Netherlands - Actions against ban on shrooms: Dutch parliament sprayed with spores

[Alfa]

See article in post 2.

Foto's: Derrick Bergman / G0NZ0 Media

[Encod]

Dear friends,

Herewith a press release of LEGALIZE!, Amsterdam

With a bizarre protest action throughout the Netherlands, the Legalize! foundation has acted against the announcement of Public Health Minister Ab Klink to prohibit 186 different species of magic mushrooms. The foundation wants to raise attention for the risk of persecution that owners of gardens or lands now face, as a consequence of the ban. A team of Legalize! symbolically planted magic mushrooms in the gardens of stand-up comedian Theo Maassen and radio dj Henk Westbroek. Members of Parliament Fred Teeven (right-wing liberals, VVD) and Lea Bouwmeester (social-democrats, PVDA) received magic mushrooms in a flower pot. With the help of supersoaker water pistols, billions of magic mushroom-spores were spread in the Netherlands.

The announced ban threatens to affect 186 species. These are not only magic mushrooms, but also 170 other kinds. Many of the banned magic mushrooms grow freely throughout the Netherlands, and can appear in anybody’s garden. Among others the possession, the cultivation and the sale of these magic mushrooms will become illegal, with prison sentences till up to 6 years. The change of the law creates an unsustainable situation, in which citizens, companies and organisations are outlawed.

To raise public attention to this absurd situation, the association Legalize! carried out some actions this week under the title: ‘A ban on magic mushrooms is insane’.

Activists of Legalize! and TV-anchorman Fillemon Wesselink (BNN-TV) together with author Hans Plomp visited the gardens of stand-up comedian Theo Maassen, as well as politician and radio dj Henk Westbroek. magic mushroom-spores’s were spread in the gardens with waterpistols. The spores were also spread in the gardens of the ministeries of Public Health and of Agriculture, as well as in the gardens of the seat of the Dutch Parliament and Government, the "Binnenhof" in the Hague. At the end of the day, the activists spread billions of magic mushrooms spores throughout the Netherlands out from an hot air balloon.

Within a week, the 186 species will be banned if Minister of Public Health Klink (Christian-democrats, CDA) can give a satisfactory answer on questions of members of the Dutch Parliament. The minister has already ignored the advises of different experts, such as the Association of Dutch Municipalities and the Office for Research and Expenses of the State. Four ministerial advisory committees and various scientific and social organisations have informed the minister that a ban on magic mushrooms will probably increase the health risks.

The association Legalize! is outraged by the fact that minister Klink ignores all scientific advise and completely goes his own way. Klink has turned around the conclusions of his own civil servants and the only controlling body (BOR) has protested against his decision, but the minister remains determined.

Minister Ab Klink was not willing to comment the ban on magic mushrooms.

“With a ban on 186 species, in the fall the entire forest is illegal. Even the famous "red with white spots" is banned now. It has become an extreme witch hunt” according to Hans Plomp, author of the book "Uit je bol".

“In the fall, there are mushrooms everywhere in my garden” said Henk Westboek. “Do I now have to fear a raid of the shroom police? Magic mushrooms are growing even on the pitch in the stadium of FC Utrecht, should the stadium also be banned now? I cannot stand this moralist stuff. In my student days I used to go and pick myself, but I don’t do that anymore.”

“Magic mushrooms are really important for me, I wish to be able to consume them a few times a year.” said Theo Maassen. “I will try to get them even if they are illegal. If it becomes illegal people will continue to consume, but they will not get them from a nice guy who gives them good information. Maybe we will see worse problems. I do not think that the state should prohibit me to put anything in my mouth.”

“Small children who walk in the forest with a mushroom, will they soon be persecuted?” is the comment of Lea Bouwmeester (PVDA) on the ban. “In fact Klink is extremely liberal. But Hirsch Ballin (Minister of Justice, CDA) is the really powerful man inside the party. He would like to install one ban after the other. He is really happy with this ban. Also Klink has thought very long about it and first he did not want to ban at all. But then you get all sorts of political deals on all sorts of subjects.”

