Legal & Regulatory

Amsterdam Mayor Wants to Ban Coffee Shops for Tourists

Amsterdam's Mayor, Femke Halsema, has proposed closing the city's world-famous coffee shops to the throngs of cannabis tourists. Her stated reasoning is that there is a 'worrying interdependence' between the trade in soft and hard drugs and that 'money from the lucrative cannabis trade easily ends up in hard drugs'. Of course, the move is being met with opposition, particularly from traders.

The mayor of Amsterdam, Femke Halsema, indicated last Monday in a letter addressed to the city council of the city that she wanted to temporarily ban coffee shops for tourists, and reserve the consumption of cannabis to only Dutch people.

This decision by the mayor had already been mentioned in January 2021. According to Femke Halsema, closing coffee shops would be the only option to control the local soft drug market.

For more news like this and on other hot cannabis topics, download our free cannabis news app.

Coffee Shops Claimed to Show “Worrying Interdependence” with Hard Drugs

The Dutch News newspaper reported that Femke Halsema told councilors there was a ‘worrying interdependence’ between the trade in soft and hard drugs and that ‘money from the lucrative cannabis trade easily ends up in hard drugs’.

She claims that coffee shops are at the heart of the problem, stating that “many of the major problems in the city are fueled by the cannabis market, from nuisance caused by drug tourism to serious crime and violence”.

Hundreds of Coffee Shops Closed

The mayor’s demands to close coffee shops were not unanimous, especially among traders in the capital. According to a study published by the office Breuer & Intravalune, such a measure would have serious financial consequences for coffee shops in Amsterdam, since more than three million foreign tourists visit each year.

The study also indicates that such a reduction in demand would involve the closure of around a hundred coffee shops.

Shops Forced to Break the Law

Many coffee shops risk being forced to break the law by continuing to sell cannabis to tourists if they wish to avoid bankruptcy. Finally, street dealers could probably do well by continuing to sell their products to tourists.

The Amsterdam police and public prosecutor remain convinced that the coffee shop measure is still necessary to stem the drug market in general and better regulate the cannabis market.

___

(Featured image by Andrew Hawkes via Pexels)

DISCLAIMER: This article was written by a third-party contributor and does not reflect the opinion of Hemp.im, its management, staff, or its associates. Please review our disclaimer for more information.

This article may include forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements generally are identified by the words “believe,” “project,” “estimate,” “become,” “plan,” “will,” and similar expressions. These forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks as well as uncertainties, including those discussed in the following cautionary statements and elsewhere in this article and on this site. Although the Company may believe that its expectations are based on reasonable assumptions, the actual results that the Company may achieve may differ materially from any forward-looking statements, which reflect the opinions of the management of the Company only as of the date hereof. Additionally, please make sure to read these important disclosures.

First published by CNews, a third-party contributor translated and adapted the article from the original. In case of discrepancy, the original will prevail.

Although we made reasonable efforts to provide accurate translations, some parts may be incorrect. Hemp.im assumes no responsibility for errors, omissions, or ambiguities in the translations provided on this website. Any person or entity relying on translated content does so at their own risk. Hemp.im is not responsible for losses caused by such reliance on the accuracy or reliability of translated information. If you wish to report an error or inaccuracy in the translation, we encourage you to contact us.

Valerie Harrison

Valerie Harrison is a mom of two who likes reporting about the world of finance. She learned about the value of investing at a young age upon taking over her family's textile business when she was just a teenager. Valerie's passion for writing can be traced back to working with an editorial team at her corporate job, where she spent significant time working on market analysis and stock market predictions. Her portfolio includes real estate funds, government bonds, and equities in emerging markets such as cannabis, artificial intelligence, and cryptocurrencies.

Recent Posts

DEA Hearing on Cannabis Reclassification in the United States Postponed to 2025

The DEA has postponed a key hearing on the reclassification of cannabis. The hearing was…

47 mins ago

California Opens Debate on Cannabis Potency With New Report

A new California Department of Public Health report has come out with recommendations for THC…

1 day ago

Ontario Increases Efforts to Combat Illegal Cannabis Market

Ontario is investing $31 million over the next three years to enhance efforts against illegal…

5 days ago

Hanover and Frankfurt Will Be the First German Cities to Legally Sell Cannabis for Adult Use

Frankfurt and Hanover are launching five-year pilot projects for legal, regulated cannabis sales to adults,…

6 days ago

CBD Decree Suspended By Italian Administrative Court for Third Time

Italy's Regional Administrative Court suspended the Health Ministry's decree labeling CBD as a narcotic, pending…

1 week ago

Which U.S. States Will Vote on Cannabis Legalization in November 2024?

This November, five U.S. states will vote on measures related to legalizing recreational or medical…

2 weeks ago