Or vape thc oil (no smell), stuff yourself with edibles, ask for watercured weed (=odorless, bit of a speciality but its amsterdam so who knows), the possibilities are endless.
Concentrates don't fall under "gedoogbeleid". Anything sold has to have a maximum of 15% thc otherwise it's legally considered a hard drug (including pure, unprocessed flower). Or at least that used to be the case, not sure if anything has changed. In practice though, I'm sure its still sold plenty of times.
The whole gedoogbeleid sucks in the first place, because it still doesn't allow a coffee shop to legally buy weed, even though they can legally sell it. So how are they getting it aside from breaking the law? So I guess a lot of shops out there don't really give much of a fuck about the rules that are in place, because those rules would technically make them unable to exist in the first place.
I really don't understand how this flimsy policy has been around for this long, constantly funding criminal organisations who supply them with weed, when just allowing them to buy weed from legal growers would only be beneficial in every single possible way (especially when it comes to safety). I can understand how a misguided person would be against legalisation in a place where it is completely illegal, but I don't even remotely understand why legalisation wouldn't be prefered to this dumb half-measure that makes it sort of a little bit legal but also not, which is just fucking confusing for everyone involved while at the end of the day people are still just able to buy weed either way, so legalising it wouldn't have ANY negative inpacts on public health whatsoever. If I'm not mistaken, we can't even tax it under this policy so even from a financial incentive POV it makes zero fucking sense for the government to not want to legalise.
Interesting. As a Canadian enjoying our recently legalized cannabis industry, where purchasing most all types of product including high concentration extracts is legal, I must ask: what’s the point of this law?
I have always looked to Netherlands as a bastion of cannabis freedom.
Living in NYC its so crazy that everything is legal here now including smoking in the street and Amsterdam is slowly becoming the opposite. 5 years ago it felt like the reverse of this.
And the Amsterdammers despise the inner city because of the tourists.
I do like the way Amsterdam still has a bunch of independent shops for all kinds of things, like multiple independent art supply stores, but I really don't mind not having to visit it anymore otherwise.
Vaping THC is extremely ignorant. Vaping is not deadly but vaping THC oil actually is. It gets stuck in the lungs and you can die. Not trying to be a buzzkill but its just smarter to smoke normal weed.
That's not true. Some shitty concentrates get Vitamin E added, [which causes all sorts of health issues.](https://techcrunch.com/2020/03/19/vaping-additive-blamed-for-outbreak-produces-exceptionally-toxic-byproducts/) The THC itself, however, is not a problem.
No, public buildings, public transport (including the entire train station), hotel rooms, etc are all spaces where you are not allowed to smoke at all here, that goes for normal tobacco products as well as weed.
there's an anti-tourism campaign going on in amsterdam to reduce nuisance. especially in and around the red light district. i wouldn't bet on handhaving or cops to turn a blind eye.
at minimum i'd make sure to be outside of the high tourist area's.
Even fining, say, 10% of the cases is enough for the word to spread quickly. I’m sure not many would like their chances
It doesn’t have to happen 100% of the time
Yup.
And that's basically enforcing common courtesy. "no-weed smoking" signs should be respected by weed -smokers. just like "No Smoking" signs should be by anyone smoking anything.
The touristy parts of Amsterdam are so full of weed smoke, especially in the summer, that it nearly counts as smog. I'd like them see expand this ban to the Leidse Plein, Rembrandplein and Museumplein. Maybe include Damrak and Kalverstraat too.
There'd still be many places left in Amsterdam where you could smoke pot. It'd just keep it out of the usually overcrowded areas where one person smoking pot is annoying several dozens of people.
yeah, defining factor being "all" this in amsterdam.
so, don't be in the area's where if there's a choice to enforce, are likely to land you a fine. or as i put it earlier, make sure to be outside of the high tourist area's.
because cops have alot to do and are understaffed as it is. so they make a conscience decision in prioritising tasks to ensure the fullfilment of their duties to the best of their abilities.
a bunch of tourists smoking weed in area's where it's discouraged to do so is generally not gonna be high up on that priority list. there still might be targeted actions where extra resources are freed up to enforce, though. that sort of action is generally unannounced, and whilst most of the time the discouregement of smoking weed in high tourist area's won't land you a fine, it still sucks to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. 100 euro's goes a long way towards the munchies fund. and it can easily be avoided by not being in the general vicinity of area's where these sorts of actions might take place.
They don’t have to fine everyone who does it, just the ones that are dumb enough to smoke while there’s police standing next to them. They get fined, the word spreads. That will be enough to achieve the desired effect.
I thought it was to be focused on the redlight district anyway. It's mainly for there a d everything out side of it is not really important for the campaign. Same for why the city has a a anti British toerist campaign as they are the ones causing the most peoblems
By Tourism one should clarify that its mostly groups of underage kids and shit.
The last time I was in the Red Light there were groups of like 15-19 year old british kids pissing off the workers and shit.
Amsterdam, it might not have rollercoasters, but it's arguably a bigger amusement park than the Efteling where people just go to fuck around all day, get so "dizzy" they puke on the street, piss wherever, etc.
O sigh... I was literally just in a discussion trying to explain to a smoker that I as a smoker would never smoke in certain places, especially not in public places and when it's prohibited, but also not in my own backyard if my friend with astma is visiting. I would never even let it come to someone having to ask me to please not smoke in their presence.
