Three cheers to the Dutch !!

By Johannes Adriaansen | March 26, 2008 12:41 PM

Johannes, don't you mean three tokes to the Dutch???

By Tim Lee | March 26, 2008 1:44 PM

I cannot wait to visit again! My wife and I love the Netherlands. 3 cheers to the sensible policy of tolerance!

By Kelly Maddy | March 26, 2008 2:16 PM

erm, well yea but .. I don't want to smoke pure reefers as that would be too strong. This seams to make the coffee shop a place to get weed rather than somewhere to socially enjoy weed in the company of others.

Here in the UK the smoking ban has had a major effect on the pubs and clubs which all have groups of smokers hanging around outside the venue smoking cigarettes. We have seen several local establishments close already.

I do not smoke tobacco on its own but am fully against the smoking ban; I believe the landlord should have the choice.

As a tourist; the Netherlands will not be so attractive to me after this becomes law.

By Chris | March 26, 2008 3:01 PM

three cheers for tobacco free products!!!

By frank kirk | March 26, 2008 3:53 PM

What a clever way to close down the coffee shops. Starting July 1, coffee shop inspections will increase. The police will be looking for cigarette smokers. Get caught smoking in a coffee shop and the coffee shop gets a point. Three points and you're out is the way the law has been explained to me. I have to wonder how many coffee shops will exist in July of 2009. Not all will be closed, but I bet you that some will.

By Tim Lee | March 26, 2008 4:08 PM

Right. It's not common sense we talk here.

By bai | March 26, 2008 5:43 PM

I have had the pleasure of visiting and I must say that the general politics of the county is refreashing compared to others. Herb, is Mother Natures candy.

By Amlak | March 27, 2008 11:13 AM

I've experienced hypocrisy, prejudice and bigotry, but never in such a lethal and blatant combination. Whilst I accept that only politicians, and biased pro druggists who don't smoke ordinary cigarettes, could have come up with something so grossly distorted, I have just deleted the Netherlands from among my favourite places for a weekend break. If that is their idea of civil liberties and human rights, Ill take my chances in 'less enlightened countries'

By Peter O'Loughlin | March 27, 2008 11:53 AM

pure reefer would be too strong?
you Nedersmokers wouldn't last one smoke session in oregon.

By Tom | March 27, 2008 3:02 PM

Umm...okay. No smoking cigs, but weed okay? I don't have problems with either, but Dutch government are idiots-it is not the additives, it is SMOKE that is the hazard. Would you stand in front of a campfire to breathe burning wood. Your lungs and smoke don't get along.

By Joel Bosetti | March 27, 2008 7:32 PM

i agree with tom about u guys cant even handle pure reefer, i mean down here in the u.s pure weed is like gold, i dont know how anyone cant handle it! by the way joel i would stand in front of a campfire and take in the smoke if i got fucked up off it

By steve | March 27, 2008 9:56 PM

...And while they keep on suffering from ills of PLAIN OLD SMOKE FROM ANYTHING THAT BURNS, I'll enjoy a cigarette at home.

By Baron VonBastard | March 27, 2008 11:40 PM

I'm sure it's not that the Dutch can't handle a pure joint, it's just they don't feel the need to get completely annihilated every time they smoke. Like americans do..

By Gerbee | March 28, 2008 2:23 AM

Not to mention smoking pure weed all the time gets costly.

By JDizz | March 28, 2008 5:49 AM

To Tom & Steve,
I don't think that the problem is with them not being able to handle a pure joint either. The problem is mostly with the quality (or lack thereof) of US weed.

By Frank | March 28, 2008 9:17 AM

I think Frank hit the nail on the head. We are talking a *serious* difference in quality between US and Euro cannabis. Of course you can get good reefer in the US, no argument. But the Europeans have practically made cannabis cultivation an art form. You probably won't find more potent weed than the stuff in the Netherlands.

By Dante | March 28, 2008 2:20 PM

As a Canadian I must aplaude the Netherlands for their unique amount of tolerance in an intolerant world. The singular reason marijuana is illegal in Canada is because we border the United States. Canada doesn't jail people for small personal quantaties like America does (and harshly, there are 2 million peeople in US prisons , a third of them for drug charges, upon my best stoner recolection). We can legally buy seeds and in some cases use marijuana in their facilities. God bless Canada and the 1 million people who smoke weed legaly here for medical purposes (and to the other few million who just puff for fun). I have some "Jack Herer" right now that IS an Amsterdam strain which I bought in Canada. God bless our mighty stoner beavers. :D

By Pete | March 28, 2008 2:29 PM

yea dude canada is so cool we consume 4 times more pot than any other country even the netherlands, keep on tokin in the great white north. btw our dope is the shit too.

By Tyler | March 31, 2008 6:34 PM

i think this is great. i was really worried about going to holland wiyhout being able to smoke in coffy shops. i was there in feb to get my fix. i agree aith smoking ban in pubs and cafes. but would of missed toking in coffy shops. my thought on pure joints is- mixing the weed with herbal cigs! or do as the yanks do and just take two hits of a pure joint. last time i was over, we had a lot of weed to smoke before we had to catch a flight, so we smoked it pure.. its fine. iwas hallousinating.. but it was great.

fair play ti the dutch.. they got it right again.

