So the Weed pass thing? and your thoughts?

[spidergawd]

They're stoners Cisco, I expect some will get legal and some will just sort something else out for themselves. You've got to see it through their eyes. Maybe .

[verticalSquare]

Just thought i'd remind you all, that instead of getting all yer panties in a tangle, and calling for jooooooossssseeeyyy to be banned, you can block him/her/it with very little hassle. Thus making this thread exactly what you want it to be.... Half you folk are acting alot worse than joooosseeyysss single minded nonsence.......

Not my finest hour To put things in context, I've been in bed for the last few days as I did my back in and am in a generally foul mood, so was just very bad timing. Amn't generally in the habit of losing the plot in internet forum discussions.

[treetop]

Does anyone know if there is any official opposition to these proposed measures ? Ie are there any lawyers , local politicians campaigning the cause ?

As Nol has pointed out in his video there are many reasons why the wietpass won't work so what's being done about it at an official level ? Or can nothing be done , if they decide to go nationwide is that it or can it be opposed on a legal level ?

Hopefully cos Nol rolling and smoking a joint on youtube while he pulls the Bill apart is informative but I get the feeling government types wouldn't take it seriously.

[piedpiperofvice]

the fact amsterdam is a tourist spot is irrespective they MAY try to fight it they MAY not enforce it whole heartidley but it will happen there has been a statement from the dutch government on this or was that not on the gray area fanboy site ?


That is where you miss the point, the amsterdam council and mayor have the last say and can over rule the dutch government for the juristrisction of amsterdam. and they say no to the weedpass, so the weedpass will not happen in amsterdam.

As far a Amsterdam specifically goes the situation has not changed since summer 2011 when the mayor and council came out stating the weedpass would not come in for Amsterdam. So there is no new news, which is why the coffeeshops in amsterdam are not worried

I think we should be worried, joossy. as we have seen through the ages even if an idea is unworkable,unenforcible,fascist, misguided, or just plain stupid humans are always at the ready to plod foreward...i hope you are right.

[geoffk]

I'd rather fight to keep my rights than have to fight to get them back.

[piedpiperofvice]

since i believe the ultimate goal of the christian democrats is to starve the coffeeshops of revenue by banning foreign consumers and discouraging registration by the dutch ,all those who wish to advance the cause of legalization worldwide should step up and offer financial support to keep the coffeeshops in business until the political climate changes.once they are gone they are likely gone for good. george soros and other rich financiers who support legalization should step up and defend this sensible model of cannabis policy(except for the ridiculous back door policy). the coffeeshops have been shown to limit street dealing and the nuisance created without, as the christian democrats themselves admit, substantially raising the rate of usage. fellow stoners worldwide could,also, contribute to a fund to maintain the coffeeshops existence. imagine the glee of envisioning smoke pouring out of the ears of opelsten and his ilk as their plan to buy up the bankrupt shops to replace with sterile establishments( that exist in the millions already) is stonewalled by cannabis lovers who say, "not so fast".
This effort can be coupled with a boycott of dutch products since their large economy is buttressed by their group of multinationals. might it be unfair to target the dutch who brought us this wonderful system in the first place? maybe. however, where other parts of the world(even the worst offender of all the US) are progressing forward ,the netherlands is backsliding . we should not accept an erosion of our freedoms anywhere and this is a logical line in the sand. If a substantial group of us could stick to a plan of attack we can at least show that we do have some ability to inflict pain to those who would tread on us.

[TwoCanucks]

if they are ready to kiss the tax revenue goodbye, an organized protest won't likely change the governments' position.

a legal challenge is the most direct and effective method imho, to get change or as in this case, prevent change from happening in the first place.

[Old Timer]

if they are ready to kiss the tax revenue goodbye, an organized protest won't likely change the governments' position.

a legal challenge is the most direct and effective method imho, to get change or as in this case, prevent change from happening in the first place.

There will undoubtedly be a legal challenge, for some or possible many, there are big bucks involved.
They won't go down without a fight.

[Uncle Ron]

if they are ready to kiss the tax revenue goodbye, an organized protest won't likely change the governments' position.

a legal challenge is the most direct and effective method imho, to get change or as in this case, prevent change from happening in the first place.

There will undoubtedly be a legal challenge, for some or possible many, there are big bucks involved.
They won't go down without a fight.

Who is going to challenge to law/policy, the shops that sell illegal substances? Think about it for a while longer...
There may be big bucks involved, but until those who will be directly affected by these policies/laws unite and put pressure on the politicians, the weed pass will happen. Those of which I speak are hotels, restaurants, gift shops, and all the other small businesses that in some shape or form earn their living from tourism in general.
A figure that has been mentioned, 400 million Euro, is a significant amount to most of us, but to governments such as The Netherlands, not so much. Think of the revenue stream for combating drugs, much more than 400 million. Think of those behind the curtain who are pulling the strings. They don't give a damn about cannabis, but they do care about making a profit from selling products and services that are used against it.
Anyone want to hazard a guess as to the amount that is spent every year? My guess is that the figure is in the BILLIONS.
The citizens of The Netherlands have made it known they don't want the cannabis culture in their society any more. Maybe at one time it was tolerated, but today's culture is nothing like what it was 20, 30, or 40 years ago. If you're older than say 40 and have frequented the scene over the decades, you know of what I speak. For those under say 40, do some reading and discover for yourself what it was like before you were born. It was a much different scene, more about chilling out than making a profit. My how times have changed... and in this instance not for the better.

Another aspect to all of this is immigration... let your imagination go wild. A possibility is that it will decrease dramatically.
Many facets to this issue, many players having a stake in the outcome, both for and against, but mostly against.

Zip...

[Slip & Sal]

So if I immigrated from Australia after the weedpass has been passed, would i not be allowed to smoke in a coffeeshop, even though I would now be living in Holland?

[john quays]

Another aspect to all of this is immigration... let your imagination go wild. A possibility is that it will decrease dramatically.

Do you mean that many coffeeshops are run by or staffed by people of North African origin? I have often wondered whether this is an unmentioned factor in the current push against the scene.

I don't know how sensitive this is in the Netherlands, but in France (where I live now) there are many political measures and terms which are shorthand for cracking down on people of Arabic origin.

[Uncle Ron]

Another aspect to all of this is immigration... let your imagination go wild. A possibility is that it will decrease dramatically.

Do you mean that many coffeeshops are run by or staffed by people of North African origin? I have often wondered whether this is an unmentioned factor in the current push against the scene.

I don't know how sensitive this is in the Netherlands, but in France (where I live now) there are many political measures and terms which are shorthand for cracking down on people of Arabic origin.

No, I do not mean that entirely, although that aspect also has its merits.
In general, look at the entire C/S scene, from the user backwards to the grower. How many locals with ancestral ties are involved in the business, especially the day to day? I'm leaning towards any nationality but Dutch...

If the weed pass becomes reality, as in I can no longer enter a shop because I'm not a Dutch citizen or resident, I think the predictions will come true and most shops will be closed within a year. Continuing this line of speculation, fewer shops will mean fewer jobs which equals a higher unemployment rate; fewer shops means most likely a decrease in demand for product from suppliers, which means fewer growers are needed; fewer cannabis tourists means fewer hotel rooms rented which could lead to layoffs from hotels; restaurants will also be affected. None of this is new news, but it will become reality to many people if or when the policy comes into full effect.
I for one don't want to immigrate to a country in which it will most likely see a sharp increase in crime.
As immigration goes down, there will be an eventual upward swing in employment opportunities in the service industry, mainly wait staff or hotel staff and so on... poor people or immigrant jobs (as seen by some).
All of this is pure speculation, but I may not be that far off...

Happy trails...

[nolvanschaik]

I could post what can be done about the weedpass legally, but than an Oracle in this thread knows better, I gave up.

[Old Timer]

I could post what can be done about the weedpass legally, but than an Oracle in this thread knows better, I gave up.

Nol,
On one hand you and others are asking us not to give up and to join a protest on 420.
But you give up here because of one (or more) person's posts?
Please don't give up and please post the info that you mentioned.

[Smokey McPot]

Yes Nol,please tell us more.. Some of us are only interested in the facts rather than certain members assertions

Cheers
G