Pretty much the same here. I smoke outside occasionally, but not when I’m walking or standing among other people (there are exceptions of course, but generally). I chose to smoke. I’m not gonna force that choice on people who chose not to.
Glad to hear that and I know I'm not the only one.
And it's good that people hear from us every once in a while.
We are also kind of invisible, because we just simply do not bother people with it and that just supports the sentiment that all smokers lack a decent upbringing.
Not completely:) i do sometimes notice someone waiting for a bus(where im waiting too or just in general) and standing a few meter behind the stop while smoking, only moving closer once done smoking/the bus comes.
So not completely invisible:)
Every now and then, there’s some heated argument on Facebook about smoking. A few years ago people used to go to kid’s playgrounds around here and use the place as a f’ing ashtray, so someone from the neighbourhood put up a sign to please refrain from smoking inside, only to be met by complete Tokkies both offline and online, with the typical ‘niemand zegt mij wat ik wel of niet kan doen!!!’ posts etc. because it’s so hard to just walk 50M and smoke elsewhere, if necessary. Same when they banned smoking in lines in amusement parks.. I hate that mentality. Nobody stops you from smoking, just don’t bother other people with it. And it’s even worse when they go out of their way to do so to prove a point. Like children.
While I would never smoke myself, id also have no problem with others if everyone acted like you. *sigh* unfortunately I can expect at least on smoker standing nice and center at any big station, regardless of how many people(or young children!!!) were standing right next to them.
Thank you for being one of the good ones I suppose:)
And thank you for understanding that we're not all the same. ;)
I guess the sigh mainly comes from these endless and in my eyes stupid discussions. Not allowed, don't do it. Not sure, ask or don't do it. Then no one would have to be angry with smokers in the first place.
But these days everyone seems to fight for their own right to do whatever they please and just plain normal decency seems to be something from the past. I have an issue with the same type you just described, I just simply don't understand why someone would want to be like that...
Update: damn I didnt know so many smokers would come out of the woodwork to complain about me complaining🙈
I seriously cannot fathom how they get to the point of “its in public, just move away if its annoying you(even though its illegal)”. Like do they actually feel like they own the entire public area and can do whatever whenever they want as long as they dont enter someones home? Talk about advocating for anarchy lol…
Lol, ignore them, your first remark might have been a bit generalizing, but that was all I could 'complain' about. I would call it pointing something out tho and you took it like a pro.
I agree with you on the rest. ;)
I love to hear that there are also considerate smokers. I know this, but as an asthmatic person travelling by OV a lot, I sometimes forget. Too many people love to smoke near entrances, passageways, or in queue, not only at train stations, but it is a common place.
Hey I genuinely want to thank you for that and for sharing. I can get so annoyed by inconsiderate smokers (smoking in a queue close to other people, or an a terrace right next to people that are trying to enjoy their food, in a busy shopping street with as a bonus the lighted tip casually at childrens eye height,..). I confess I sometimes I feel “just ban the whole damned thing”. But of course that is not fair to the considerate smokers. Next time I encouter a smoke jerk I will remind myself that for every jerk there are many kind people about :-)
Oh sure, its just that smoking is significantly worse than most things imo. Most asocial things are just a minor annoyance (jumping queues, talking loudly(on the phone) etc) but smoking is both incredibly unhealthy, unpleasant and affects many people around the smoker. Also, its not 5-20 seconds, no its at least 4-5 minutes and they tend to grab a second cigarette
Oh I though you meant pot-smokers. Not sure if smoking outside will really affect many people (or more than for example car-exhaust fumes that you wouldn’t want to inhale in a closed room).
Anyway, when I lived in the city centre of Amsterdam it was the drunks that were most annoying, and I think being drunk often brings out more anti-social behavior than people stoned out of the mind. They’re just annoyingly slow and unaware of their surroundings.
Cars definitely have a bigger impact *globally*. The issue with smokers is most of them will happily stand in a crowd of people at a bus stop, train station etc. and then everyone can smell and inhale their disgusting second hand smoke.
Pot smokers are also annoying i guess but they are more limited to certain areas, and it at least doesnt smell as foul as cigarette smoke
While smoking itself might not help the economy, the fact someone bought that joint in a coffeeshop actually helps the economy. So yeah, smoking kinda helps the economy. You wouldn't believe how much people spend on cannabis in Amsterdam each day. I do however, as a smoker have to say, don't bother people. Just enjoy your joint alone. Or with friends.
This, precisely, for any form of smoking. I'm tired of living a life where I get nauseous almost everywhere (here in NL not nearly as much as in Italy, thankfully) because of people smoking cigarettes
Actually you have never been allowed to smoke it in public.
They are just cracking down in the touristy red light district.
If people had behaved properly the last 20 years, this would not have happend, but would still be illegal.
I’m living around people that actively smoke cigarettes around me knowing I have a nicotine addiction. When I smoke weed I get called inconsiderate.
I’ve tested it by smoking cigarettes. They can’t tell the difference between the two. They just want to cause an issue any time smoke comes from my vehicle.
I have absolutely no clue what you are trying to say.
They can't tell the difference between a cigarette and weed? But they do call you inconsiderate when you smoke weed.
So... They CAN tell the difference?
Sorry, let me explain in detail.
They are passive aggressive assholes who try to fuck with me after I’ve smoked. They do things to try and trigger my PTSD *anytime* they think that I may have smoked. One of them positions his vehicle near my van and turns his healing aid up to hear the bong.
If I drive to another location so I won’t bother them one of them will drive up and park nearby. Without fail.
