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Amsterdam, long a hazy haven for marijuana fans, could be poised to do the unthinkable.
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Amsterdam Mayor Femke Halsema says it is time to close the marijuana coffee shops because they are leading to too much trouble, SchengenVisaInfo.com reported.
Halsema told Amsterdam’s city councilors that the soft drug trade can lead to issues.
“Many of the major problems in the city are fueled by the cannabis market: from nuisance caused by drug tourism to serious crime and violence. Banning sales to tourists is a necessary intervention… and the first step towards regulation,” Halsema said, according to DutchNews.
According to SchengenVisaInfo.com, research has found that only 66 of the total of 166 licensed coffee shops in the city are needed in order to meet local demand.
Halsema believes a ban would be the best way to make sure the cannabis market stays manageable while experiments with the production of regulated marijuana get underground.
She has also started a campaign against street dealing, which includes warning signs, increased camera surveillance as well as the use of hosts to warn tourists about the risks in Amsterdam.
The belief is that far too many tourists are traveling to Amsterdam in order to consume drugs.
“Amsterdam is an international city, and we wish to attract tourists – but for its richness, its beauty, and its cultural institutions,” Halsema said.
Canada legalized buying, selling, and consuming marijuana in October 2018. Since then, hundreds of legal dispensaries have opened in Toronto.