http://www.amsterdammarijuanaseedbank.com Medical marijuana, read cannabis legalization articles 2004 Amsterdam marijuana seed bank. All rights reserved. Wed, 03 Apr 2013 17:38:00 +0100 http://www.amsterdammarijuanaseedbank.com/news/Is-spain-thinking-about-legalizing-cannabis-to-obtain-more-tax.html Amsterdam- On Thursday, there was a strange debate in the Spanish Parliament with the Minister of Justice Alberto Ruiz Gallardón present at that time. The debate was in fact about whether or not to legalize marijuana to generate more much needed tax revenue. The minister was asked this question by some MPs on Thursday, and the response of the minister was short and clear: he has always been against. However, this does not mean .... Wed, 03 Apr 2013 17:38:00 +0100 http://www.amsterdammarijuanaseedbank.com/news/Minister-Opstelten-explores-small-scale-cannabis-cultivation.html Amsterdam- Minister Ivo Opstelten is identifying which municipalities have plans to regulate marijuana cultivation and has promised to investigate small-scale cannabis cultivation in Europe and the U.S. He says so in response to questions asked in the House. Several Brabant municipalities, including Tilburg and Eindhoven, would like to have the ability to experiment with local regulated cannabis cultivation. .... Wed, 03 Apr 2013 17:01:00 +0100 http://www.amsterdammarijuanaseedbank.com/news/Court-also-agrees-with-restrictions-on-selling-weed.html Amsterdam- Again, coffee shop owners from the south of the country come away empty-handed from court: that is, the court thinks it should continue to be forbidden to sell weed to drugs tourists. According to the court, the state has good reasons to limit the size of coffeeshops and to combat marijuana tourism this way. The court in The Hague has already found this in April, but the coffeeshop owners from Limburg, Brabant, and Zeeland appealed to a higher court. .... Mon, 11 Feb 2013 15:30:00 +0100 http://www.amsterdammarijuanaseedbank.com/news/Cannabis-tourist-remains-welcome-in-Amsterdam.html Amsterdam- Foreign tourists remain welcome in Amsterdam coffee shops for the time being. This is what Minister Opstelten has said following the decision of the municipality to ban smoking weed from schools. The ban applies to schoolyards of high schools and vocational schools. Amsterdam has already said several times that tourists should continue to get access. That intention is now .... Thu, 24 Jan 2013 17:22:00 +0100 http://www.amsterdammarijuanaseedbank.com/news/Opstelten-happy-with-Amsterdam-policies-against-smoking-weed.html Amsterdam- Minister Ivo Opstelten (Security and Justice) is satisfied with the policies against smoking weed for young people that the city of Amsterdam has announced. "The municipality realizes the policy exactly the way I have imagined," he has said on Wednesday. Amsterdam implements a ban on smoking weed in schoolyards... Thu, 24 Jan 2013 17:07:00 +0100 http://www.amsterdammarijuanaseedbank.com/news/Weed-is-now-more-legal-in-america-than-in-the-Netherlands.html Amsterdam- It might become quiet on the streets of Amsterdam. An important group of tourists does not have to get out of its own country anymore to obtain weed legally. Who is this illustrious group of stoners? Well, they are those oh so conservative Americans. Because over there, weed is legalized for the first time in their history. Across America? No, only in the states of Washington and Colorado. However, we are talking about real legalization: cultivating, sales, profit, and smoking: everything is allowed. Moreover, the tax revenues are phenomenal. This makes us cumbersome toleration system completely superseded. The Netherlands is no longer the leader in the world when it comes to weed. What has happened? Well, you know that President Obama is reelected last month for an additional four years as president, right? That day, Americans have voted on just about anything, and thus on referenda as well. In Oregon, Washington and Colorado... Sun, 30 Dec 2012 17:10:00 +0100 http://www.amsterdammarijuanaseedbank.com/news/Abolition-of-weed-pass-mere-formality.html Amsterdam- The coffeeshops in Maastricht call the abolition of the weed pass a mere formality. According to chairperson Josemans of the Association of Official coffeeshops Maastricht, very little changes because customers must show identification and an extract from the municipal population register. what measures are effective,' according to Opstelten. 'Moreover, such an extract is valid for a limited time only,' Josemans says, 'so people should go to the city hall every three months. No one wants that.' Josemans notes that municipalities always ask why someone comes to get an extract. He fears that it will soon be tracked who visits coffeeshops. It is then no longer the coffeeshop that keeps a customer base, but the municipality. Wed, 21 Nov 2012 22:50:00 +0100 http://www.amsterdammarijuanaseedbank.com/news/Municipality-can-fill-out-approach-coffeeshop-itself.html Amsterdam- Municipalities may determine their policy on coffeeshops and drug nuisance. In addition, the much debated weed pass is immediately abolished. This is what Minister Ivo Opstelten writes in a letter to the Lower House on Monday. For the whole country, it will apply that visitors of coffeeshops must prove that they live in the Netherlands before they can buy drugs. One can do so with an ID card or residence permit, together with an extract from the municipal population register. However, municipalities may decide when they go check whether coffeeshops carry out these rules. Opstelten is confident that municipalities will make good plans together with the police and justice to combat nuisance. 