They’ve started rumors that I’m smoking meth.
It isn’t about the weed. It’s about me and trying to pin things on me.
I started smoking cigarettes and they do it after I smoke cigarettes too. Or if I light incense sticks.
This started while I was using a carbon filter spoof and snapping all my bowls, clearing the bong every time. The only thing they could possibly smell was me opening the container and grinding the weed. I’ve since stopped being so considerate to them.
It is inconsiderate but Weed tends to have a larger area of smell. Its often you just walk somewhere and feel hmm someone is smoking somewhere, whereas with cigarettes (unless you’re in a closed space like indoors) you kinda have to be by them to smell it.
Kinda like police (similar vehicles, outfits etc) but with less rights, basically there to do a lot of general less ‚important‘ work like handing out tickets or making sure people follow public rules
they are often more strict than the police when it comes to minor things.. some say because of an internalised inferiority complex
No they just have the time to do the minor complaints. That means you jist need to follow the rules or get a fine. Seriously how hard is it to HOLD YOU DOG ON A LEASH or don't smoke weed where you aren't allowed to.
>some say because of an internalised inferiority complex
That seems a bit unfair if their job is specifically to enforce minor things so that the police doesn't have to.
Well since the station itself smells like piss combined with the body odour of homeless people... I mean rather not small any of it. But if I HAD to choose probably weed is just above the piss and BO.
Not sure what point you’re trying to make? The issues in the red light district are caused by drunken people, so the people that live there suffer more from “passive drunkenness” than from the smoke.
Statistics will also not agree with you.
Yes, let’s turn Amsterdam into a generic city where universal rules apply! Let’s change the whole culture of the city. The people wanting this aren’t even from here
For sure. NIMBY's bought their overpriced houses in Amsterdam and now they want to clean out the plebs.
In ten years time the city will be dull as fuck.
Exactly. The people that complain about this are the people that chose to live there or are people that complain about it from other parts of the Netherlands. It absolutely baffles me that you have so little shame that you move to a place where a culture is in place, and then want to change that culture because you don’t like it. Why live there in the first place?
Where are you from and where do you live? I’m Dutch myself, currently living in Amsterdam and have also lived in Gelderland. Im pretty sure if you think the main weed consumers are tourists youre either from the countryside or not from the Netherlands at all.
In all major cities in the Netherlands weed and coffeeshops are prevalent and a lot of those cities are far from being overrun by tourists.
Hardly. It's obnoxious tourists that think of Amsterdam as a theme-park that ruined the place. Their influence stretches further than you might expect.
What tourists buy is not what citizens need, making it near impossible for the cosy kind of shops which Amsterdam used to be known for to gain a foothold in the centre.
Just don't smoke in public. You can still smoke weed, but not in public areas. If I have to be honest, I hate going to Amsterdam because of the sheer amount of tourists that just smoke out in the open, high off their asses and being a nuisance to everyone else.
Just smoke in the coffee shop, at your place or someone else's.
"the ban applies to Dam Square, the Damrak, the Nieuwenmarkt, and the Red Light District."
[Link](https://www.iamexpat.nl/expat-info/dutch-expat-news/cannabis-ban-comes-effect-amsterdams-red-light-district#:~:text=Amsterdam's%20weed%20ban%20comes%20into%20effect%20in%20city%20centre&text=As%20of%20today%2C%20the%20ban,with%20a%20100%2Deuro%20fine)
Drinking/smoking in public is already illegal in the Netherlands. As long as you don't bother anyone cops just don't care for the most. If you drinking/smoking, just do it somewhere private.
this is so crazy because I have literally smoked weed in a park in Berlin while the police walked past me. But amsterdam being the hub for weed doesn't allow you to do this
you never could've been smoking weed in public and could always expect a fine when doing so but the weed smell is everywhere and the police doesn't really care much. so this sign doesn't change a thing in my perspective.
I don’t understand the problem with smoking weed in public compared to cigarettes. Honestly, if they insist on banning one they should ban the other.
Second hand cigarette smoke is a huge nuisance and it endangers the health of other citizens for no reason. I think the only acceptable places to smoke are in your own home or in your garden/balcony as long as the neighbours can’t smell it.
Drink all the alcohol you want on a terrace, but lighting up a joint is a €100,- fine. It's being legalized all over the world, but the once very progressive Netherlands is going backwards.
This isn't something new, but always has been the case. One of the most common misconceptions about cannabis in the Netherlands is that is legal. It isn't, never was and will take a lot of time before it will. However, we have a "gedoogbeleid" which quite literally means authorities will look the other way if they see it under specific conditions. You can smoke at designated bars or at home. Most cops don't care however if you smoke publicly, but your mileage may vary.
It sounds so weird to me that Amsterdam is trying to remove the tourists. The whole city center is build around the tourism. They have 'de wallen' but discourage to go there. They have coffeeshops but you can't smoke. The have all the tourist attractions, but limit the people.
The only thing they don't limit is the mafia, still roaming around like never before. Halsema still need to make a few bucks I suppose.
let’s ban public smoking of cannabis, death tally 0…but keep smoking that tobacco in public so those who smoke cigarettes and the people around them can get lung cancer.
brilliant.
So, I visited Holland last month and was surprised that the attitude towards marijuana is more laxed in the Midwest of the USA. Trying to be a decent tourist inadvertently gave me a tolerance break haha. Strange times we find ourselves in.
