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| Dutch government decrees that all cannabis cafes are off-limits to tourists | Dutch government decrees that all cannabis cafes are off-limits to tourists |
| (about 6 hours later) | |
| Long famous for "coffee shops" where joints and cappuccinos share the menu, the Netherlands' famed tolerance for drugs could be going up in smoke. | Long famous for "coffee shops" where joints and cappuccinos share the menu, the Netherlands' famed tolerance for drugs could be going up in smoke. |
| A judge on Friday upheld a government plan to ban non-Dutch residents from buying cannabis by introducing a "weed pass" available only to residents. | A judge on Friday upheld a government plan to ban non-Dutch residents from buying cannabis by introducing a "weed pass" available only to residents. |
| The regulation reins in one of the best known symbols of the country's reputation of tolerance. | The regulation reins in one of the best known symbols of the country's reputation of tolerance. |
| For many tourists visiting Amsterdam, smoking a joint in a canalside coffee shop ranks alongside visiting the Van Gogh Museum on their must-do list. | For many tourists visiting Amsterdam, smoking a joint in a canalside coffee shop ranks alongside visiting the Van Gogh Museum on their must-do list. |
| Friday's ruling by a judge at The Hague district court clears the way for the weed pass to be introduced in southern provinces on 1 May. | Friday's ruling by a judge at The Hague district court clears the way for the weed pass to be introduced in southern provinces on 1 May. |
| The new law, which will turn coffee shops into private clubs with membership open only to Dutch residents and limited to 2,000 per shop – will roll out in the rest of the country, including Amsterdam, next year. | The new law, which will turn coffee shops into private clubs with membership open only to Dutch residents and limited to 2,000 per shop – will roll out in the rest of the country, including Amsterdam, next year. |
| Amsterdam mayor Eberhard van der Laan is hoping to hammer out a compromise with the national government. | Amsterdam mayor Eberhard van der Laan is hoping to hammer out a compromise with the national government. |
| Coffee shops are also resisting the change. Maurice Veldman, a lawyer representing owners, said he would file an appeal against the ruling. | Coffee shops are also resisting the change. Maurice Veldman, a lawyer representing owners, said he would file an appeal against the ruling. |
| The most recent figures from the government say the country has more than 650 coffee shops, 214 of them in Amsterdam. | The most recent figures from the government say the country has more than 650 coffee shops, 214 of them in Amsterdam. |
| The number has been steadily declining with the imposition of tougher regulations, such as closing shops close to schools. | |
| But the new membership rules are the most significant move in many years. | But the new membership rules are the most significant move in many years. |
| The government argues that it needs to crack down on so-called "drug tourists" – effectively couriers who drive over the border from neighbouring Belgium and Germany to buy large amounts of cannabis, which they resell at home. | The government argues that it needs to crack down on so-called "drug tourists" – effectively couriers who drive over the border from neighbouring Belgium and Germany to buy large amounts of cannabis, which they resell at home. |
| They are said to cause traffic and public order problems in towns along the Dutch border. | They are said to cause traffic and public order problems in towns along the Dutch border. |
| Such issues do not exist in Amsterdam, where most tourists walk or ride bikes and buy drugs purely for their own consumption. | Such issues do not exist in Amsterdam, where most tourists walk or ride bikes and buy drugs purely for their own consumption. |
| City spokeswoman Tahira Limon said the weed pass "doesn't solve any problems we have here and it could create new problems". | City spokeswoman Tahira Limon said the weed pass "doesn't solve any problems we have here and it could create new problems". |
| She said four to five million tourists visit Amsterdam each year and about 23% say they visit a coffee shop during their stay. | She said four to five million tourists visit Amsterdam each year and about 23% say they visit a coffee shop during their stay. |
| Amsterdam argues that the reasons coffee shops were first tolerated decades ago are still relevant – they are well-regulated havens where people can buy soft drugs without coming into contact with dealers of hard drugs such as heroin and cocaine. | Amsterdam argues that the reasons coffee shops were first tolerated decades ago are still relevant – they are well-regulated havens where people can buy soft drugs without coming into contact with dealers of hard drugs such as heroin and cocaine. |
| Coffee shops cannot serve alcohol or sell drugs to people under 18. | Coffee shops cannot serve alcohol or sell drugs to people under 18. |
| The government said on Friday that there would be no exceptions to the new rules. "Amsterdam will also have to enforce this policy," said Job van de Sande, a spokesman for the ministry of security and justice. | The government said on Friday that there would be no exceptions to the new rules. "Amsterdam will also have to enforce this policy," said Job van de Sande, a spokesman for the ministry of security and justice. |
| The conservative Dutch government said it wants the shops to revert to what they were originally intended to be: small local stores selling to local people. | The conservative Dutch government said it wants the shops to revert to what they were originally intended to be: small local stores selling to local people. |
| However, the Dutch government collapsed this week and new elections are scheduled for September. It is unclear whether the new administration will keep the new measures in place. | However, the Dutch government collapsed this week and new elections are scheduled for September. It is unclear whether the new administration will keep the new measures in place. |
| Veldman called Friday's court ruling a political judgment. He said: "The judge completely fails to answer the principal question: Can you discriminate against foreigners when there is no public order issue at stake?" | Veldman called Friday's court ruling a political judgment. He said: "The judge completely fails to answer the principal question: Can you discriminate against foreigners when there is no public order issue at stake?" |
| Coffee shop owners in the southern city of Maastricht have said they plan to disregard the new measures, forcing the government to prosecute one of them in a test case. | Coffee shop owners in the southern city of Maastricht have said they plan to disregard the new measures, forcing the government to prosecute one of them in a test case. |