Keen to stub out an era of dope tourism, the Netherlands has started restricting cannabis sales in the country’s south to residents only, despite opposition from pro-pot lobby groups.
Famous for decades for its laid-back attitude to marijuana, the Netherlands will now require so-called coffee shops in some regions to only sell to signed-up members who live in the country.
The tougher rules, set to take effect nationwide from next year, turn coffee shops into private clubs with no more than 2 000 members who must be over 18 and legal residents of the country.
Starting yesterday in three provinces, coffee shops had to turn away those without the so-called “cannabis cards”, which allow locals and foreigners living in the country to enter and light up.
A last-minute challenge seeking to declare the law discriminatory by coffee shop owners failed last week. Coffee shop owners say the ban will cut into profits.
But many locals welcomed the change, saying they have had enough of traffic jams, nocturnal disturbances and drug pushers catering to the millions of foreigners drawn by the relaxed laws.
The southern city of Maastricht said last week that it was ready to enforce the legislation.
The city warned that violators faced administrative sanctions, including having their business shut down.
Despite this, some coffee shops signalled that they intended to break the law. – Sapa-AFP