'At the local level, one knows best what measures are effective,' according to Opstelten. Wed, 21 Nov 2012 22:49:00 +0100 http://www.amsterdammarijuanaseedbank.com/news/Amsterdam-coffeeshops-remain-open-for-tourists.html Amsterdam- Tourists can keep visiting the 220 coffee shops in Amsterdam, even if they are not Dutch residents. Mayor Van der Laan confirms this in the Volkskrant based on the coalition agreement of the new cabinet. For over a year, he has been in a conversation on the impact of the new policy on soft drugs in Amsterdam with Minister Opstelten of Security and Justice. The capital is home to one third of the total number of coffee shops in the Netherlands. One and a half million of the estimated seven million tourists annually coming to Amsterdam visit a coffee shop. Van der Laan, 'Those one and a half million tourists will not say no to weed now. They will spread over the city looking for drugs. More robbery, quarrels about fake drugs, no control over the quality of drugs - all the misery we had comes back.' He has promised the minister to address crime and nuisance surrounding coffee shops firmly and to continue to fight marijuana use among young people. The outgoing Cabinet was planning to allow Dutch members in coffee shops only. They were to register to get a weed pass. The weed pass, already introduced in the southern part of the Netherlands, is now off the table. Nevertheless.... Fri, 02 Nov 2012 18:02:00 +0100 http://www.amsterdammarijuanaseedbank.com/news/Van-der-Laan-has-no-gotten-permission-from-Opstelten.html Amsterdam- Mayor Van der Laan has received no permission to allow tourists in coffee shops after January 1st at all. That is what a representative of Minister Ivo Opstelten of Security and Justice has said. He says that the mayor of Amsterdam is premature with his conclusion, according to the NOS. This morning, Van der Laan has said in De Volkskrant that coffee shops in Amsterdam stay open for tourists, since the weed pass is off the table. The outgoing Cabinet only wanted to allow Dutch members in coffee shops. They had to register to get a weed pass, but this pass is going to disappear. Customers of coffee shops still have to show an identity card or residence permit and a copy of an entry in the Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages to prove that they live in the Netherlands... Fri, 02 Nov 2012 18:01:00 +0100 http://www.amsterdammarijuanaseedbank.com/news/the-weed-pass-is-good-for-gentlemen-thugs-from-maasje.html Amsterdam- Much is said about the streets of Maastricht. The weed pass, that was introduced on 1 May, would make those streets much less safe according to the inhabitants of the city. According to politicians, however, it only makes the streets safer! I went to Maastricht for a day to learn more, and also to let the people speak that the mainstream media will not: a rapper, yo! There are eight legal coffee shops in Maastricht that were visited 3.8 million times by 2.2 million people last year. An estimated 80 to 90% of them come from abroad. On 1 January 2012, the appendix of the Opium Act is, however, adjusted so that only permanently registered customers can buy soft drugs legally. But only people living in the Netherlands can be permanently registered, or join a coffee shop. From May 1, it is also effectively controlled whether people are officially registered, and the adaptation of the law thus starts effectively. From then on, people who do not live in the Netherlands can no longer buy drugs in coffee shops in Maastricht, and sales in the shops will plummet. An organization for local residents fears growing nuisance, and says that she sometimes even sees boys of fourteen dealing on the street. Marc Josemans, chairman of the association of coffee shop owners, also thinks that the nuisance will increase. Thu, 25 Oct 2012 17:02:00 +0100 http://www.amsterdammarijuanaseedbank.com/news/sufficient-support-for-more-stringent-policy-on-soft-drugs.html Amsterdam- Debate - Minister Opstelten (Safety) advocates a vigorous approach to drug-related nuisance and crime. Minister Schippers (Health) seeks to prevent young people from wasting their lives. Van der Steur (VVD), Çörüz (CDA) and Elissen (PVV) support the reassessment of the soft drugs policy. Limit the coffeeshops to where they originally were intended for: outlets for local users. Minister Opstelten wants coffee shops to become closed clubs, only open to Dutch adult marijuana users. The mandatory weed pass should ward off drug tourists. The trouble will actually increase by more illegal sales on the street, Kooiman (SP) fears. Previous experiences do not show this, the Minister says. Moreover, the fight against street trade temporarily receives higher priority. Do international treaties allow the Netherlands to regulate the supply of weed, 'the back door?' Bouwmeester (PvdA), Kooiman, Van der Ham (D66) and Dibi (Groenlinks) advocate the legalization of cannabis cultivation and trade to reduce the role of organized crime. Legalizing is not possible because of international agreements, Opstelten claims. Moreover, the government does not want it. The call of Çörüz to ban coffee shops altogether in that case, the Minister does not support. Thu, 25 Oct 2012 17:00:00 +0100 http://www.amsterdammarijuanaseedbank.com/news/weed-pass-may-worsen-drug-nuisiance.html Amsterdam- The inhabitants of Hoorn had already been looking forward to it: no more traffic jams in the city, no more minors asking them to buy hashish or marijuana for them. The two coffee shops in the center would make room for one large one, on the outskirts of the city. The operation was even included in the 2010 coalition agreement. But the national plans for the introduction of the weed pass now threaten to be a spoil-spot . Minister Opstelten (safety) wants to turn coffee shops into private clubs with no more than two thousand (Dutch) members. For the roughly five thousand cannabis users in Hoorn, one coffee shop would be too little. The coalition parties VVD and D66 therefore doubt the plans now. The fear exists that the three thousand non-members will buy their hash or weed in an alley. Thu, 18 Oct 2012 19:35:00 +0100 http://www.amsterdammarijuanaseedbank.com/news/Utrecht-continues-marijuana-experiment.html Amsterdam- The municipality of Utrecht continues with the plans to let marijuana users grow cannabis legally within closed clubs. This is what responsible alderman Victor Everhardt said Wednesday morning. Previously, Minister of Justice Ivo Opstelten and a parliament majority expressed strong criticism on the plan for this experiment.Utrecht wants to establish an association for adult marijuana users that grow weed in a regulated and controlled manner, so-called cannabis clubs. The aim is to gain more control over the quality of the weed and to consequently protect the health of the users. With the experiment, Utrecht hopes to take away cannabis cultivation from crime. The experiment is still in the research phase. But Opstelten said to intervene when the plan becomes reality in the Chamber. Everhardt is surprised by 'the premature fierce reactions in The Hague.' However, according to the D66 alderman, it is no reason to stop the experiment. Thu, 18 Oct 2012 19:34:00 +0100 http://www.amsterdammarijuanaseedbank.com/news/cannabis-of-4200-year-old-in-tomb-Hanzelijn-Netherlands.html Amsterdam- In a Stone Age tomb detected near the Gelderland Hattemerbroek, over 4200 years old cannabis is probably found. The Dutch cannabis is probably used medicinally due to the pain-relieving effect, just like what is happening again nowadays. It is almost certain that it is about cannabis pollen. In that case, these would be found in the Netherlands in an archaeological tomb for the first time. This is what a spokesperson of ProRail said Tuesday on the eve of the presentation of a book on the archaeological research at the construction of the Hanzelijn, the railway that connects the Randstad to the northeast of the Netherlands. Thu, 11 Oct 2012 14:54:00 +0100 http://www.amsterdammarijuanaseedbank.com/news/rush-expected-because-of-weed-pass.html Amsterdam- Municipalities in the south of the Netherlands can expect large crowds at the population register. Blowers need an extract for a weed pass. Municipalities in the south of the country can expect tens of thousands of applications in total for extracts from the population register starting next week. Soft drug users need the latest extract if they want to become a member of a coffee shop to buy their weed. Thu, 11 Oct 2012 14:53:00 +0100 http://www.amsterdammarijuanaseedbank.com/news/alarm-for-coffeeshop-cartels.html Amsterdam- In Limburg, it is feared that coffeeshops in Roermond, Hoensbroek, Sittard-Geleen and Venlo will get in the hands of one party. Following this, a nationwide investigation is started. Mayor Henk van Beers of Roermond explained a letter about this in a meeting of the North and Central Limburg mayors, police and justice Friday. In Roermond, after an application for a new operating license for coffee Sky, the impression was created that one person, Peter Hendriks, is working on the acquisition of seven coffeeshops. Cause is the introduction of the weed pass in May that will tie up the influx to coffeeshops. Tue, 02 Oct 2012 17:38:00 +0100 http://www.amsterdammarijuanaseedbank.com/news/mayor-rehwinkel-wants-no-weed-pass-in-groningen.html Amsterdam- A survey on the weed pass of the NOS shows that municipalities reluctantly enter the weed pass. For the survey, 31 municipalities were contacted: border communities, provincial capitals and the four major cities. 26 municipalities replied. Groningen is one of the municipalities that have not responded to the survey, but that expressed its opinion on the weed pass. Mayor Rehwinkel wants an exception for his city. He only sees drawbacks for his city. Especially since no drug tourists come to his city, the pas is pointless, he says. Local authorities fear an increase in illegal soft drugs trade. They also point out to need additional measures and police capacity for the maintenance of the weed pass and combating illegal trade and the resulting inconvenience. Tue, 02 Oct 2012 17:02:00 +0100 http://www.amsterdammarijuanaseedbank.com/news/cannabis-addicts-are-not-to-be-found-at-the-emergency-room-or-intensive-care-in-the-weekend.html Amsterdam- While they in political The Hague worry about weed passes and hashish prohibitions, health facilities are filling up with GHB addicts. 'The drug debate is not sharp and outdated.' Weed pass this, hashish ban that. Regulate this, tolerate that. No coffeeshops near schools, kindergartens and nurseries. Or exactly the opposite. You stumble on proposed legislation, initiatives and tentative plans that ought to make the life of the good old stoner miserable in the House of Representatives. Also in the first part of the drug debate last Thursday, the MPs debated mainly about the cannabis plant. They should divide their attention better. Tue, 25 Sep 2012 16:38:00 +0100 http://www.amsterdammarijuanaseedbank.com/news/spanish-cannabis-clubs-are-no-dutch-coffeeshops.html Amsterdam- The Spanish government launched an investigation on the cultivation of marijuana in the country. Madrid reacts to the decision of a village near Barcelona to grow marijuana to raise money for the municipal treasury. The weed is for a private club of users, 'not comparable to the Dutch model.’ The Spanish cannabis clubs have no pecuniary reward and operate transparently in their own words. 