The Dutch government appears to be moving ahead with plans to ban tourists from purchasing marijuana in coffeeshops. Although the Netherlands has long been known for liberal drug policies, “far-right political leaders” have spearheaded the new rules. According to a letter from Dutch health and justice ministers to the parliament, the ban is an effort to combat “nuisance and criminality associated with coffee shops and drug trafficking.”
 
Late last year the advocate general at the European Court of Justice issued a [link|http://hightimes.com/news/mike_hughes/6865|non-binding opinion] in which he concluded that Dutch cities had the right to ban foreign customers. Last week the Dutch government announced that the ban will begin at the end of this year in southern provinces and will take hold in the rest of the country in 2012.
 
Dutch citizens will still be allowed to buy marijuana in coffeeshops. However, under the new rules, citizens will have to become members of the shops and obtain a membership card by providing proof of age and residence.
 
While the government claims the ban will counteract drug trafficking and root out organized crime from the marijuana trade, many are concerned that preventing tourists from purchasing pot in coffeeshops will simply lead to an increase in the black market and “large-scale street dealing.”
 
Others, particularly in Amsterdam – which is home to some 220 coffeeshops – are concerned with the ban’s impact on tourism.
 
For the past 24 years, HIGH TIMES has held its annual Cannabis Cup in Amsterdam. The Cannabis Cup brings thousands of marijuana and hashish enthusiasts from around the world to Amsterdam in order to sample and judge the city’s best strains. While the 24th Cannabis Cup – November 20-24, 2011 – will not be affected by the ban, it is possible that the 2012 Cup will be. As a result, HIGH TIMES is encouraging all who’ve always wanted to attend the Cannabis Cup and visit Amsterdam to do so this year.
 
HIGH TIMES has just extended the Early Bird Judge’s pass deal by one month – you can now get the special Early Bird price until July 1, 2011. Head to [link|http://cannabiscup24.eventbrite.com/|cannabiscup24.eventbrite.com] for more details. We’ll have more on the looming Dutch coffeeshop ban as it develops.
 
More @ [link|http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20110527/wl_nm/us_dutch_cannabis|news.yahoo.com], [link|http://www.nydailynews.com/news/world/2011/05/28/2011-05-28_netherlands_...|nydailynews.com], & [link|http://www.dutchnews.nl/news/archives/2011/05/cannabis_cafes_set_to_beco...|dutchnews.com]