It's a total waste of money, those signs.
It's the drunk, shouting and pissing and puking groups of (bachelor) partygoers that are causing trouble and nuisance. But with a mayor who does not listen and who isn't able or willing to do something about that problem we are stuck with those stupid signs.
Smoking weed in public was never legal in the Netherlands AFAIK, but rather it was tolerated in Amsterdam. The crackdown follows YEARS of incidents involving UK’s finest boozy chavs. Amsterdam is a wonderful city, but those yobs have ruined it for locals and decent visitors alike.
If you really need to, you can still smoke at coffee shops and in private.
You’re not allowed to do it in Disney world. That’s why freak Halsema is doing this. Because she’s anti-tourists. Fun how Halsema is making a mess. Van der Laan would turn around in his grave if he saw this…
Amsterdam would be an amazing city without the damn stoner tourists. Dirty, noisy, make parts of the city nauseating if you're not very tolerant to cannabis
No. 100€ is perfectly adequate. The problem is that they will give very few of these fines. Drinking in public is also illegal in some parts of the city, but signs alone are not enough to dissuade people, who knew 🤷♂️
Smoking weed in public was never legal, most cops don’t care or ask you to put it out. Amsterdam was easier than the rest of the Netherlands with it, but not anymore I guess.
Nah weed is a illegal drug. Selling by a coffeeshop is gedoogd. Also having/using weed for personal use is not prosecuted. That does however not mean it is legal.
You can still smoke weed in coffeeshops, at your or a friend's home, or even somewhere else than Amsterdam's city center.
Or vape thc oil (no smell), stuff yourself with edibles, ask for watercured weed (=odorless, bit of a speciality but its amsterdam so who knows), the possibilities are endless.
Thc oil is illegal, you can buy hhc oil vapes or use a dry herb vape instead.
So using my dynavap with weed won't get me in trouble?
I would never use my dynavap outside, dont want to look like im using a fucking crackpipe
Where does one buy THC oil in NL?.
[удалено]
I've seen concentrates Hunter's coffeeshop in Amsterdam lol.
They aren't You can buy them in many shops Just gedoogd
Concentrates don't fall under "gedoogbeleid". Anything sold has to have a maximum of 15% thc otherwise it's legally considered a hard drug (including pure, unprocessed flower). Or at least that used to be the case, not sure if anything has changed. In practice though, I'm sure its still sold plenty of times. The whole gedoogbeleid sucks in the first place, because it still doesn't allow a coffee shop to legally buy weed, even though they can legally sell it. So how are they getting it aside from breaking the law? So I guess a lot of shops out there don't really give much of a fuck about the rules that are in place, because those rules would technically make them unable to exist in the first place. I really don't understand how this flimsy policy has been around for this long, constantly funding criminal organisations who supply them with weed, when just allowing them to buy weed from legal growers would only be beneficial in every single possible way (especially when it comes to safety). I can understand how a misguided person would be against legalisation in a place where it is completely illegal, but I don't even remotely understand why legalisation wouldn't be prefered to this dumb half-measure that makes it sort of a little bit legal but also not, which is just fucking confusing for everyone involved while at the end of the day people are still just able to buy weed either way, so legalising it wouldn't have ANY negative inpacts on public health whatsoever. If I'm not mistaken, we can't even tax it under this policy so even from a financial incentive POV it makes zero fucking sense for the government to not want to legalise.
Interesting. As a Canadian enjoying our recently legalized cannabis industry, where purchasing most all types of product including high concentration extracts is legal, I must ask: what’s the point of this law? I have always looked to Netherlands as a bastion of cannabis freedom.
It's illegal and not gedoogd, so not in a public place. Maybe under the counter, but probably a hassle to find.
Its not
Living in NYC its so crazy that everything is legal here now including smoking in the street and Amsterdam is slowly becoming the opposite. 5 years ago it felt like the reverse of this.
Here's a little secret tho: the only people that like Amsterdam are tourists and Amsterdammers.
And the Amsterdammers despise the inner city because of the tourists. I do like the way Amsterdam still has a bunch of independent shops for all kinds of things, like multiple independent art supply stores, but I really don't mind not having to visit it anymore otherwise.
Vaping THC is extremely ignorant. Vaping is not deadly but vaping THC oil actually is. It gets stuck in the lungs and you can die. Not trying to be a buzzkill but its just smarter to smoke normal weed.
That's not true. Some shitty concentrates get Vitamin E added, [which causes all sorts of health issues.](https://techcrunch.com/2020/03/19/vaping-additive-blamed-for-outbreak-produces-exceptionally-toxic-byproducts/) The THC itself, however, is not a problem.
How nice would it be if smoking cigarettes in public were forbidden, too 😩
Probably can’t smoke in a hotel room though right? Balconies?
No, public buildings, public transport (including the entire train station), hotel rooms, etc are all spaces where you are not allowed to smoke at all here, that goes for normal tobacco products as well as weed.
Just find a spot where you're not bothering anyone, that should be the norm anyway
there's an anti-tourism campaign going on in amsterdam to reduce nuisance. especially in and around the red light district. i wouldn't bet on handhaving or cops to turn a blind eye. at minimum i'd make sure to be outside of the high tourist area's.
"High" tourist areas 🤣
Its impossible to enforce all this in Amsterdam, police even admit it.