'We invent the wheel a bit ourselves.' Tue, 25 Sep 2012 15:32:00 +0100 http://www.amsterdammarijuanaseedbank.com/news/coffeeshop-employees-threatened-with-redundancy-because-of-weed pass.html Amsterdam- About sixty employees of Maastricht coffee shops have collectively reported at the UWV this morning in Maastricht to get attention to the fact that they will be redundant as of May 1st, along with 300 other Maastricht colleagues. The resignation wave in the coffeeshop industry is the result of the introduction of the weed pass that Minister of Security and Justice Opstelten implements from May 1st, officially to reduce the nuisance of drug tourism from abroad. Thu, 20 Sep 2012 16:00:00 +0100 http://www.amsterdammarijuanaseedbank.com/news/weed-pass-the-end-for-good-old-amsterdam-coffeeshop.html Amsterdam- As of May 1st, all coffee shops below the rivers should 'become private clubs, with compulsory membership list, weed pass and registration of private data.’ Monday, the Tilburg council committee takes a look into this. Much has been said and written about this plan of administration Rutte 1; please note that the motto chosen is "Freedom and responsibility.” The weed pass, but also the hashish ban, the absurd distance criterion for coffee shops near schools and 15% THC limit: it is purely symbolic politics that restrict the freedom of the citizen and scorns his or her own responsibility. Tue, 18 Sep 2012 15:59:00 +0100 http://www.amsterdammarijuanaseedbank.com/news/dutch-drug-policy-discussion-is-made-on-basis-false-assumptions.html Amsterdam- The Dutch drug policy and the discussion on it has long been based on false assumptions. Today, the ministers and the right wing of the Parliament are happy to continue that. What are the words of the Government, MPs of CDA, VVD and PVV and the police about soft drugs worth? Nothing, we can plainly say. In recent weeks, several studies and reports leaked, showing that the policy of brutal repression of hemp cultivation and coffeeshops is justified with appeals to claims that do not seem to be correct. Claim 1: 80 percent of the Dutch cannabis cultivation is sent abroad. Sent into the world in 2008 by Max Daniel of the National Task Force organized cannabis cultivation. Sings since along the Parliament and the country as an illustration of how failed the tolerance policy is and how it is used as an argument to come up with a strong police force. Mon, 17 Sep 2012 16:41:00 +0100 http://www.amsterdammarijuanaseedbank.com/news/top-lawyer-spong-sees-no-benefit-in-weed-pass.html Amsterdam- During the council meeting, there is a political call for a test case on the legal feasibility of the weed pass. D66, PvdA, Groenlinks, SBM, SP and PvM have already pledged their support to a motion raised about this during the council meeting. In that motion, the politicians ask the college to implement a test trial against one of the fourteen coffeeshops on short term. The parties propose that Maastricht presents a decision to the coffee shop against which the trial is held in accordance with applicable laws and regulations as soon as a foreigner is present in the coffeeshop. But that the shop will not be punished in anticipation of the trial and thus will not have to close. Tue, 17 Jul 2012 13:57:00 +0100 http://www.amsterdammarijuanaseedbank.com/news/maastricht-wants-test-trial-on-weed-pass.html Amsterdam- During the council meeting, there is a political call for a test case on the legal feasibility of the weed pass. D66, PvdA, Groenlinks, SBM, SP and PvM have already pledged their support to a motion raised about this during the council meeting. In that motion, the politicians ask the college to implement a test trial against one of the fourteen coffeeshops on short term. The parties propose that Maastricht presents a decision to the coffee shop against which the trial is held in accordance with applicable laws and regulations as soon as a foreigner is present in the coffeeshop. But that the shop will not be punished in anticipation of the trial and thus will not have to close. Tue, 17 Jul 2012 13:57:00 +0100 http://www.amsterdammarijuanaseedbank.com/news/catalan-village-seeks-salvation-in-marijuana-cultivation.html Amsterdam- The Catalan village Rasquera wants to keep head above water during the economic crisis by leasing land for cannabis cultivation. The council has adopted a proposal for this with four votes to three Wednesday night, a proposal for adoption. The central government has announced to intervene when the first seeds are put into the ground. Rasquera is a village of nine hundred inhabitants, situated at the foot of a mountain range in the province of Tarragona. It is built compactly and has a castle dating from the twelfth century. According to the newspaper La Vanguardia, the village is slowly becoming empty; young people leave because there is no work and the people staying are desperately looking for revenue sources. Thu, 05 Jul 2012 15:35:00 +0100 http://www.amsterdammarijuanaseedbank.com/news/vvd-questions-strong-weed-control.html Amsterdam- The VVD sees a problem with the control by coffee shops on the sale of too strong weed. The government does not allow this anymore, but the coffee shop owner cannot easily control how strong the weed is that he gets delivered. According VVD MP Ard van der Steur, there is equipment with which the coffee shop owner can measure how strong his wares are, but it could be possible that the supply of this equipment runs into problems. As it happens, the government is scheduling to criminalize the preparation of cannabis cultivation. Thu, 05 Jul 2012 15:35:00 +0100 http://www.amsterdammarijuanaseedbank.com/news/where-to-buy-marijuana-without-a-weed-pass.html Amsterdam- Dear visitor, During the last few weeks, there is confusion about whether foreign tourists are or are not allowed to buy weed or hashish in the Netherlands. We would like to answer this question. Where are you