Amsterdam coffee-shop : joints, yes, but not tobacco !

AMSTERDAM. A law comes into force today in the Netherlands, prohibits smoking in public places. Panic in coffee shops, where customers are pulling their crackers. One solution: smoke pure cannabis...;)

"Three grams of Super Skunk [type of marijuana very popular in the Netherlands] and freshly squeezed orange juice, please. "These words come out naturally from the mouth of Harry, a regular at the Paradox, a coffee shop in the Jordaan.
 In the Netherlands, consumption of soft drugs is decriminalized and place in the famous coffee shops. There are 234 in the streets of Amsterdam, exactly.

They are a tourist attraction for more than a quarter of the 4.5 million annual visitors, according to the Research and Statistics at City Hall.

Photos

Three grams of Super Skunk

see larger image

uploaded by sankeur

• 

  uploaded by sankeur | add comment

• 

  uploaded by sankeur | add comment

• 

  uploaded by sankeur | add comment

• 

  uploaded by sankeur | add comment

A lucrative but highly regulated. Are prohibited: the advertising of drugs for sale, the entry of minors, selling over 5 grams per transaction, the sale or the presence of hard drugs (including alcohol).

 Ludo, the owner, appears to meet these strict rules, at least make sure there that minors do not attend his establishment and asked me my age.

The rules are even tougher, with the smoking ban smoking in all public places. Cannabis keeps its status decriminalized soft drugs, tobacco enters the circle of hard, ie prohibited.
The consumer can not roll joints with grass, without adding tobacco or smoke pipes without the addition of tobacco.

 Showing me the letter he received from the government a few weeks ago, which he understands nothing, Ludo explains his predicament: "I can not predict the future, I do not know how things will evolve. Maybe we will have fewer customers eating there, but they certainly do not change their consumption habits. "

Another coffee, another atmosphere. Surprise: these areas are not places of debauchery glaucous I imagined.

The Hulp is a perfect example. Moroccan lounge, waiter with pretty green eyes, delicious tea with bergamot.
 I almost forget that the vast majority come more for the map of hashish and grass for drinks. Here, Mohamed Nor and Harold do not understand the purpose of the new law...

Videos

Dans le Port d 'Amsterdam - Jacques Brel

see larger video

sourced by sankeur