Aw man this is sad... All the ban will do is push mushroom sales underground and into the hands of criminals...

Also, 128 mushroom incidents a year... I know this isn't really valid but how many alcohol related incidents are there per year?

By George | October 10, 2007 9:49 AM

What is wrong with that Guys??? thousands of People die caused by alcohol every year and they want to forbid Mushrooms???? That can't be right... They should think a bit more before they do such a thing.

By Jizz | October 10, 2007 3:51 PM

About time!! It's even sadder for the families of those who died. It's about time Holland stops making money out of these kinds of enterprises.

Always this argument of driving it underground. Why don't we educate what it really does to the mind? This is sadly lacking in the educational system here because it is legal.

Just because there are alcohol incidents doesn't make it any less. So finally the government here is starting to handle this, well done!!

By carola | October 10, 2007 5:19 PM

If the concern is about foreigners using the substance, then why not only allow sales to those who are Dutch residents? I think it should at least be given a chance to see the outcome and if problems still persist, then move on to a total ban. Just a thought...

By Lonna Brown | October 10, 2007 8:41 PM

Yes you are right. The goverment should make sure not every idiot can sell shrooms. And of course not every fool should eat them.

I pray for the holy shrooms and hope they still stay legal in nl.

By prankster | October 10, 2007 10:08 PM

Too bad that the only solution politicians can offer is to ban the shrooms. I am sure the problem is not that bad, 128 incidents in a year doesn't sound so much to me. Maybe just get more information about it out to the tourists?

But I can remember me taking shrooms the first (and last) time in Amsterdam, it was so intense i thought i was going mad, it was a damn frightening experience that i do not ever want to experience again.

This is not a harmless drug, I do know that now and it would be great if i had all the information before I tried them.

How about extensive information on the packages about usage and risks?? and let the people decide if they want to take that risk.

By Chris | October 11, 2007 10:18 AM

this is a classical problem - reaction - solution thing.
step1 (problem): a ting gets stressed by the media and is therby placed as bad in public mind.

step2 (reaction): people say "when will anybody do anything about that?". also studys will say that 75% of the population are for a ban of XYZ..

step3 (solution): law is beeing passed without any resistance.
-------------
sounds familiar?

i am living in germany. at the oktoberfest the rate is like 128 tourists being picked up by ambulances
per hour. It doesn't seem to concern the city Munich, nor the state of Bavaria or the federal government.

By do mai | October 11, 2007 3:13 PM

I think this is just sad.

everybody who really knows mushrooms knows that they are not a toy, they are powerfull yes!

Although used in the right place and time and of course dosage one can have a wonderful time and learn from his/her trip.

Does it alway have to end this way?

By Panik Panik | October 11, 2007 6:38 PM

128 incidents per year sounds really not much compared with the offer of those mushrooms in A'dam, although it is 128 too much.

More information about those powerful consciousness altering plant really should be given to tourists, it is not only fun but also intense self confrontation to take that paddos.

Some years ago I often visitit A'dam because of a relationship. For me that mushrooms were not new, I live in Austria, we have no smartshops, but you can find psychedelic paddos on our mountain meadows in big amounts for free.

Going to A'dam for trying different kinds of softdrugs within a short time, because it is easier there then at home, may not be the best idea.

You can see a similar phenomenon here with ski tourists from Scandinavia concerning alcohol.

By Fritz | October 11, 2007 7:52 PM

Yes, mushrooms can be very dangerous-I nearly died from an experience that I had

However, I have had by far the most wonderful and educational and spiritual times in my life in Amsterdam on shrooms-and the bad experience I had was probably because I took far more than I was told was proper-much, much more.

If the government takes away this holy medicine, perhaps they can develop other medicines similar in nature, as there is no other way possible that a human being can evolve in such a wonderful, expedient manner

By Kenny Perrin | October 12, 2007 2:11 AM

I have taken mushies for 20 yrs, 6 yrs of that from reputable shops in Holland. I like the unperedictability and intense experience, this is why I do it, I have never had to call an ambulance.

I have also encountered some dodgy smartshop employees who will frankly sell them to anyone for any use. This should have been sorted out before it got to this.

128 calls in 1 yr, they may as well ban scratch cards because of the assoiciated stress they cause, or the English should ban fireworks night. This is just reactionary, and does not bode well for the future.

I will keep taking paddos but now I will have to find a dealer.

By Brair | October 12, 2007 9:57 AM

Mushrooms and other psychoactive plants and roots, like it or not, are tied into human psyche from the dawn of our consciousness, indeed part of the reason the Abrahamic religions are so messed up is in no small part connected to their use - I suspect that governments are banning these because they have the nasty side effect of opening our minds to independent thought and beauty, making the user less easy to control and more in touch with their spirituality than making money and paying taxes.