welcome and where not? Since the first of May, a weed pass is needed for 3 southern provinces of the Netherlands. These 3 provinces are: Limburg, Brabant and Zeeland. In these 3 provinces, it is therefore not possible to buy hashish or weed without weed pass, as a foreign tourist. We have indicated these 3 provinces on the map with the color red Tue, 05 Jun 2012 18:58:00 +0100 http://www.amsterdammarijuanaseedbank.com/news/control-weed-pass-not-a-priority.html Amsterdam- Checking the coffee shops for their compliance with the rules surrounding the weed pass gets no priority in Den Bosch. Mayor Rombouts writes this in a letter to the council committee administrative affairs. Spearheads of the Bossche policy on the coffeeshops have always been nuisance, youth and hard drugs; it will remain this way. Thu, 31 May 2012 15:43:00 +0100 http://www.amsterdammarijuanaseedbank.com/news/naivety-mayor-tilburg-considering-weed-pass-will-cost-us-dearly.html Amsterdam- The JOVD Heart of Brabant, Tilburg’s department of the independent liberal youth organization JOVD, criticizes the naivety of Mayor Noordanus. The young liberals respond to the article of the Mayor on the website of the Brabants Dagblad. Here, the mayor suggests that by the introduction of the weed pass, no increase in illegal street trading in soft drugs will occur. 'We find this assertion very naive. The demand for softdrugs will not be reduced by introducing the weed pass, and trade will shift from coffee shops to the streets,' Kjeld Otten, board member Politics, says. Thu, 31 May 2012 15:43:00 +0100 http://www.amsterdammarijuanaseedbank.com/news/dutch-soft-drugs-policy-government-disaster.html Amsterdam/ The Hague - The soft drugs policy of the government will be disastrous in Amsterdam, mayor Eberhard van der Laan fears. If all the coffee shops within a radius of 350 meters around a school are to be shut down, only 36 of the 223 remain left. As a result, there will be more nuisance around coffeeshops that are allowed to stay and a thriving street trade.The pass system that makes coffee shops only accessible to adult residents of the Netherlands will work out badly too, Van der Laan expects. 'If tourists are denied access to the coffee shop, lucrative selling of soft drugs on the street will come back. We will return to the Zeedijk affairs of the eighties. That street is finally restored, but now the dealers will come back. Don’t put the street through that. ' Thu, 24 May 2012 16:40:00 +0100 http://www.amsterdammarijuanaseedbank.com/news/2012-year-of-truth-for-amsterdam-coffeeshops.html Amsterdam - It is time, the slogan was with which the Serbian protest movement OTPOR started her successful campaign against the fraudulent reelection of Milosevic in 2000. The same now applies to actions to save coffeeshops and our cannabis culture. 2012 will be the year of truth. In the letter that Minister Opstelten sent to the House of commons on 15 December last year, he argues that the weed pass will be entered in the three southern provinces on January 1, but only will be maintained from May 1. The VOC responded the same day with a press release in which spokesman Joep Oomen characterizes the letter as a legal patchwork. Oomen: The letter contains no concrete answers to the many questions asked ??by officials of the South Dutch municipalities in recent months, who will have to face the weed pass first. Mon, 21 May 2012 19:40:00 +0100 http://www.amsterdammarijuanaseedbank.com/news/polish-politician-wants-to-smoke-pot-in-parliament.html Amsterdam - Legalization of soft drugs is one of the key elements of the former alcohol tycoon and flamboyant party leader of the left-liberal Movement of Palikot. He presents a bill about it today, and it is blowing that is the attention grabber. The strict Polish drug policy does not distinguish between soft and hard drugs. There is a three years prison sentence for the possession of drugs, regardless of quantity. In order to relieve justice,there is a provision in force since December 2011 that relieves prosecutors from the duty to prosecute. One can look the other way with small quantities for personal use. Wed, 09 May 2012 15:43:00 +0100 http://www.amsterdammarijuanaseedbank.com/news/pvda-leader-manon-fokke-reopens-the-debate-introduction-weed-pass-stupid.html Amsterdam - By May 1st, the club card (read: weed pass) for coffee shops will be introduced, but whether it very much makes sense is the question. 'When dealing with drug runners already fails now, then you are surely very stupid if you still enter the weed pass,' the Maastricht PvdA leader Manon Fokke (re) opens the debate today on Facebook. She responds to the revealing coverage of the KRO program Brandpunt last night, which again shows that there is already no stopping the drugs runners problem at this moment.The JOINT HIT TEAM of the Maastricht police, which hunts the 300 to 400 drug runners that plague the city, is powerless against the hundreds of young people - mostly of Moroccan origin - coming from the Randstad to Maastricht to make their shot in the drug scene, as became clear from the report. For each drug runner who is caught, ten new ones are ready, the makers noted. Wed, 09 May 2012 15:41:00 +0100 http://www.amsterdammarijuanaseedbank.com/news/hard-soft-drugs-policy-can-die-at-city-hall.html Amsterdam - According to the Ministry, municipalities may decide themselves how they act against coffee shops that boycott the weed pass. One plus one equals two. Many municipalities are against the weed pass, so they will not proceed to closure quickly. They were unconditionally against the introduction of the weed pass, the mayors of municipalities with coffee shops. And now they get the opportunity to convert their opposition into policy from the Ministry of Security and Justice. 