By kane | April 3, 2008 4:37 PM

As a smoker of both I'm actually not bothered about this ban as at least I can still enjoy the tolerence of the Dutch to at least one of my habits, a pure joint or two may not be as socialable as smoking six or seven when mixed but what the hell, I still can.

Smoking outside a bar or cafe in the pouring rain is something I've become used to since the ban in Britain, I consider it a fair enough deal, as I'm all for the right of non-smokers not to experience second hand smoke.

The idea that this ban protects the rights of coffee shop workers is just plain stupid however, why would a non-smoker take a job in a coffee shop? Do vegetarians apply for jobs at Butchers?

By Alex | April 5, 2008 10:34 AM

Alex, to answer your question... vegetarians do work in butcher shops in The Netherlands. Then they have silly laws passed so the butcher shop can no longer sell meat...

By Tim Lee | April 7, 2008 12:00 PM

Alex, to answer your question... vegetarians do work in butcher shops in The Netherlands. Then they have silly laws passed so the butcher shop can no longer sell meat...

By Tim Lee | April 7, 2008 12:02 PM

Has Mr Klink considered the additional health care costs this ban will create? Is he aware of how much it rains in Holland and how many months out of the year is it cold? Smoking is a bad enough habit (I know because I'm a smoker), but smoking outside in the cold rain is a recipe for increased health problems. Does he plan to use the fines for people caught smoking to pay for the additional health care costs?

By Tim Lee | April 7, 2008 12:08 PM

Smoke of all kind is can cause problems...I am a long time pot smoker and quit recently....My life is much more on track..I can finally enjoy the beauty of life without escaping to a short term head trip....

By Steven | April 20, 2008 12:12 AM

Oh it's difficult this is. I'm in the UK where the tobacco smoke ban is viciously upheld to the point where pubs are closing down or not reopening after being sold. I travel to the Netherlands regularly, needless to say usually Amsterdam, because of the people, the beauty and the tolerance there. The smoking ban though is going to kill the place for me. What is gezellig about standing outside bars on a winters night having a cigarette? I don't normally go there to smoke a joint whatever's in it. I just like to relax with a few beers. I suspect that the City may find that a lot of people are like me and that there is a limit to the attraction of 'pretty canals' and the galleries. It's the tolerance and laid back attitude we like and without that Amsterdam in particular just will not be the same.

By Pete | April 29, 2008 3:21 PM

What about smoking with a vaporizer?

Or mixing the weed with dried parsley -- instead of tobacco?

Nobody's mentioned this! Have they?

By Richard | May 2, 2008 5:53 PM

Come on people why can't there be smoking AND non smoking establishments. Perhaps we have to form 'smoking club' cafes and bars where you must be a member to enter. Here in Canada now you can't even see a pack of cigarettes at any retailers, how absurd is that, all in an effort to protect young people and ex smokers eyes from the harm and influence of tobacco advertising. However if you are a junkie there are safe injection sites available for your convenience. Throw us tobacco smokers outside so we can stand next to running vehicles and enjoy the exhaust fumes as well. Why can't governments compromise?

By Soren | May 28, 2008 7:41 AM

about smoking pure weed .. the americans have crap weed .. nothing compared to the good weed you can buy in holland .. so they "NEED TO" smoke it pure to actually have any effect at all. i've seen stupid american tourists come to holland and go totally off their face trying to smoke the GOOD WEED pure.

By Redeye | May 28, 2008 10:18 AM

Silly policy to be honest. They should have some pro-smoking places and also non-smoking places (re tobacco) so then everyone is equal. It doesn't discourage people from smoking so yeah.

By Lachlan | June 11, 2008 5:29 AM

Seems that the content of the comments speak more between the lines and certainly in the grammar. So Dudes (sarcasm there) keep on depleting those neurons, but hey, where there is no smoke there is always alcohol.
And for the narrow minded ignoramus’s that believe Amsterdam's principal touro-dollar is earned only in the Coffee shops and bordellos, well if you had not been so consistently stoned you might have learnt something in one of Europe’s principal and most historic cities.... I wish the U.S.A would finally legalize Marijuana just to keep you clowns at home!!

By CD | July 2, 2008 3:37 PM

YO Tobbaco should be BANNED internationally. Weed is a healing plant and I smoke pure blunts over here in toronto. I get a century sam cigar lick slice it open get all the crappy tobbaco out and re roll it with GRINDED WEED. Pure INDICA BLUNT HERE TO MAKE ME HUNGRY ZEEN>>>>>>>>>>

By Andrew Janson | July 15, 2008 6:48 AM

Living in the UK, i haven't had a night out in a club/pub for over a year. Mainly due to not being an alcohol consumer. I hate smoking Tobacco on it's own as i just find it a bad habit as it doesn't do no good. I've never visited the Netherlands but i do intend too as i've been a fan of alot of 1990s music produced over there (And thats how it started before knowing the cannabis laws over there). The ban of Tobacco smoking in pubs and clubs has had an effect with the public as well as the pubs and clubs over here. I have to admit i have found sense in smoking Cannabis instead of having tobacco and alcohol and it's made me a far better person. In my local town a habour is being built and weekend trips to amsterdam would be ideal for a person like me who just wants to smoke cannabis without the fear of being criminalised. I hope people will turn away from the alcohol & Tobacco cultures and see the positives in smoking cannabis.

By Ad | December 2, 2008 2:17 AM