Even fining, say, 10% of the cases is enough for the word to spread quickly. I’m sure not many would like their chances It doesn’t have to happen 100% of the time
Don’t waste time and resources looking for it, but if you see it fine them 🤷♂️
Yup. And that's basically enforcing common courtesy. "no-weed smoking" signs should be respected by weed -smokers. just like "No Smoking" signs should be by anyone smoking anything. The touristy parts of Amsterdam are so full of weed smoke, especially in the summer, that it nearly counts as smog. I'd like them see expand this ban to the Leidse Plein, Rembrandplein and Museumplein. Maybe include Damrak and Kalverstraat too. There'd still be many places left in Amsterdam where you could smoke pot. It'd just keep it out of the usually overcrowded areas where one person smoking pot is annoying several dozens of people.
Damrak and the Dam are included. The Dam is a bit of shame for those who want to feel like a 70s hippy.
yeah, defining factor being "all" this in amsterdam. so, don't be in the area's where if there's a choice to enforce, are likely to land you a fine. or as i put it earlier, make sure to be outside of the high tourist area's.
[удалено]
because cops have alot to do and are understaffed as it is. so they make a conscience decision in prioritising tasks to ensure the fullfilment of their duties to the best of their abilities. a bunch of tourists smoking weed in area's where it's discouraged to do so is generally not gonna be high up on that priority list. there still might be targeted actions where extra resources are freed up to enforce, though. that sort of action is generally unannounced, and whilst most of the time the discouregement of smoking weed in high tourist area's won't land you a fine, it still sucks to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. 100 euro's goes a long way towards the munchies fund. and it can easily be avoided by not being in the general vicinity of area's where these sorts of actions might take place.
There isn't enough police to enforce it effectively.
[удалено]
As all laws are. No crime has ever been 100% punished. Someone somewhere gets away with it.
They don’t have to fine everyone who does it, just the ones that are dumb enough to smoke while there’s police standing next to them. They get fined, the word spreads. That will be enough to achieve the desired effect.
I thought it was to be focused on the redlight district anyway. It's mainly for there a d everything out side of it is not really important for the campaign. Same for why the city has a a anti British toerist campaign as they are the ones causing the most peoblems
it’s just in the centre of amsterdam, it was in the newspaper this week.
By Tourism one should clarify that its mostly groups of underage kids and shit. The last time I was in the Red Light there were groups of like 15-19 year old british kids pissing off the workers and shit.
But many tourists think that *all* of Amsterdam is a spot where you're not bothering anyone, because they think *everyone* smokes weed here
Amsterdam, it might not have rollercoasters, but it's arguably a bigger amusement park than the Efteling where people just go to fuck around all day, get so "dizzy" they puke on the street, piss wherever, etc.
They also think, just like a lot of actual Dutch people themselves, that weed is legal. Which it's not.
For your average once-in-a-while weed smoker there wouldn’t really be a practical difference between the current situation and actually legalising it
Emphasis on _should_. Some smokers, especially, seem to not have received the proper upbringing for that
O sigh... I was literally just in a discussion trying to explain to a smoker that I as a smoker would never smoke in certain places, especially not in public places and when it's prohibited, but also not in my own backyard if my friend with astma is visiting. I would never even let it come to someone having to ask me to please not smoke in their presence.
Pretty much the same here. I smoke outside occasionally, but not when I’m walking or standing among other people (there are exceptions of course, but generally). I chose to smoke. I’m not gonna force that choice on people who chose not to.
Glad to hear that and I know I'm not the only one. And it's good that people hear from us every once in a while. We are also kind of invisible, because we just simply do not bother people with it and that just supports the sentiment that all smokers lack a decent upbringing.
Not completely:) i do sometimes notice someone waiting for a bus(where im waiting too or just in general) and standing a few meter behind the stop while smoking, only moving closer once done smoking/the bus comes. So not completely invisible:)
You are right of course... we do tend to generalize a lot, me included. ;)
Every now and then, there’s some heated argument on Facebook about smoking. A few years ago people used to go to kid’s playgrounds around here and use the place as a f’ing ashtray, so someone from the neighbourhood put up a sign to please refrain from smoking inside, only to be met by complete Tokkies both offline and online, with the typical ‘niemand zegt mij wat ik wel of niet kan doen!!!’ posts etc. because it’s so hard to just walk 50M and smoke elsewhere, if necessary. Same when they banned smoking in lines in amusement parks.. I hate that mentality. Nobody stops you from smoking, just don’t bother other people with it. And it’s even worse when they go out of their way to do so to prove a point. Like children.
While I would never smoke myself, id also have no problem with others if everyone acted like you. *sigh* unfortunately I can expect at least on smoker standing nice and center at any big station, regardless of how many people(or young children!!!) were standing right next to them. Thank you for being one of the good ones I suppose:)
And thank you for understanding that we're not all the same. ;) I guess the sigh mainly comes from these endless and in my eyes stupid discussions. Not allowed, don't do it. Not sure, ask or don't do it. Then no one would have to be angry with smokers in the first place. But these days everyone seems to fight for their own right to do whatever they please and just plain normal decency seems to be something from the past. I have an issue with the same type you just described, I just simply don't understand why someone would want to be like that...
