BAD NEWS BY KHALID STRICKLAND a.k.a. BLACK PACINO
*Sigh* This is a huge blow to my “Bucket List.”
One of my goals in life is to travel to the Netherlands and get smoked-out at Amsterdam’s famed marijuana coffee shops. But unless I beam over there right now via Star Trek transporter, that magical trip won’t happen. That’s because the Netherlands’ coalition government, which came into power last year, is toughening up on the country’s marijuana laws. One of the most disheartening changes is that tourists will be banned from their coffee shops.
My dreams were shattered when I read this in the New York Daily News today:
The Dutch government said Friday that it will ban tourists from buying marijuana from the Netherlands’ famed “coffee shops.” Under the new rules spearheaded by far-right political leaders, only Dutch citizens will be able to enter the stores, and they too will face tougher restrictions. Resident patrons will be required to sign up for a one-year membership, and each shop will have a maximum of 1,500 members, according to a justice ministry spokesman.
Critics argue the move, which should be enacted by the end of the year, could pulverize tourism. The Netherlands – particularly Amsterdam, which is home to 220 coffee shops — is known for having one of Europe’s most lenient soft drug policies. The country’s cannabis cafes have become popular attractions. There are also fears that the move will result in a black market for the drugs.
It’s ironic that the United States is taking baby steps towards decriminalizing marijuana while Amsterdam retreats in the opposite direction. The people of the Netherlands can’t be happy about this because local businesses are going to suffer. Maybe they’ll stage an Egyptian-style revolution… if they aren’t too stoned. It’s tough to riot after eating a plate of hash brownies.
One of the many factors that spurred these radical changes: 25 gangland-style killings in suburban southern Holland over the past three years. The Dutch authorities have found a “cannabis connection” to the growing violence. This past September, a hired-gun from Bulgaria assassinated two men in their twenties who had been involved with one of the thousands of cannabis “nurseries” flourishing out of sight in the attics, sheds and spare rooms of small towns – using Dutch horticultural expertise honed from years of growing tomatoes and tulips.
I would imagine that criminalizing marijuana will only increase the violence, perhaps to American levels. 25 killings over 3 years ain’t shit compared to Chicago, where there’s 25 killings every 3 days.
Amster-DAMN!!!
Gas up the plane. Gotta make a power move now!!!!!!!!!!!!!
LMAO!!! Word! Shit, I may become a Dutch citizen while I’m over there.
“I would imagine that criminalizing marijuana will only increase the violence”
Duh! Maybe you should get a job with the Dutch government. Because their seems to be a lot of fucking up over there.
This rule makes no kind of sense! Watch them be the next European country to be on the economic bailout list along with Greece, Portugal, and Ireland. I mean why else do people go the the Netherlands? Oh wait, the architecture, the museums, and the dikes. Right, right? I only know that Amsterdam is the capital. And that’s because of what it’s most popular for.
Na’mean? No disrespect to their history & culture, but I don’t think anybody goes to Amsterdam for the museums lol
Well… there’s still the Red Light District. Hopefully they don’t criminalize their hookers & brothels too.
I totally agree with you there Black. I didn’t go there to see any sites but tits and smoke weed . lol . Oh yeah and spend my money in the coffee shops.
At least you had the good fortune of visiting Amsterdam, DZ. I missed out before Weedageddon.
But my friend from Germany said him & his friend was there last week & the coffee shop owners plan to defy the law & serve tourists… they’ll pay the fine. They’d rather break the law & keep makin money, guess the fine is minor in comparison to the profits.
Thats why I love Cali…I got 4 spots in walking distance…online menus, delivery, I can use my debit card….I almost cried the first time a truly magical experience…Ive walked down the street holding a fat prescription bag smiling at lapd on my way to pick up some blunts
You just gotta rub it in my face… right, cdub?
Cali is the shit tho. Maybe one day, tourists from Amsterdam will travel to Cali & get smoked-out at the coffee shops. Maybe Roscoe’s House of Chicken & Waffles will become Roscoe’s Weed & Waffles… or Chicken & Weed.
Step by step, I suppose.
yo no lie there is one that shares the same building as a KFC. Like the front doors are two feet from each other. I cant decide if that shit is racist or pure genius…there is one that is like that with a strip club too…if you want too see what I fux with on a daily check out d9collective(dot)com.the menu is scrumptious.
wow, that sucks.. but people will always find a way to get high, laws or no laws.. they gonna be selling the weed to tourist the way the bodegas sell loosies.. on the low. Def see the crime rate going up tho. Its just another hassle for people to get around. Still on my bucket list, shit one day I just might go to visit & decide to stay over there, become a citizen & open my own shop.. thats a nice way to spend retirement, lol
“they gonna be selling the weed to tourist the way the bodegas sell loosies.. on the low”
Fa’sho. And the fines are minor compared to the profits they’ll lose by not serving tourists, so they’ll risk it.
Shit, I may become a citizen my damn self, Amsterdam was always a place I considered moving to. It’ll be like a pothead’s political asylum lol