Maastricht says cannabis cafe card plan must be delayed

The government must delay for at least a year its plans to force Maastricht cannabis cafes to become members only clubs, a majority of city councillors said on Monday.


The southern city is also calling on other border towns to join its campaign for a delay to the new rules, which the government says are necessary to combat drugs nuisance and organised crime.
Maastricht argues the council can only enforce the new system once the conditions for the introduction have been agreed, and when a decision has been taken on extra policing.
Opposition
There is widespread opposition to the introduction of members only clubs for cannabis users. Councils argue there will be an increase in street dealing as non-members and tourists try to buy soft drugs.
Only people officially living in the Netherlands will be able to join a cannabis club, which will have a maximum of between 1,000 and 1,500 members. According to the justice ministry, this does not conflict with EU law.
Maastricht coffee shop owners have already banned all but Dutch, German and Belgian nationals from buying soft drugs in an effort to reduce the number of drugs tourists.
Earlier stories
Cannabis cafe ban can go ahead, says supreme court
Maastricht cannabis cafes ban all but Dutch, Belgian, Germans

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