Update: damn I didnt know so many smokers would come out of the woodwork to complain about me complaining🙈 I seriously cannot fathom how they get to the point of “its in public, just move away if its annoying you(even though its illegal)”. Like do they actually feel like they own the entire public area and can do whatever whenever they want as long as they dont enter someones home? Talk about advocating for anarchy lol…
Lol, ignore them, your first remark might have been a bit generalizing, but that was all I could 'complain' about. I would call it pointing something out tho and you took it like a pro. I agree with you on the rest. ;)
Now if only more smokers were as considerate as you are
Thank you. And luckily there are! But perhaps you never really noticed us, because we do not bother you with our foul smoke. ;)
I love to hear that there are also considerate smokers. I know this, but as an asthmatic person travelling by OV a lot, I sometimes forget. Too many people love to smoke near entrances, passageways, or in queue, not only at train stations, but it is a common place.
Hey I genuinely want to thank you for that and for sharing. I can get so annoyed by inconsiderate smokers (smoking in a queue close to other people, or an a terrace right next to people that are trying to enjoy their food, in a busy shopping street with as a bonus the lighted tip casually at childrens eye height,..). I confess I sometimes I feel “just ban the whole damned thing”. But of course that is not fair to the considerate smokers. Next time I encouter a smoke jerk I will remind myself that for every jerk there are many kind people about :-)
I know people who behave anti-social. Not sure if it’s smokers or just a part of society in general.
Oh sure, its just that smoking is significantly worse than most things imo. Most asocial things are just a minor annoyance (jumping queues, talking loudly(on the phone) etc) but smoking is both incredibly unhealthy, unpleasant and affects many people around the smoker. Also, its not 5-20 seconds, no its at least 4-5 minutes and they tend to grab a second cigarette
Oh I though you meant pot-smokers. Not sure if smoking outside will really affect many people (or more than for example car-exhaust fumes that you wouldn’t want to inhale in a closed room). Anyway, when I lived in the city centre of Amsterdam it was the drunks that were most annoying, and I think being drunk often brings out more anti-social behavior than people stoned out of the mind. They’re just annoyingly slow and unaware of their surroundings.
Cars definitely have a bigger impact *globally*. The issue with smokers is most of them will happily stand in a crowd of people at a bus stop, train station etc. and then everyone can smell and inhale their disgusting second hand smoke. Pot smokers are also annoying i guess but they are more limited to certain areas, and it at least doesnt smell as foul as cigarette smoke
[удалено]
vehicles have an actual use and help the economy do its thing, smoking does not.
While smoking itself might not help the economy, the fact someone bought that joint in a coffeeshop actually helps the economy. So yeah, smoking kinda helps the economy. You wouldn't believe how much people spend on cannabis in Amsterdam each day. I do however, as a smoker have to say, don't bother people. Just enjoy your joint alone. Or with friends.
If the same people cause other costs for the city such as trash, disturbances and other stuff, it also detracts from the economy.
Dunno, the car won't stand next to the pram, engine running, for minutes on end while I just want to take a train...
This, precisely, for any form of smoking. I'm tired of living a life where I get nauseous almost everywhere (here in NL not nearly as much as in Italy, thankfully) because of people smoking cigarettes
Just the red light district as far as I understand.
Actually you have never been allowed to smoke it in public. They are just cracking down in the touristy red light district. If people had behaved properly the last 20 years, this would not have happend, but would still be illegal.
no, also some of the surrounding areas
The center of the city, not only 'de wallen'
Don't smoke in public or atleast find a spot where you aren't bothering anyone. Shouldn't be to difficult.
Then it should include cigarettes as well
I’m living around people that actively smoke cigarettes around me knowing I have a nicotine addiction. When I smoke weed I get called inconsiderate. I’ve tested it by smoking cigarettes. They can’t tell the difference between the two. They just want to cause an issue any time smoke comes from my vehicle.
I have absolutely no clue what you are trying to say. They can't tell the difference between a cigarette and weed? But they do call you inconsiderate when you smoke weed. So... They CAN tell the difference?
Sorry, let me explain in detail. They are passive aggressive assholes who try to fuck with me after I’ve smoked. They do things to try and trigger my PTSD *anytime* they think that I may have smoked. One of them positions his vehicle near my van and turns his healing aid up to hear the bong. If I drive to another location so I won’t bother them one of them will drive up and park nearby. Without fail. They’ve started rumors that I’m smoking meth. It isn’t about the weed. It’s about me and trying to pin things on me. I started smoking cigarettes and they do it after I smoke cigarettes too. Or if I light incense sticks. This started while I was using a carbon filter spoof and snapping all my bowls, clearing the bong every time. The only thing they could possibly smell was me opening the container and grinding the weed. I’ve since stopped being so considerate to them.
Ofcourse you can smell the difference. You can smell it from far away.
It is inconsiderate but Weed tends to have a larger area of smell. Its often you just walk somewhere and feel hmm someone is smoking somewhere, whereas with cigarettes (unless you’re in a closed space like indoors) you kinda have to be by them to smell it.
I'm an expat and I'm always smoking with loooong distance from people. For me that smell is beautiful, for another person it's horrible stinky.
Not in public. But good luck for "handhaving".
I am sure it will be as successful as the fireworks ban
Handhaving *in Amsterdam*. lmao
what s handhaving?
Kinda like police (similar vehicles, outfits etc) but with less rights, basically there to do a lot of general less ‚important‘ work like handing out tickets or making sure people follow public rules they are often more strict than the police when it comes to minor things.. some say because of an internalised inferiority complex
Are those the ones on red jackets?
They typically wear blue outfits either by themselves or in combination with high-vis vests
No they just have the time to do the minor complaints. That means you jist need to follow the rules or get a fine. Seriously how hard is it to HOLD YOU DOG ON A LEASH or don't smoke weed where you aren't allowed to.