The safety thing is a load of nonsense as witnessed by many on this board who have raised the obvious alcohol question.

I have become very convinced over the years that all big illegal narcotic sales are not only condoned by some governments but are in fact facilitated by them at many levels, such is the huge amount of money involved.

I mean look at Afghanistan, the Taliban had almost eradicated poppy till we got there, indeed 6 months prior to 911 Colin Powell was handing therm tens of millions of dollars for having done it.

Think about it, then book some tickets for the dam and eat shrooms till they bring the curtain down. short sighted fools such as they are.

By Pip | October 13, 2007 8:33 AM

yeah, ban cannabis, ban mushrooms, the people are to stupid to think for themself! also ban knives, fire, cars, motorbikes and so on! so many calls for ambulance a year! we have to protect everyone, 'cause no one is intelligent enough to make own decisions... you are free! you are free to do what we tell you! stupid people

By ratzabur | October 15, 2007 5:16 PM

Last scientific American studies about psylocibin just demonstrated, finally, a GOOD effect on neural connections and general feeling. Psylocibin don't give any kind of dependance. So it's not "real" a drug, in the social sense, and the only good excuse to ban it is to find a "touristic problem".

(ah-ah-ah..... how many ambulance calls by tourists are for lighter reasons?) -

'Til now Dutch people were a good example of good governance... now they seem to go in the same confusion that other Europeans... with a new "mafia" problem... congratulations ...

Perhaps they've to find the "right" way to a new solution with some mushroom experience....

By Don Mimmo | October 20, 2007 12:40 AM

i dont think any government has the right to tell its citizens what they are allowed to consume and what not.

If they allow alcohol cannabis and tobacco they dont have any right to forbid shrooms!

It is not about health. It is about dictatorship to their own citizens!

By mr.x | October 28, 2007 9:44 AM

I think a ban on mushrooms is stupid.
Its not the mushrooms its the people who take them.
you should know the does and dont's or not take them.
i was in dam for 6 nights for new years 07-08 and i took mushrooms on 3 of those days and i was fine because i got info on the mushrooms before i took them.
i had a great time and i felt much better and in more control then when i drink alot of alcohol.
if u ban mushrooms u should ban alcohol aswell.

Rob

By Rob | January 8, 2008 11:45 AM

The only place in the world that mushrooms are still legal. why take away that status? It makes me very angry that stupid minded youngsters have no control over their actions when taking things like mushrooms their is enough information provided by the Dutch sellers when people purchase these things. I dont think it would be in any way fair to make them ilegal for people who are sensible enough to control their actions. It would be like saying lets ban alcohol which causes more life threatning effects than mushrooms. I also bet that their were more calls for alcohol related issues in Amsterdam than mushrooms ! If the law wants to keep everyone happy and stop these narrow minded tourists from doing stupidness then raise the age limit to 21. I hope the goverment looks at all points of view and also takes in to account of how much money mushroom sales bring to their country iv been told an estimated 60 million Euros a year ! I think Amsterdam has more important issues such as hard drugs being sold to tourists on the street. I hope the Dutch Goverment will make the right desision and keep its status for being the only country in the world with mushroom sales still in place !

By KIM | January 8, 2008 12:26 PM

i thought dam was the greatest place in the world once....
i thought it was a country that stood alone, followed itself not others and would fight for what holland beleaves..... but i guess i was wrong.

holland is just the same as other countrys the minute it gets media stress it gives in....!!

so now all we need is a bunch of tourists to get stabbed or in an accident over cannabis and that will go to ....
drugs should be banned based on the damage it causes to ur body which shrooms don't.

By Rob | January 11, 2008 2:24 PM

hi, i need to respond to some of the comments mad about the only job that has every really made me happy.
at the place where i work we have safe use information sheets printed in ten different langauges, as as almost every customer how much they really know about mushrooms and if it is thier first time or not.
if any on tells me it is thier first time or the have only done it once or twice i will spend on average about twenty minutes explaining what they can do to stay away from the "bad trip" scenerio. and there has never been a purely mushroom related death since regulated sale of, and not even when combined with good ol' mary jane. it is alcohle or MAO base anti-depressants to blame almost every time.
i got an idea, if your brewer and your pharmasist explain the nature of thies drugs to thier clients, we would have less trouble whit people and shrooms.
god made shrooms, corperations make beer and prosac. i know who i trust more.

By A "SO CALLED" smart-shop worker | May 30, 2008 11:34 PM

hey a "SO CALLED" smart-shop worker, i was curious on the news for the banning of shrooms in amsterdam, i know it was on thin ice for awhile but i am curious as to if it went through. Thanks.

By Switch | June 13, 2008 6:08 AM