Auch in der Bundeshauptstadt kann man in Gaststätten ungestört Cannabis konsumieren - natürlich illegal

Tief im 2. Bezirk, unweit des Rotlichtviertels, verrät an der Straßenecke nur ein kleines "Zipfer"-Schild, dass hier ein Beisl sein könnte. Die Fenster sind mit dichten Vorhängen bedeckt, an der Eingangstür steht in fetten Lettern "Täglich geöffnet ab 20 Uhr". Doch auch nach 20 Uhr steht man erst mal vor verschlossenen Türen: Bevor man als Kunde eintreten kann, muss der Besitzer von innen aufschließen

derstandard.at

German cannabis plantations are now edging imports from Morocco and Afghanistan out of the market. The trend began after the Dutch government began driving growers out of the country. But police in Germany are also cracking down, using helicopters and infrared cameras to ferret out illegal hemp cultivators.

spiegel.de

On June 9th, the Dutch get to vote their 28th cabinet. With the economic recession as the main issue, the story of coffeeshops in these elections is grossly overlooked.

For a long time, the use of soft drugs for grown ups has been part of a policy of toleration. Especially the last couple of years, political parties haven been in favor or against coffeeshops. In 2008, the CDA wanted to ban them completely. In February 2010 minister under resignation André Rouvoet (Youth and Family) wanted to raise a minimum distance between schools and coffeeshops. In the same month Job Cohen, then mayor of Amsterdam and now running for prime minister for the PvdA, declared that he didn’t feel for closing down the coffeeshops near schools, which was another plan from the government.

demotix.com

Die Europäische Union will der Drogenmafia den Geldhahn zudrehen. "Es muss Schluss gemacht werden mit den Profiten durch Kriminalität", sagte der spanische Innenminister Alfredo Rubalcaba, dessen Land derzeit den EU-Ratsvorsitz innehat, am Donnerstag nach einem Treffen der EU-Innenminister in Luxemburg.

Die Guthaben der Drogenbanden müssten beschlagnahmt werden, so dass die Kriminellen handlungsunfähig würden. Die Beschlagnahme von Geldern der Drogenbanden ist eine von drei Maßnahmen eines EU-Paktes gegen den internationalen Drogenhandel, dem die Minister bei ihrem Treffen zustimmten.

wienerzeitung.at

Through the afternoon downpour a horse plods along a muddy mountain path. I can smell him almost before he rounds the bend. He's weighed down with more than 50 kilograms (110 pounds) of freshly-picked marijuana.

A peasant farmer gees the animal along, anxious to get his crop into the dry. I stop the farmer and briefly pet the horse.

"He's called Stoner," the farmer tells me in Spanish, before breaking into a broad grin and setting off again. He was, of course, joking.

cnn.com

The Dutch government wants to ban cannabis sales to foreigners, but coffee shops in Holland argue that it's a violation of EU free-trade regulations. The European Court of Justice will now decide.

The continuing struggle of Dutch border towns against drug tourism could soon take a new turn, as the European Court of Justice (ECJ) prepares to hand down a ruling regarding one of the most severe measures employed in this battle so far.

Last Thursday, the ECJ heard arguments in Josemans v. Maastricht. The case dates to 2006, when authorities found two foreign nationals on the premises of Easy Going, a coffee shop that sells cannabis. Maastricht is the largest city in the far south of the Netherlands; it sits directly on the Belgian border and is only a 30 minute drive from Germany. The Easy Going coffee shop there is owned by Marc Josemans, who is also the chairman of a branch association to which the city's coffee shop owners belong.

spiegel.de
old zack

The continuing struggle of Dutch border towns against drug tourism could soon take a new turn, as the European Court of Justice (ECJ) prepares to hand down a ruling regarding one of the most severe measures employed in this battle so far.

Last Thursday, the ECJ heard arguments in Josemans v. Maastricht. The case dates back to 2006, when authorities found two foreign nationals on the premises of Easy Going, a coffee shop of the kind that sells cannabis in addition to coffee. Maastricht is the largest city in the far south of the Netherlands; right on the Belgian border and only a 30 minute drive from Germany. The Easy Going coffee shop there is owned by Marc Josemans, who is also the chairman of a branch association unifying the city's coffee shop owners

nrc.nl

1. Consumption and possession

By legal definition, the ‘use’ of Cannabis is not illegal but any other form of dealing with the substance is; especially production, possession, taking it across national borders and passing it on to others. So in practice, only smoking in an unconscious condition would not be illegal. The police have to report offences to the public prosecutor. Then the case may be put aside under probation or you are „invited“ to see the public health medical officer who then decides if you need any kind of therapy. If you do not agree to undergo the suggested therapy you will be formally convicted by court to pay a fine. The Administrative Court has ruled 1999 und dozens of times since then that consuming cannabis from time to time does not endanger your driving license, unless you drive in an intoxicated condition.

encod.org