'Municipalities are allowed to decide for themselves how they act against coffee shops who fail to stick to the weed pass,' the Ministry informs. Sat, 05 May 2012 21:45:00 +0100 http://www.amsterdammarijuanaseedbank.com/news/coffeeshops-against-weed-pass-2012.html Amsterdam - All sixteen tolerated coffee shops in Haarlem reject the weed pass. They think that the registration of regular customers leads to many bankruptcies and the firing of at least ninety people, RTV Noord-Holland reports. The coffee shops have done a survey among their customers. Only 12 percent appears willing to register as a cannabis user. Thu, 03 May 2012 22:56:00 +0100 http://www.amsterdammarijuanaseedbank.com/news/coffeeshops-to-alcohol-en-masse.html Amsterdam - Due to the introduction of the weed pass, coffeeshops will transition to the sale of alcohol en masse. That is what Michael Veling, coffeeshop owner and chairman of the Union of Cannabis Retailers, said tonight.The government is planning on implementing the weed pass in the city as of January 1st, 2013. This means that coffeeshops will become private clubs. Cannabis may only be sold to cardholders and no longer to tourists. The death toll for the industry, coffee shop owner Michael Veling says: 'That will be the end of my business'.Veling warns for his estimation that of the 220 coffee shops in the city, about 180 will transition to the sale of alcohol: 'If we want to call that an improvement of the living environment in the city, go ahead!' Tue, 17 Apr 2012 14:08:00 +0100 http://www.amsterdammarijuanaseedbank.com/news/420-smoke-outs-in-amsterdam-on-20-april-2012.html Amsterdam - On April 20, 2012, cannabis lovers from all over the Netherlands and around the world will come to Amsterdam.They come to show that they will not be discriminated by the Dutch government.The 'Weed pass' policy discriminates Dutch against same other Dutch by not allowing them in other coffee shops than where the person is officially registered as a member. With this, the policy courses the Dutch Cannabis user into illegality, because they will be designated to street trade outside their own community.The foreigners are discriminated against based on origin without a valid reason, namely that the nuisance surrounding coffee shops is caused by foreigners explicitly. They are denied based on the so-called neighboring country principle. The tourist is thus no longer allowed into the coffeeshop but may still smoke pot and carry around up to 5 grams of marijuana in the Netherlands without thereby coming across legal problems. Logical consequence: the tourist also turns to the street. Wed, 11 Apr 2012 00:09:00 +0100 http://www.amsterdammarijuanaseedbank.com/news/heavy-users-yield-most-as-a-member.html Amsterdam - It is good that the weed pass will not enter, because the only coffee shop in Etten-Leur, Northern Light X, was not ready yet.We have not been informed by the municipality at all,” an employee of coffee Northern Light X says. “Clients often ask how what the deal is with the weed pass.” The only information I can give, I get from newspapers or the news.” Now it has become clear that the weed pass is not forthcoming. The employee does want to talk with the newspaper, albeit anonymously. His boss, the owner of the business, is not available for comment. The employee regrets that the Opium Act is amended. Tue, 03 Apr 2012 00:23:00 +0100 http://www.amsterdammarijuanaseedbank.com/news/hemp-fragrance-card-for-all-dutch.html Amsterdam - The so-called hemp aroma card will almost certainly become available to everyone in the Netherlands. Now, that card bearing the scent of hemp in order to detect farming is only distributed in The Hague and Rotterdam. A spokesman for Network Management Netherlands, the trade association of operators, said that on Friday. "The decision must still be formally adopted, but the desire is there to use the hemp fragrance card on a larger scale," the spokesman said. The card is normally distributed everywhere, but especially in areas where hemp is rampant. Sat, 18 Feb 2012 00:06:00 +0100 http://www.amsterdammarijuanaseedbank.com/news/the-netherlands-large-in-weed-cultivation-valencia.html Amsterdam - The 'Dutch mafia' checks the growing number of large marijuana plantations in the Spanish region of Valencia. That is what the Spanish police says. Flown-in experts teach local farmers, having made Spain one of the leading producers of marijuana in Europe. According to the Guardia Civil, the number of farms has really taken off since 2010. The 'well-organized professionals' mainly stem from the about 17,000 souls from the Dutch community in Valencia. Fri, 17 Feb 2012 14:04:00 +0100 http://www.amsterdammarijuanaseedbank.com/news/procedure-taskforce-weed-cultivation-soon-to-be-national.html Amsterdam - The way a special Task Force fights the criminal cannabis cultivation in Brabant since a year should be an example for the rest of the Netherlands. This is what Minister Ivo Opstelten (Security and Justice) said Thursday in a meeting in the Lower House. In it, the police, municipalities, departments of the Public Ministry and the Tax work closely together to tackle criminal groups that make heaps of money from the cultivation and trafficking of marijuana. Fri, 03 Feb 2012 18:22:00 +0100 http://www.amsterdammarijuanaseedbank.com/news/the-netherlands-is-the-european-cannabis-country.html Amsterdam - The Netherlands has an estimated 40,000 cannabis growers. This makes the Netherlands the list leader within Europe. The production is approximately a 2 billion euro profit. This is what is found from the figures of the police and the Task Force taking hold of organized cannabis. According to police, the marijuana cultivation has long lost its innocence. Not harmless home growers, but large criminal organizations are behind the numerous cannabis plantations. Thu, 02 Feb 2012 22:24:00 +0100 http://www.amsterdammarijuanaseedbank.com/news/utrecht-wants-to-continue-cannabis-club-experiment.html Amsterdam- The city of Utrecht is sticking to the plan to permit cannabis clubs in the city. That is said in the progress report, which was sent to the city council on Thursday. The College wraps the clubs up as a scientific experiment. Utrecht wants to make growing marijuana legal by allowing a user group in the city. Its members adopt a few plants in a professionally managed central nursery. That way, the quality of the drugs can be controlled better and crime remains sidelined,the College claims. Wed, 25 Jan 2012 22:18:00 +0100 http://www.amsterdammarijuanaseedbank.com/news/coffeeshops-not-yet-ready-for-weed-pass.html Amsterdam- The image of the Netherlands as a soft drugs paradise continues to go up in smoke. Next year, it will even be illegal for tourists to buy cannabis. Opposition to this measure is large. There has been much controversy about the so-called weed pass in recent months. Coffee shops are allowed to sell cannabis next year, but only if they transform themselves into private clubs first. Instead of customers, they get members. Up to 2,000 per coffee shop. Only Dutch residents are welcome. Wed, 18 Jan 2012 00:13:00 +0100 http://www.amsterdammarijuanaseedbank.com/news/weed-pass-not-necessary.html Amsterdam- The controversial weed pass is not coming in a physical form. Instead of a separate pass, visitors of a coffee shop need to identity with a passport or driver's license in the future. The coffee shop owner himself/herself should keep a list of 'shop members'.This is said by spokeswoman Charlotte Menten of the Department of Security and Justice. According Menten, only residents of the Netherlands can soon visit a coffee shop. This measure is to stop drug tourism. Tue, 17 Jan 2012 01:51:00 +0000 http://www.amsterdammarijuanaseedbank.com/news/opposition-and-senior-party-send-letter-to-opstelten.html Amsterdam- The Maastricht fractions CDA, Senior Party Maastricht, VVD, Liberal Party Maastricht and the CVP ask Minister Opstelten CVP to no longer postpone the introduction of the weed pass / club card. In the coalition agreement, the agreement is set to reduce the number of coffee shops in the Netherlands. In this context, Minister Opstelten is working on preparing national measures. He wants to strengthen the current tolerance policy with additional criteria. By introducing the weed pass, he intends to give only residents of the Netherlands access to coffee shops, so that they get a private character. Sun, 08 Jan 2012 23:35:00 +0000 http://www.amsterdammarijuanaseedbank.com/news/presents-christmas-tree-paid-with-drug-money.html Amsterdam- The Netherlands is the European hemp country pre-eminently. With an estimated 40,000 home growers, we are on the top the list, papers headlines today. It is not surprising that Maastricht is a large weed paradise. There are plenty of 'shops' that sell the stuff in large quantities to mainly foreign drug tourists and there are suppliers of the weed. As super market Albert Heijn is supplied with big trucks daily, so are the coffee shops in Maastricht supplied by small home growers or professional, illegal organizations engaged in larger-scale weed cultivation. The latter happens mostly out of town or just across the border in sheds, barns and other inconspicuous unoccupied buildings. Fri, 06 Jan 2012 13:25:00 +0000 http://www.amsterdammarijuanaseedbank.com/news/dutch-drug-policy-stricter-than-in-us.html Amsterdam- While the Netherlands gets less tolerant with it's drug policy other countries introduce a more flexible drug policy. This summer the Global Commission on Drug Policy complimented the Dutch for their pragmatic drug policy. It is totally different now. Other countries think they can not win the war on drugs and that a solution lies within regulating the production of marijuana. The Rutte-government runs an opposite policy with symbol measures like the Dutch weed pass, the distance criterion and the graduation of the most (strong) cannabis to hard drugs Sun, 30 Oct 2011 21:31:00 +0000 http://www.amsterdammarijuanaseedbank.com/news/strong-weed-sold-as-hard-drug-on-black-market.html Amsterdam- By making strong hashish and weed a hard drug, these THC resources will be sold on the black market. Crime on cannabis will drastically increase. The user will be exposed to other harder drugs.This is a warning from the English professor in psychiatry and neuropharmacology ,David Nutt during a hearing in the Dutch parliament about the Dutch drug policy. The committee-Garretsen advised the Dutch parliament to no longer tolerate strong cannabis in coffeeshops. It will be about cannabis which contains more than 15% of the psychoactive substance THC (Tetrahydrocannabinol). If this becomes a hard drug penalties will be higher and coffeeshops will not be allowed to sell it. Thu, 20 Oct 2011 19:13:00 +0000 http://www.amsterdammarijuanaseedbank.com/news/strong-marijuana-becomes-hard-drug.html The Hague- Strong marijuana and hashish becoming hard drugs. It is all about the marijuana which contains more than 15% of the substance THC (Tetrahydrocannabinol). This means that these marijuana strains can no longer go over the coffeshop counter.This proposal is on the agenda of the Dutch cabinet, confirmed initiates this wednesday. Earlier a commission adviced to stop tolerating these strong marijuana varieties. Wed, 12 Oct 2011 22:34:00 +0000 http://www.amsterdammarijuanaseedbank.com/news/french-discriminated-at-dutch-coffeeshops.html Amsterdam- The French who were dismissed at the entrance of coffeeshops in Maastricht responded disappointed and angry on the new measure of the shops. The Maastricht coffeeshops refuse everyone who does not live in the Netherlands, Germany or Belgium." Cést le fascisme" (it is fascism!), shouted an angry Frenchman at the doorman of coffeeshop Easy Going in the Limburg capital Maastricht when the doorman refused him to access the coffeeshop. The angry French felt discriminated and accuse the doormen of racism. Tue, 11 Oct 2011 23:32:00 +0000 http://www.amsterdammarijuanaseedbank.com/news/royal-canadian-mounted-police-seized-241-marijuana-plants.html Amsterdam- In order to exterminate marijuana growing operations the Royal Canadian Mounted Police held their annually marijuana extermination activity. They did that in coorperation with their Marijuana Grow Op Enforcement team Fri, 16 Sep 2011 17:47:00 +0000 http://www.amsterdammarijuanaseedbank.com/news/kofi-annan-wants-to-legalize-cannabis.html Amsterdam - The world wide war against drugs is a complete failure. Therefor should some drugs, like marijuana, should be legalized everywhere. These are the findings of former world leaders and politicians, including former UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan and former presidents of Mexico, Colombia and Brazil.This global commission on drug policy presented her report the 2nd of june 2011 in New York. According to the committee the war on drugs has only aggravated the problem. The organized crime has increased there are over hundred thousand (probably more than a million) people been killed and millions (probably billions) of tax have been spilled. Moreover, people have been using more and more drugs. According to the United Nations, between 1998 and 2008 drug use have been increased with 35%. read the official reports here! Wed, 08 Jun 2011 00:24:00 +0000 http://www.amsterdammarijuanaseedbank.com/news/dutch-weed-pass-definitely-introduced.html Amsterdam - Dutch coffeeshops will only be accessible with a weed pass. Minister of safety and justice ivo opstelten kills dutch marijuana tolerance policy and drives tourists to the streets and to hard drugs. Sun, 29 May 2011 22:38:00 +0000 http://www.amsterdammarijuanaseedbank.com/news/chace-crawford-marijuana-case.html Amsterdam, Chace Crawford has made an agreement in court for the possession of marijuana. If the gossip girl actor avoids contact with the law for one year he won't get a criminal record. Wed, 4 May 2011 01:52:00 +0000 http://www.amsterdammarijuanaseedbank.com/news/no-police-action-when-marijuana-odor-in-car.html Amsterdam (nl): The highest state court of massachusetts decided that the smell of cannabis is not a reason anymore to order a person out of his or her car because marijuana possession has been "tolerated" in Massachusetts (usa).After an appeal submitted by lawyers defending Benjamin Cruz from Boston. Wed, 20 Apr 2011 23:17:00 +0000 http://www.amsterdammarijuanaseedbank.com/news/dutch-weed-pass-introduction.html Amsterdam, Secretary Fred Teeven (political party vvd, safety and Justice) wants to introduce the dutch marijuana pass round the 1st of january 2012. With the introduction of these cannabis passes tourists will be banned (discriminated) from dutch coffeeshops. They will not be able to buy a joint or a bag of weed any more. Sun, 01 Mar 2011 00:13:00 +0000 http://www.amsterdammarijuanaseedbank.com/news/police-recovered-marijuana-from-ambulance.html BEHRAMPORE, India: Police officers discovered 63 kg (138.891 LB)marijuana from an ambulance of an NGO Domkal Bikash Kendra at Hekampur in Domkal this Saturday morning.Police officers halted the ambulance after percepting what looked like 4 packs of robes. On searching, the packs showed marijuana. Sun, 27 Feb 2011 23:49:00 +0000 http://www.amsterdammarijuanaseedbank.com/news/religion-versus-cannabis.html It's a very weird situation; First one of its kind. There will be a hearing in the court of Canada, to determine whether The "Church of the Universe" will be permitted to cultivate and spread cannabis as a part of its sacred proceedings. It is strange situation in which there are 2 "reverends" held as accused for the dispension of Marijuana despite the laws of Canada. Tue, 08 Feb 2011 23:30:00 +0000 http://www.amsterdammarijuanaseedbank.com/news/kenora-marijuana-busts.html Two separate drug seizures in Kenora, Candada. Kenora - Canada-In two different cases this week, Kenora Police have arrested and charged people with possession of a drug. On Tuesday, Feb. 1, while making a routine traffic stop on the Highway , officers from the Kenora Police detachment located in excess of 110 grams (3.88 ounces) of cannabis in a car. Mon, 07 Feb 2011 01:29:45 +0000 http://www.amsterdammarijuanaseedbank.com/news/21-year-old-caught-after-calling-911-for-asking-how-much-cannabis-he-was-allowed-to-grow.html All he wanted was some free legal information. Unfortunately for the 21-year-old Robert Michelson, he made the call to 911, instead of calling a lawyer. Now he is facing multiple drug charges, as a result.In a soundtape of a 911 call made Thursday night made available by the police, you can hear Michelson asking how in how much trouble he could get in for growing 1 cannabis plant.You can hear the dispatcher advising Robert that he could be nailed, Robert can be heard thanking the officers and hangs up. Sun, 06 Feb 2011 22:15:30 +0000 http://www.amsterdammarijuanaseedbank.com/news/drug-smugglers-use-giant-catapults.html Drug catapults used for drug smuggling and trafficing, HERMOSILLO, Mexico (AP) Drug trafficers are using an medieval invention as a new way to move marijuana and cannabis across the border from Mexico to Arizona.The discovery of two "drug catapults" in the Mexican state of Sonora marks the latest twist in the cat-and-mouse game smugglers play with the us border patrol. Tue, 02 Feb 2011 00:17:53 +0000