I think you have to be very stubborn and highly subjective to not agree that coffeeshops are the greatest way yet known in this world to handle the cannabis issue....This being said I understand the cannabis related tourism can annoy some...(Even though I can assure you that in many cities in the world, the drinking tourism causes way more trouble), passes could be an answer if we were not in times of great recession.I work in hospitality and I can assure you tourism will not be half of what it is now if passes are introduced, it would be really foolish to think otherwise....Raise our taxes,etc.. and then give up all this massive amount of income???

By Jules C | November 18, 2010 10:17 AM

RIP Amsterdam.

By toenail | November 18, 2010 11:15 AM

This initiative is discriminatory on the base of nationality. It violates human rights, and is against EU constitution. You can not be denied products or services on a discriminatory base. And it is a ridiculous decision, considering that Netherlands is trying to solve it's budget deficit.

By madjestic | November 18, 2010 11:20 AM

So now we will see dozens of opportunists standing near coffeeshops, buying drugs for tourists with their passes --and charging them extra, of course.

By My beautiful Jordaan | November 18, 2010 11:21 AM

The only thing left for tourists in A'dam will be the weather, the cuisine and the hospitality. Good luck with that!

By TTG | November 18, 2010 11:36 AM

Now that the Netherlands is being reviled globally for its growing racist undertones, you can expect to see fewer tourists of all sorts coming to visit.

Universal availability of drugs in the US, combined with the US serf's dwindling economic prospects also will reduce the number of stoners coming over for a quasi-legal high.

Hopefully the wooden shoes and Tanzanian tulips are enough to keep some visitors in the hotels, but if Wilders keeps gaining popularity, the only tourists who come will have shaved heads and swastika-festooned paraphernalia.

By Prince Burnhard | November 18, 2010 11:47 AM

So, tourism to Amsterdam will drop, locals will deal to tourist( with appropriate markup), and street dealers can add cannabis to the their selection of cocaine, heroin and ecstasy. Great outcome!

By larry | November 18, 2010 11:53 AM

Perhaps it'll reduce the 'problem' of drug tourists but coffee shops will still attract them. You'll just have more people smoking in public places after having bought a few grams off the local street dealer. "Cocaine, Ecstasy, Marijuana, Hashish.."

By Andrejs | November 18, 2010 12:17 PM

This will be excellent for local Dutch people who sell to tourists on the black market!

By Cathal | November 18, 2010 12:43 PM

This pass requirment sounds like an American way of Government. Who and what is really behind this. Does this mean as an expat that, I am no longer allowed in the coffee shops of Nederlands?
Bad enough I hav to put up with the Goerge Bush and Reagon Laws here in America.

By Dan Zikking | November 18, 2010 3:22 PM

Alcohol and tobacco are by far more dangerous than cannabis as has been proven by many scientific studies. The current view of cannabis is a holdover of American propaganda dating back to William Randolph Hearst whose newspaper empire demonized cannabis.

To put it more concretely, imagine if the government banned beer, and people came over the border to drink beer in nightclubs. Or tourists wanted to drink beer in Amsterdam because their own governments completely banned beer?

Why turn away people who want to spend tourist dollars in NL--as long as they are peaceful and law-abiding?

By Jim | November 18, 2010 3:40 PM

I guess the new gov dosnt like tax revenue either...

By lucky american resident | November 18, 2010 4:43 PM

What a stupid idea.Thought up by the christian taliban CDA no doubt.

By Kelsiaro | November 18, 2010 5:05 PM

"No tourist attractions." Seriously? That's like the mayor of New York City saying that only New Yorkers are to visit the Empire State Building. It makes no sense whatsoever to drive tourists away like that... Also it would give locals entrepreneurial ideas, such as buying weed for tourists, for an extra fee.

By stingo | November 18, 2010 6:24 PM

No more vacations to Amsterdam. Bummer

By from kentuckey | November 18, 2010 7:51 PM

Talk about killing the golden goose, bang goes 50% of your tourists...

