Global Ganja Report

The new Dutch government, which took office last month, has unveiled a policy to limit the sale of cannabis to Netherlands residents. "No tourist attractions. We don't like that," the new security minister, Ivo Opstelten, told public broadcaster NOS. "The heart of the problem is crime and disturbances surrounding the sale. We have to go back to what it was meant for: local use for those who would like it."

Amsterdam, home to 223 coffee shops, is already in the process of closing some in the Red Light District. The city is studying the government proposal for a broader restriction on cannabis tourism.

Dutch border towns such as Maastricht and Terneuzen have already imposed restrictions on the sale of cannabis to foreigners. The advocate-general of the European Court of Justice found in July that Maastricht had the right to refuse foreigners entry to its coffee shops. (Reuters, Nov. 17)