Cannabis cafe owners go to court in last-ditch bid to stop pass system

Lawyers representing a number of cannabis cafe owners and workers in Maastricht are going to court in an effort to halt government plans to turn them into members’ only clubs.


Maastricht lawyer Andre Beckers told the Telegraaf they consider the plan breaks the law because non-Dutch residents will be banned from entering the cafes and this is discrimination.
In addition, the introduction of membership cards infringes upon people’s privacy, the lawyers say.
It is not clear when the case will be heard.
Closures
The government plans to close cannabis cafes in southern parts of the country to non-residents on May 1. The rest of the Netherlands will follow next year.
Justice minister Ivo Opstelten says he is not concerned about the threat of legal action because the legislation has already been looked at by the European Court of Justice.
The aim of the new law is to stop drugs tourism, but opponents say it will lead to an increase in street dealing.

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