The Netherlands: Dutch Cannabis Bars Set Up Sector Organisation

[Lunar Loops]

Hmm, not sure about this story. Any comment from any of our dutch friends? This from UKCIA website (http://www.ukcia.org/news/shownewsar...rticleid=11380) :

The Netherlands: Dutch Cannabis Bars Set Up Sector Organisation


NIS News Bulletin

Friday 16 Jun 2006

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ROTTERDAM, 16/06/06 - Cannabis bars in the Rotterdam region have joined
forces in a sector organisation. They want to lobby for a uniform
national drugs policy.

The sector organisation represents all businesses with a licence to sell
cannabis products. Growing shops (shops for growing equipment) and
cannabis growers are excluded from membership.

Rotterdam region has around 70 tolerated sales outlets for cannabis
products, better known as 'coffee shops.' Businesses in the sector see
themselves as forced to set up their own organisation "because coffee
shops have been subject in recent years to an extremely stringent
government policy. The sector has as a result come to be seen in a
negative light."

The association has set itself the aim of improving the image of coffee
shops in its working area. The initiators are pushing for
self-regulation, and especially for "uniform maintenance of regulations
relating to coffee shops." Currently, different regimes apply in
different municipalities regarding supervision and sanctions, and
infringements such as selling to youngsters aged under 18.

The initiators consider "nuisance-causing home-growing of cannabis an
undesirable social occurrence." For this reason, the sector organisation
wants cannabis cultivation regulated at municipal level. A Lower House
majority also wants this, as coffee shops are allowed to sell cannabis
but not to purchase the drugs from growers.

[Alfa]

Nothing new there. We have many sector organisations for coffeeshops. And the tendency for change of the legality of growing cannabis has been brewing for some time and will continue to grow.

[Lunar Loops]

I understand what you are saying, but it was really the quote "nuisance-causing home-growing of cannabis an undesirable social occurrence." that got me. Why is it a nuisance? Other than a potential threat to their profits? It seems to be a bit like bar owners clubbing together and making a stand against home brewers. Or am I missing something here?

[robin_himself]

the whole point of our system is "the regulation" and by regulating the weed import, export, sales etc the government knows exactly what the "weed status" is.

In my opinion home brewing and growing is a nuisance and one is screwing himself. On one hand you want to legalize all drugs and get them to be used with care and above all "freely", but on the other you're working against yourself by growing it yourself. Potency keeps varying, street crime is still there etc.

This counts for the weed in holland, but i can see people making their own drugs because its not legal to buy. When its legal to buy people should stop growing (and alot of the times selling it after the harvest).

Do correct me if i'm wrong....

[Lunar Loops]

That's an interesting point of view Robin and I can definitely see what you are saying. I can see both sides of that argument and of course, as you say, it is very different in countries where it is not legal to buy cannabis.

Thanks for the reply.