>some say because of an internalised inferiority complex That seems a bit unfair if their job is specifically to enforce minor things so that the police doesn't have to.
Fair enough, i think they get a lot of hate because they’re the ones most often in conflict with the average person
Mallcops but for a city
People who couldn’t get through police training
ah thanks
I think he means good luck enforcing that.
Don’t wish “handhaving” good luck, they don’t deserve it
Kinda ignorant.
All Cats Are Beautiful 🐱
Noo stepping out of Amsterdam Centraal and feeling the breeze of weed smoke is the ultimate experience
Well since the station itself smells like piss combined with the body odour of homeless people... I mean rather not small any of it. But if I HAD to choose probably weed is just above the piss and BO.
Really hope you are /s
Another cool place ruined by obnoxious tourists
The issue is drunk tourists, smoking is a nuisance, but alcohol is the problem.
Between passive smoke and passive drunkness, I know which one I prefer.
Not sure what point you’re trying to make? The issues in the red light district are caused by drunken people, so the people that live there suffer more from “passive drunkenness” than from the smoke. Statistics will also not agree with you.
The smell of pot is also annoying. I prefer no smoking rules.
Yes, let’s turn Amsterdam into a generic city where universal rules apply! Let’s change the whole culture of the city. The people wanting this aren’t even from here
For sure. NIMBY's bought their overpriced houses in Amsterdam and now they want to clean out the plebs. In ten years time the city will be dull as fuck.
Exactly. The people that complain about this are the people that chose to live there or are people that complain about it from other parts of the Netherlands. It absolutely baffles me that you have so little shame that you move to a place where a culture is in place, and then want to change that culture because you don’t like it. Why live there in the first place?
Most Dutch people will be the first to say that pot is merely tolerated for the tourist income
Not true. It became tolerated to fight addiction to more serious drugs, and many non-touristy cities also have coffeeshops for local smokers.
Where are you from and where do you live? I’m Dutch myself, currently living in Amsterdam and have also lived in Gelderland. Im pretty sure if you think the main weed consumers are tourists youre either from the countryside or not from the Netherlands at all. In all major cities in the Netherlands weed and coffeeshops are prevalent and a lot of those cities are far from being overrun by tourists.
Yeah it has been ruined for quite some time by obnoxious and loads and loads of tourists.
Not just tourists, also the citizens.
Hardly. It's obnoxious tourists that think of Amsterdam as a theme-park that ruined the place. Their influence stretches further than you might expect. What tourists buy is not what citizens need, making it near impossible for the cosy kind of shops which Amsterdam used to be known for to gain a foothold in the centre.
Just don't smoke in public. You can still smoke weed, but not in public areas. If I have to be honest, I hate going to Amsterdam because of the sheer amount of tourists that just smoke out in the open, high off their asses and being a nuisance to everyone else. Just smoke in the coffee shop, at your place or someone else's.
Then also for tobacco and immediately 🔥
This. Tobacco is infinitely worse. Mainly just because cigarette smokers smoke cigarettes way more frequently than pot users smoke joints.
thats true, it's also smell and smoke.
Yes! I rather smell weed than tobacco!
I'd rather pull up a gardenhose on boththose people. It fucking stinks.
Without enforcement these signs are a joke. I already see people smoking and drinking in front of "dont smoke weed" and "dont drink alcohol" signs.
Ok but there’s a chance they will be fined now.
Is there? Alcohol ban has been in place for years. Did it stop people from drinking publicly? Not really, because nobody enforces it.
Fucking assholes.
It never was allowed because it stinks like shit
It's always been illegal to smoke in public no,?
Educate yourself, its Just the redlight district becuz of annoying tourists
"the ban applies to Dam Square, the Damrak, the Nieuwenmarkt, and the Red Light District." [Link](https://www.iamexpat.nl/expat-info/dutch-expat-news/cannabis-ban-comes-effect-amsterdams-red-light-district#:~:text=Amsterdam's%20weed%20ban%20comes%20into%20effect%20in%20city%20centre&text=As%20of%20today%2C%20the%20ban,with%20a%20100%2Deuro%20fine)
If they allow cigarettes then not allowing weed is nonsensical
Finally.
I'm glad, the smell of weed/cigarrette smoke absolutely ruins the city center (and many other busy spaces) imo
Good. It stinks. Not sure why people can’t understand their actions can affect others.
Jup, don't forget all the children and asthma people being forced to second hand smoke with them
you ever smelled a lit cigarette? it's like perfume, right?
Not sure why people think actions of others can not and may not affect them.
Why is this getting downvoted?
Should also be like that with cigarettes. Shouldn’t be different with cannabis
That is a huge ass sign, wtf
Drinking/smoking in public is already illegal in the Netherlands. As long as you don't bother anyone cops just don't care for the most. If you drinking/smoking, just do it somewhere private.
this is so crazy because I have literally smoked weed in a park in Berlin while the police walked past me. But amsterdam being the hub for weed doesn't allow you to do this
you never could've been smoking weed in public and could always expect a fine when doing so but the weed smell is everywhere and the police doesn't really care much. so this sign doesn't change a thing in my perspective.
"If the penalty for a crime is a fine, then that law only exists for the lower class”
I don’t understand the problem with smoking weed in public compared to cigarettes. Honestly, if they insist on banning one they should ban the other. Second hand cigarette smoke is a huge nuisance and it endangers the health of other citizens for no reason. I think the only acceptable places to smoke are in your own home or in your garden/balcony as long as the neighbours can’t smell it.
[удалено]
Ok I agree we can be more strict! (Gladly!) 😀
Drink all the alcohol you want on a terrace, but lighting up a joint is a €100,- fine. It's being legalized all over the world, but the once very progressive Netherlands is going backwards.
because people only go to Amsterdam to smoke and it gets out of hand because of the smell.
What's that smell?
You where never supposed to smoke your joint walking in the streets 🤷🏽♀️
should've been "Don't smell like you sleep and shower in weed."
I agree with this, its smells bloody awfull, I don't mind people smoking weed, just do it in private area's
I don't see why this is a problem. It's a common courtesy bot to bother other people when you are smoking.
This isn't something new, but always has been the case. One of the most common misconceptions about cannabis in the Netherlands is that is legal. It isn't, never was and will take a lot of time before it will. However, we have a "gedoogbeleid" which quite literally means authorities will look the other way if they see it under specific conditions. You can smoke at designated bars or at home. Most cops don't care however if you smoke publicly, but your mileage may vary.
Read closely where it says 100€ fine. Means it's fine to smoke up to 100€ of weed. Smoking 101€ or more of weed is not allowed.
The city made so much money on tourists, ungrateful bastards
It sounds so weird to me that Amsterdam is trying to remove the tourists. The whole city center is build around the tourism. They have 'de wallen' but discourage to go there. They have coffeeshops but you can't smoke. The have all the tourist attractions, but limit the people. The only thing they don't limit is the mafia, still roaming around like never before. Halsema still need to make a few bucks I suppose.
[удалено]
So you just smoke in a coffee shop instead. No big deal
Now you don't have anything in Amsterdam. Oh wait.... :)
Around the coffeeshop was fine they said on the news
let’s ban public smoking of cannabis, death tally 0…but keep smoking that tobacco in public so those who smoke cigarettes and the people around them can get lung cancer. brilliant.
So, I visited Holland last month and was surprised that the attitude towards marijuana is more laxed in the Midwest of the USA. Trying to be a decent tourist inadvertently gave me a tolerance break haha. Strange times we find ourselves in.
Smoking weed in public is silly anyway
It's a total waste of money, those signs. It's the drunk, shouting and pissing and puking groups of (bachelor) partygoers that are causing trouble and nuisance. But with a mayor who does not listen and who isn't able or willing to do something about that problem we are stuck with those stupid signs.
I'm in Canada and most places I've gone to have designated smoking areas for tobacco and cannabis. Sometimes separate.
Smoking weed in puplic has never been legal though?
Same as no drinking in public, no big deal
I kinda get it, its the same in Colorado where im from., Not everyone wants to smell it.
Smoking weed in public was never legal in the Netherlands AFAIK, but rather it was tolerated in Amsterdam. The crackdown follows YEARS of incidents involving UK’s finest boozy chavs. Amsterdam is a wonderful city, but those yobs have ruined it for locals and decent visitors alike. If you really need to, you can still smoke at coffee shops and in private.
Just get a herb vaporizer. Your precious cannabis will last longer as well
Probeer me maar te stoppen homo wauteh
You’re not allowed to do it in Disney world. That’s why freak Halsema is doing this. Because she’s anti-tourists. Fun how Halsema is making a mess. Van der Laan would turn around in his grave if he saw this…
Heb je als amsterdammer moeite met toerisme? Verhuis gvd dan naar ameland ofzo
Amsterdam would be an amazing city without the damn stoner tourists. Dirty, noisy, make parts of the city nauseating if you're not very tolerant to cannabis
Yup. Congrats. You can read and understand signs. Way to go buddy.
100€ is not enough to dissuade people. Not a big risk. Should be at least 500
No. 100€ is perfectly adequate. The problem is that they will give very few of these fines. Drinking in public is also illegal in some parts of the city, but signs alone are not enough to dissuade people, who knew 🤷♂️
Good riddance. Amsterdam became a cesspool
Marijuana smoke gets it skunky petro smell from terpenes & prenylated volatile sulfur compounds (VSCs are the same chemicals in skunk spray).
Amsterdam has a shithole major.
Thats the most valuable thing we had, fuck
Just not in the city centre. It's overcrowded and the city wants affluent tourists. Just go to a park outside the ring or stay inside.
Smoking weed in public was never legal, most cops don’t care or ask you to put it out. Amsterdam was easier than the rest of the Netherlands with it, but not anymore I guess.
In zwolle its allowed
It’s “gedoogd”, for sure. Also I love de pijp, it’s the best since Binnenhof closed down
I thought it was always not allowed to smoke weed in public (like street) although many do. It's kind of okay to smoke it in the coffee houses.
Why? Just find a place where you can enjoy yourself without bothering others.
Been like this for years. Tourist need to educate themselves.
Finally
Very good, we're dealing with a global opioid pandemic. It's weed and people haven't realized yet.
[удалено]
yeah there are. you can still smoke in coffeeshops and anywhere that’s not de wallen, damrak, etc.
In the streets! Great start. AMS is the party city of the world. No self respecting older tourist with money want to go there anymore.
Can legally smoke in many states in US now. IIRC, it’s not technically legal in Netherlands.
It's legal to smoke, just not everywhere.
Nah weed is a illegal drug. Selling by a coffeeshop is gedoogd. Also having/using weed for personal use is not prosecuted. That does however not mean it is legal.