Re: UPI: NL Coffee Shops restricted to Dutch

"Eric Johnson" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote in message
news:[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> On 27-11-2003 20:52, in article
[EMAIL PROTECTED],
> "Phil Stovell" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
>
> > http://washingtontimes.com/upi-breaking/20031127-013137-1860r.htm
> >
> > Dutch potheads keep 'coffee' shops
> >
> >
> > BRUSSELS, Belgium, Nov. 27 (UPI) -- Holland will be allowed to keep its
> > "coffee" shops, where marijuana is openly sold and smoked, under a new
> > European
> > Union drugs control law.
> >
> > Justice ministers from the 15 EU member states agreed Thursday to
harmonize
> > their national drug laws, and drug traffickers across Europe will face
1-3
> > years in prison for producing or distributing drugs, including cannabis,
coca
> > and opium plants. But individual countries are allowed to set their own
> > national rules on personal consumption of drugs, providing a loophole
for
> > Holland's famed "coffee" cafes.
> >
> > But only Dutch residents with identity cards will be allowed to use the
> > cannabis cafes.
> >
> > Dutch justice minister Piet Hein Donner said his government would
restrict
> > coffee shop owners from selling soft drugs to non-residents, in order to
> > combat
> > drug tourists
>
>
> It isn't going to happen.
>
> I'll bet UPI anyone else -lots- of money on this.
>
> The coffeeshops will take 30 years to shut down entirely.
>
> EJ

I just saw on German (ZDF) television that influencial politicians in Berlin
want a more liberal (after Dutch model) policy on drugs. Do they get to buy
in a Dutch coffeeshop with impunity? Then again, we have EU legislation on
mutual assistance in crime fighting and the fact of  legislation on free
movement of goods and services between countries. With the further facts of
life that Germany nor France even got a slap on the wrist with regards to
their budgetary policies on the stability pact, don't hold your breath that
Holland will pursue this coffeshop issue. We could either block the oncoming
EU constution or we will fully legalize and tax marihuana.

Anneke