Legalize! is, just like a considerable minority in the Dutch Parliament, in favour of continuing to regulate magic mushrooms. It is desirable to install a license system. The association has major objections against the sale of magic mushrooms in ordinary tourist shops in Amsterdam without any form of information. Legalize! emphasises that the small number of - regrettable - incidents were limited to foreign tourists in the capital and that almost no incidents with magic mushrooms have been reported in the rest of the Netherlands.

On Sunday May 25th the BNN programme Spuiten en slikken (TV Nederland 3) will send images of the actions.

The association will carry out more actions with various Dutch celebrities and politicians. There are possibilities for journalists and photographers to attend these actions.

Foto’s: Derrick Bergman / G0NZ0 Media

More information: Stichting Legalize!
www.legalize.net

Reputation Comments on this post:

	Thank you for your involvement with the forum
	Glorious, thanks for sharing.
	Great article

[Heretic.Ape.]

I love it. Can't wait to hear about the further actions. Unfortunately they are undoubtedly futile but if government insists upon insanity the people may as well bring their own to the party.

[Mr. Giraffe]

That's wonderful. It's great to see the shroomers aren't going down without a fight! Ingenious protest, too. Might give other people ideas...!

Realistically, I suppose they'll just put a clause in to say something about non-deliberate possession. This action does highlight the absurdity of banning nature, though, which is always worthwhile. Plus, be funny to see cops running around pulling up shrooms from around the parliament.

[Durd1e]

Recently (about 18 months) fresh mushrooms were made illegal after a 33 year old man killed himself after after taking 25 euro worth (probably 20gr cubensis).

"LATE last October, 33-year-old successful businessman CH went into an alternative lifestyle shop in Dublin and bought a box of magic mushrooms over the counter for €25. He bought them to take at a party with friends on the night before Hallowe'en. However, less than an hour after taking them, he was dead." - Irish Independent Feb 2006

What amazes me is that he was drinking at the time as well and no-one blames this. Also, ! FREAKING HOUR is barely enough to even begin a trip...how can they then blame the mushrooms? Then, the ban was in effect within 2 months...this is hardly due process for enacting a law. They didn't even leave enough time for a protest. Must have been a slow news week.

I don't mean to beliitle the family's tragedy but this is hardly a fit basis for the government to operate. Its almost like enacting laws based on tabloid headlines.

I think it would be a shame if the Dutch government succeeds in pushing this through as it will only promote ignorance ( and the associated deaths from picking the wrong kind of mushrooms) and more dangerous synthethc drugs.

Bravo legalize!

(sorry for the rant - this was supposed to be a short post)

[fnord]

186 species? what are they? This is a wonderfull form of protest, reminds me of something abby hoffman would do.

“With a ban on 186 species, in the fall the entire forest is illegal. Even the famous "red with white spots" is banned now. It has become an extreme witch hunt” according to Hans Plomp, author of the book "Uit je bol".

Translation please!

[Alfa]

`Uit je bol`means ´Out of your mind/head´

[Panthers007]

Originally Posted by fnord

186 species? what are they? This is a wonderfull form of protest, reminds me of something abby hoffman would do.

Abbie would have sprayed the Dutch Parliament while in session.

I can't believe they are going for what, I guess, must be Amanita Muscaria/Pantherina in their madness. I hope they go after the Coprinus Atramentaria as well. This will make these witch-hunters terribly sick if they should eat them after taking a celebratory drink - honoring their Godlike abilities to stamp out Mother Nature:

http://www.mushroomexpert.com/coprin...amentaria.html

Keep us posted.

[Alfa]

This action resulted in direct contact between Legalize foundation and the socialist parties. The main socialist party (PVDA) asked them to write their questions to the minister of health.

As a result the Socialists asked a mass of tough questions about the Dutch magic mushroom ban. Due to to number of questions(160) asked by parliament and the difficult position the questions bring the minister in, it will take some time before a ban can take place. The expectancy is that it will be after the summer, before the minister can answer these questions.

