile away. Some are quite inventive with their spiels to try to con you out of a few bucks for their next fix. But they are - thankfully! - a minority. Wave them off, and they'll look elsewhere. And they know they are not welcome at the coffeeshops; the propietors generally take a dim view of hard dealing.)Secondly, one of the first things you notice is the distinct absence of police uniforms. And when you *do* see one, that's just it...usually just one. Solo. Walking the streets, chatting with people, patiently answering questions from tourists like me, occasionally telling some really messed up person where they can find the nearest shelter. I've been there several times, and only saw a cop arrest someone once: a shoplifter. And the kid didn't put up much of a fight; he *knew better*. Dutch society may be tolerant of some things, but not real crime, and the Dutch police are hell on wheels when it comes to dealing with hard core criminals. No armored cars rumbling down the streets, no 'no-knock' warrants, no cops decked out as Darth Vader wannabes smashing doors in. Cops are respected in Holland...but for all the *right* reasons.Thirdly, even when you figure in the currency exchange rates, the stuff is cheap. Good quality at (relatively) low prices. Few of these establishment owners are getting rich, friends. And the stuff would be cheaper still, if the owners didn't have to get it through the 'back door'.In short, one day in Amsterdam will tell you just how stupidly wrong the American DrugWar is. The Netherlands isn't Nirvana...but it comes close enough for me. [ Post Comment ] Comment #2 posted by FoM on December 16, 2000 at 22:15:49 PT Cool Isn't It? Hi military officer guy! Good to see you! I thought the same thing and they even supplied the reference to http://www.holland.com/ I love it!Peace, FoM! [ Post Comment ] Comment #1 posted by military officer guy on December 16, 2000 at 22:04:52 PT washington post? this couldn't have come from the post...actually this is like the 3rd good article i've read from the w.post...the wall is coming down, i can smell it...we can win this war... [ Post Comment ] Post Comment Name: Optional Password: E-Mail: Subject: Comment: [Please refrain from using profanity in your message] Link URL: Link Title: