Coffeeshop (Netherlands)

In the Netherlands, coffeeshops are a type of cannabis retail outlet, establishments where the sale of cannabis for personal consumption by the public is tolerated by the local authorities.^[1]

Under the drug policy of the Netherlands, the sale of cannabis products in small quantities is allowed by licensed coffeeshops. The majority of these also serve drinks and food. Coffeeshops are not allowed to serve alcohol or other drugs, and risk closure if they are found to be selling soft drugs to minors, hard drugs or selling alcohol. The idea of licensing the sale of cannabis was introduced in the 1970s for the explicit purpose of keeping hard and soft drugs separated.

A Dutch judge has ruled that tourists can legally be banned from entering cannabis cafes, as part of restrictions that were implemented in 2012.^[2] City councils can choose whether to implement this ban or not. This ban is implemented only by a few municipalities in the southern Netherlands.

The city council in Maastricht allows tourists to visit coffeeshops, but all except one have made a voluntary agreement to allow only local residents, which are defined as people living within a 150km radius (local people from Belgium and Germany are still allowed). The ban is not enforced in the city of Amsterdam and most other parts of the Netherlands.^[3]

Outside the Netherlands, cannabis cafés and bars are also widespread in Thailand.^[4] They also exist in Canada and parts of the United States.^[5]

^ "Amsterdam Coffee shops Guide | Amsterdam.info". www.amsterdam.info. Retrieved 1 April 2019.
^ "Dutch cannabis cafe owners fight changes". BBC News. 27 April 2012.
^ "Are Tourists Allowed in Dutch Coffeeshops? The Strange Tale of the 'Weed Pass'". 6 July 2016.
^ Cite error: The named reference thailand was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
^ Cite error: The named reference usa was invoked but never defined (see the help page).

[1] "Amsterdam Coffee shops Guide | Amsterdam.info". www.amsterdam.info. Retrieved 1 April 2019.

[2] "Dutch cannabis cafe owners fight changes". BBC News. 27 April 2012.

[3] "Are Tourists Allowed in Dutch Coffeeshops? The Strange Tale of the 'Weed Pass'". 6 July 2016.

[thailand-4] Cite error: The named reference thailand was invoked but never defined (see the help page).

[usa-5] Cite error: The named reference usa was invoked but never defined (see the help page).

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Coffeeshop (Netherlands)

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