By Jimmy | November 18, 2010 8:44 PM

Good news for drug dealers. A new business opportunity selling drugs to tourists. Now they can rise price and profit, as well as adulterate the drug. Excellent help from Wilders cabinet for their business.

As 'dry law' (1920 to 1933) showed in USA, main benefit was for alcohol trafficker gangs. So much so that the Senate committee appointed to investigate, reached conclusion that bribes from Mafia had reached the pockets of MPs and senators in exchange for keeping the law. It is a question of common sense. More restrictions for legal channel, more business for illegal channel, and more damage for the people.

By the way PVV has secret financing, nobody knows from who, neither why.

By zenplus | November 18, 2010 10:37 PM

This government doesn't have a clue about running my country. This measure in Amsterdam is just trowing a couple of BILLION EUROS in the hands of the criminals. Maybe, they want to sell more guns to fight the crime generated by their useless measures!!!

By Jan Jong | November 19, 2010 2:05 AM

Huge Huge mistake, me personaly, Ive been to the city neary 30 times over the years, at an average of 2,500 dollars per stay (food, hotels,shopping etc etc), Ive seen all the museums and architecture and it is wonderful, BUT I keep coming back for the coffeeshops and the feeling of real freedom in my personal choices...Ill stop coming , and Ill take my money and spend it elsewhere.

By fathead | November 19, 2010 2:34 AM

Bravo! This had to be done from the beginning.

By Jason | November 19, 2010 10:12 AM

Grow in Eastern Europe cheaply. Make a tax-free windfall off tourists in Amsterdam...lol
Strange behavior since cannabis is being relaxed worldwide anyway. Must be the back-assward Jesus Crispies of CDA no doubt.

By flek | November 19, 2010 11:08 AM

Brilliant news. Amsterdam is maturing as a city, and has to find more legitimate ways to attract tourists. Some tourists will stop coming, but if it results in Amsterdam losing the reputation of a city full of druggies, then others will come in their place. Besides, this should see an improvement in the Damrak and surrounding area, which is currently shameful for a UNESCO heritage site.

By George | November 19, 2010 12:19 PM

Why don't they just come straight out with it and tell us what this is all about: the new government has found a way to reduce unemployment. Can you imagine how many people living in the NL will now be able to subsidise their state benefits by selling cannabis to tourists? Why the false modesty? No need to be shy - just spit it out, 'This is our way of dealing with unemployment. It's unlikely we'll come up with any more efficient means, so just be glad we've been able to do something.'

By McD | November 19, 2010 12:53 PM

Follow the Money Who will benefit from this? The greatest opponent to casino gambling in my state ( Conn.)were casino owners from Las Vegas. Look to San Francisco,Spain or local dealers nobody is above suspicion

By fran | November 19, 2010 1:02 PM

I am no cannabis smoker but is this a wise decision to make considering the economy is in crisis.I think a lot more tourists come to Holland for cannabis than they do to look at flowers in wet muddy Dutch fields.Like it or not cannabis tourism brings millions into Holland.I also fear this new rule will do nothing but encourage a thriving black market that will cost even more money for the government to control while gangsters and criminals will get even richer.

By Jason Buttle | November 19, 2010 1:08 PM

holland say good bye to your jobs tourists this effect every body here is a small list hotels airlines pubs coffee shops food industry bike rental taxis tourist attractions this is what silly goverments do have a long think about this i think a vote from the people of holland should be taken on this let them decide

By alan | November 19, 2010 3:35 PM

For the sake of fairness and as we are told that alcohol is worse than most drugs, are we having membership cards for pubs and bars...causes more violence and people being sick and fighting in the street?
Ah well, black markets gain, taxmans loss.....

By Carol T | November 19, 2010 3:47 PM

The Marianas Islands has just passed a bill through parliament legalising cannabis. Goodbye Amsterdam and hello Marianas Islands!$!$!$!$!

By Cannabis Cup | November 19, 2010 3:56 PM

too bad. We go for a yearly 2 week vacation in Amsterdam (done this for the last 15 years) Spend approximately 8,000 euro for this vacation: to enjoy the people and great conversations with locals and travelers in the relaxed coffeeshops. Always felt like the best place civilization had to offer on this planet. Ban smoke for non Dutch. We will sadly not return.