[ThE KıD]

I really don't know what's happening with politicians, maybe they prefer the falmes of the hell than simply the nature's primal matter's

In this case here the FUTURE!!!

[Stephenwolf]

The actions of Legalize remind me of other things i've thought....Like spreading pot and poppy seeds in as many places as possible, having friends, and friends' friends, etc. do so also.... they couldn't get rid of ALL of them..and many would probably go completely unnoticed.

[Mutil]

i say we spread the seeds and spores all over.

that's what you get for trying to stop mother nature, Mr. Government!

that's a really great story, thanks for posting! Swim hopes to visit the Netherlands and test their gourmet mushrooms.

[ThE KıD]

THANK U MOTHER NATURE






HEY GOVERNATORS ONLY NATURE IS SACRED






(Thanks to Alfa also!!!)

[Alfa]

Please upload these pics to the image gallery or your profile album.

[ThE KıD]

Originally Posted by Alfa

Please upload these pics to the image gallery or your profile album.

Done it!!

[MountainDeW]

The actions of Legalize remind me of other things i've thought....Like spreading pot and poppy seeds in as many places as possible, having friends, and friends' friends, etc. do so also.... they couldn't get rid of ALL of them..and many would probably go completely unnoticed.

This is a great idea, if the species that you spread are native species. It may not be such a great idea if they are invasive species. For example, as much as SWIM loves poppies, in California the state flower is the California Poppy. I would not like to see more damage caused to the ecosystem than has already been achieved through years of human introduction. That being said, If you live in a zone with magic mushrooms, by all means proliferate!

[Richard_smoker]

Originally Posted by Alfa

This action resulted in direct contact between Legalize foundation and the socialist parties. The main socialist party (PVDA) asked them to write their questions to the minister of health.

As a result the Socialists asked a mass of tough questions about the Dutch magic mushroom ban. Due to to number of questions(160) asked by parliament and the difficult position the questions bring the minister in, it will take some time before a ban can take place. The expectancy is that it will be after the summer, before the minister can answer these questions.

that's great--i didn't realize this had happened--so the socialist party meeting with Legalize came about because of the magic mushroom spore-spreading 'prank?' -DICK

[sylenth]

well it's good & very different to see people trying this kind of aproach to get a message across. far more pleasant than the shit i haved to see going on here in my country.

thanx 4 this i look forward to good news but either way, news with updates in the future.

[Alfa]

Originally Posted by Richard_smoker

that's great--i didn't realize this had happened--so the socialist party meeting with Legalize came about because of the magic mushroom spore-spreading 'prank?' -DICK

Reality has a tendency to be weirder than fantasy at times.

[Richard_smoker]

sylenth,..that's exactly why i asked!

alfa, it certainly does!

There's no doubt that the yippies and other sub-cultural/counter-cultural phenomena of the 20th century have been somewhat embraced at least in a historical-sense, into the collective cultural American identity...

although it's difficult to measure, i think this might be the first shenanigan i've heard of to incite interest in the cause by political leaders...I mean, we did have the civil rights movement, but you can't really compare bus-boycotts to public pranks like hosing the parliament with mushroom spores!

I find it refreshing to imagine governments built on the concept of listening to the grievances of minority interests...perhaps this group will be successful in overcoming the public health minister's decision. Perhaps their concerns alone will be sufficient to overturn the proposal. After all, wasn't the danger of drugs taken into specific consideration by the Dutch government when their famous drug policies were originally set?? I was under the distinct impression that the Dutch policy was set to allow for the decriminalization of drugs in general.

Just out of curiosity...How does one go about becoming the Dutch Minister of Public Health? is this an appointed position?

Also, is this kind of sympathetic response to a political protest typical of Socialism? it would seem consistent with the original philosophy. I would think that a puposeful "hearing out" of complaints by minority interests could amass quite a following within a society. after all, how many of us can honestly say we're not heavily sympathetic to some lesser-known cause? add them up and you're bound to get a massive following. -DICK