Too Many Tourists

Attracted by the relatively tolerant Dutch approach to drugs, foreigners are eager to visit the Netherlands and spend their money there, especially at the "coffee shops" that sell cannabis. But as the Drug War Chronicle reports, some Dutch officials seem determined to view the influx of "drug tourists" as a problem rather than an opportunity.

Comments

[Evan Williams]

The massive foreign patronage of the coffee shops in Maastricht has resulted in problems ranging from chronic traffic jams

Chronic traffic jams? Were they trying to be funny? Most places would be jumping for joy if a new tourism industry brought an influx of paying tourists. In fact, most places have massive taxpayer-funded tourism propaganda machines trying to bring people to their respective boring-assed towns. And this is a problem?

to illicit hard drug sales,

Oh, yes, yes, because, as we all know, in countries where marijauna is illegal (like the US), illicit hard drugs are never sold nor bought. Yep, let's attribute this to marijuana.

unlicensed "one kilo" houses where buyers seeking more than a personal stash can score,

And the difference between this, and going from shop to shop and accumulating a stash, is...?

and a raft of unregulated small-scale home grown operations, with all their attendant dangers.

Like, what? Growlamps catching your clothes on fire? Insect infestations? Seems to me, the most "attendant" dangers of home-grow ops come from government agents who try to lock up the growers and ruin their lives because they don't like the devil weed. This seems more like a complaint from the gubmint because they're not getting to collect their shakedown taxes. Dangerous, indeed.

[Luke Thomas]

My brother lives in London and was traveling through the Netherlands so he decided to buy some White Widow weed that was COVERED in crystals. Apparently it was the Cannibus Cup Winner for 2003.

That's it. I don't have a story or some psuedo-intellectual point. I just think that fucking awesome.

[Ruthless]

Lets see...
The Ohio Department of Tourism is trying to figure out how to attract tourists. So Ohio raises the tax on beer.

huh?

[Mr. Nice Guy]

Luke:

Best post ever 🙂

[kwais]

Ohio should legalize weed. Tourism guaranteed to the point of traffic jams.

[Rich Ard]

I don't know, kwais; if it were legalized, I might not have to leave the house as often to go on a trip.

[JSM]

...White Widow weed that was COVERED in crystals. Apparently it was the Cannibus Cup Winner for 2003.

I was a "judge" that year and worked a friend's booth at the expo. The Cup winner was from Greenhouse Coffeeshop and it wasn't the White Widow. I can't exactly remember the strain name (it was that good!), but I remember it was a cross between the Jack Herer and Northern Lights, both excellent strains and done well with the Greenhouse grower Arzan (pronounced are-shan). Second place went to Budha's Sister from Barney's Coffeeshop which is a cross of white widow and your various haze strains. It may have been that one and it actually was my favorite as well. A good enegry strain, fun to party with, it would also be excellent medical grade since the consumer can function very well after lighting up.

That's it. I don't have a story or some psuedo-intellectual point. I just think that fucking awesome.

Ditto for me as well! By the way, if you ever catch the documentary Weed, the couple with the dread locks are my folks.

[Mr. Nice Guy]

"Tell me, who wouldn't want to lie on Coronado Beach with a spliff and a beer to relax after a few hours of poker?"

- and getting your back rubbed by a grade-A call girl.

That would add another 5 billion for the coffers.

[Luke Thomas]

JSM,

I might have to make you my new best friend.

[kwais]

Mo,
I'd rather y'all not legalize gambling. I am from Reno, NV, and I like all the income that we get from the millions of Californicators that cross the border to spend their money in NV.

But I think our legalized prostitution would do fine without the CA dudes.

So by all means legalize weed and prostitution.

[thoreau]

Mo-

Sounds good to me. Those who want to can complain that it's wrong to tax drugs, gambling, and prostitution. But if it's a choice between the status quo vs. legalizing those things, taxing them, and abolishing all other taxes, well, sign me up!

That's basically the platform that Larry Flynt ran for governor on. And I'm proud to say that I voted for him. He finished 7th out of 130 or so candidates, which is better than Badnarik finishing 4th out of 6 candidates.

Pretty sad when Flynt is the most "successful" candidate that I've voted for in recent years.

[JSM]

Luke

The best thing about the coffeeshops in the Netherlands is the ability to meet a stranger and 10 minutes later be best friends. As mentioned on the wifi/coffe house thread, I tend to be a bit anti-social here in the states but am very open and agreeable in Amsterdam. Its a great culture over there, the puritans don't like to see you light up, but they don't here too.

[dhex]

the worst thing about amsterdam is the stereotypical tourists. it's like jackass fratboy central at certain times of the year.

[B.P.]

I spent a week in the Red Light district in Amsterdam one time. The thing I couldn't get over was the number of parents with kids in tow wandering around during the day. Seeing little 8 and 10 year old Sven and Bridgitte staring at women behind glass and graphic porn shop window displays was something.

[free form]

"The Ohio Department of Tourism is trying to figure out how to attract tourists. So Ohio raises the tax on beer."

Yeah, Ruthless--totally wrong direction. Meigs County would experience a complete economic recovery if tourists could come and buy their weed legally.

[Ruthless]

An old friend of mine got an exclamation point OFFICIALLY added after the name of the town of Hamilton!, OH.
Building on that I've been persistently giving my address as Sinincincinnati.
You may want to try something like that with where you live.

[varangy]

- and getting your back rubbed by a grade-A call girl.

That wouldn't be all she'd be rubbing, my friend.

LOL.

[John David Galt]

As I've heard it, the Dutch have designed their whole street system to put bicycles first and cars last. If they have traffic jams, blame the idiots who came up with that policy.

I hope Reason will do more to bash "Smart Growth" before it gets impossible to drive here in California.

[Ruthless]

John David Galt,
Do you know what makes it impossible to drive anywhere in the world?
Traffic lights.
Don't get me started.

[kevrob]

Wouldn't a Dutch law requiring discrimination against non-residents in the coffee houses be violative of the EU's rules if it were applied against the Germans, French, etc.?

Kevin

[Mr. Nice Guy]

Ruthless:

No traffice lights? ANARCHY!!

(or are you saying they're not calibrated correctly, because if so, don't GET ME started!)