Mayor Leers does have a very valid point!

I cannot see how closing down growth businesses, catering to the needs of so many can resolve the problem.

Consider the Revenue and Tax losses.

These businesses are paying tax, business rates, rent, employing people, people who have families, and whose income contributes to the local economy.

The problem would be better solved by moving most of the coffeeshops out from the town centres to the edge of town ... somewhere like industrial estates, or possibly even somewhere like Motorway Service Stations ... at least they can handle the traffic!

By Gerard | October 25, 2008 11:49 AM

Research evidence has proven that marijuana, hashish, and other related products are responsible for breakdowns in the human immune system. Therefore, it's ludicrous to defend the legal distribution of same to younger adults.

Only as a possible pain reliever for those with chronic pain could it make any sense and these sufferers can work directly with their house physicians and have little need for 'coffeeshops'.

By HistoryTechDoc | October 25, 2008 8:02 PM

What's this rubbish..."Research evidence has proven that marijuana, hashish, and other related products are responsible for breakdowns in the human immune system." where is this research, hearsay as usual. As a cannabis smoker for 30 years all I can say about this comment from some crackpot (Do you like that, "crack..pot :-)") is Boll...s.

By Paul | October 26, 2008 1:49 PM

I agree with Paul. I have been a marijuana smoker for many years and it has not done any of the awful things the straight people want to think it does. It hasn't wrecked my family, interfered with my job, made me antisocial or rottet my teeth.

Wake up and smell the propoganda HTD!

Coffeshops are a brilliant way on keeping the good stuff available and the soapbar off the streets.

What's needed is a legalisation of growing marijana so that organised crime has no where to turn. Anyway, all of the growers I know have nothing to do with crime at all and just love the challenge of getting a really good crop and the money (and pretige if you win the cannabis cup or something) is good.

Green is good! All natural too!

By Jessie | October 30, 2008 4:34 AM

Gerard, I don't know about your idea. I agree the shops should not be closed, for your reasons and many others but if you move all the coffeeshops to outlying areas or moterways where's the atmosphere? What's better than your local coffeeshop? Now you have to get in your car and drive out onto the motorway just to have a coffee and a smoke?
The problem is more complicated, why not just try and be more accomidating and tolerent? The biggest problem I read was that traffic was becoming too congested. Holland does have that problem. It seems to get everyone angry. Why not insist that these weekend smokers take the train instead of driving, have a campaign about it or something. I really have no solution myself.

By Jessie | October 30, 2008 4:42 AM