By rolly | November 19, 2010 4:24 PM

Amsterdam can say goodbye to tens of millions in hotel,pub and restaurant revenues. Now we will have an added reason not to go and support a far right government. I see the sinister hand of the American government in their "advisory" role here, and I am American. Keep Holland Dutch, tolerant and FREE.

By james101 | November 19, 2010 8:30 PM

If the problem is the behavior of the people after purchasing the cannabis why not raise the age to 25? I find it hard to see how creating a new black market (as the demand will still be there, now just in the shadows) will resolve the situation that they are trying to remedy. I would like to see the study they are preparing to identify what changes in revenue will occur because of this change.

By Eric | November 19, 2010 11:22 PM

With your Coffee Shops you solved the cannibis problem and have less than half the usage that we have here and 1/100 the violence. As an American tourist in Amsterdam it was such a relief not having to worry about all the games in a city where cannibis is controled by crime, whether you smoke it or not. By driving it to criminal markets you will increase many problems and violence that your very high density population will not be able to handle. Let the returning tourists country deal with the driving sobriety tests, searches, etc...
"Excuse me, I don't have a card, could I give you 30 Euro for a gram? Wait,quick, lookout..."

By anonyman | November 20, 2010 3:02 AM

i go alot to amsterdam (just love the place) i get stoned but im polite quiet and i spend alot of money.i feel its more pressure from places near the boundaries of Netherlands like germany.. i can understand where they are coming from, but it will never stop it. if people want other people will make money and provide it (its a no brainer).. will book a month long stay if the ban happens. and on the positive side i save up for a grow tent and grow my own, but id much prefer to go to amsterdam. thank god ill be in amsterdam in under 24 hours..

By stu.. | November 21, 2010 12:59 PM

I have been to Amsterdam 4 times simply because of a childhood obsession with Anne Frank. I have toured the Anne Frank House 4 times and have been forever changed after each time. One of the things I take away from that experience is the spirit of tolerance. This new law just seems to go against everything Amsterdam is all about. Its a certain freedom from judgement in that as long as you are not harming anything or anyone with your use of cannibis then it is accepted (legal).

By tolerance29 | November 21, 2010 2:53 PM

it sucks for tourists but great for dealers.I had a friend in Los Angeles live very well selling 10$ bags of weed.

By Over here | November 21, 2010 9:15 PM

This American has been to Amsterdam 15 times in the last 15 years only because of the coffee shops, but if this 'weed card' moves forward, I will have visited for the last time. PS my last stay in March 2010 was for 10 days.

By Steve from Tucson | December 3, 2010 1:36 AM

I worked in A'dam for a year in th 90's at the stock exchange for IBM.

We all ( myself and co-workers ) visited the coffeshops and loved the intelligence of the approach ( even the non-smokers ).

My most memorable experience was sitting outside smoking with the owner of my favourite coffee shop.

Some drunk local at the bar next door stood screaming curses inside. Eventually he re-entered the bar and cracked open another patron's head with a cue ball.

The police came. It was quite a messy arrest with the usual resistance you see with a bunch of nasty drunks.

We both shook our heads at the stupidity and just continued our peaceful enjoyment of the herb.

By Herman G | December 12, 2010 11:52 AM

The American lead on the 1930's Prohibition Law and it's inevitable fallout must NEVER be underestimated or forgotten..........the political naivety and utter lunacy that pervaded that scenario (and now the pending Dutch stance) that in turn preceded the placing of these particular laws in their statute books, inevitably seriously undermines the economic fragmentation and social decline of that country. Cutting off your nose to spite your face and the fears and demons that our politicians hold so dear to themselves, is truly the route to avoid at all costs.
Politicians, as so often, should stay well clear of politics and stay at home tending to their slippers and pipes in front of a blazing fire!

By Nick Purdy | January 23, 2011 2:00 PM