Coffeeshop age restriction, laws on weed.. make a sticky thread?

Please note that this thread ISN'T for upcoming tourists to ask or discuss. Please make another thread about that for now. This thread is meant for the regulars.. it's a suggestion to make a specific kind of post. Thank you and have fun in Amsterdam!

Hm.. I'm thinking.. maybe we should ask if we can make a sticky about this coffeeshop age thingie? Basically WE1, NEMISIS, I and others on this board keep repeating ourselves.. just a general sticky post about the age limits, the law about closing a coffeeshop when I minor is there and some advice on how to get weed if you're a minor anyway (since we can't stop'm from smoking ).. and.. hm.. maybe what amount is legal etc.. sth like that?

So.. ok.. what are the basics?

Age: not allowed to smoke òr enter a coffeeshop (even if you don't smoke) <18

Consequences for the coffeeshop: if the authorities find a minor in a coffeeshop, the place risks getting closed down.

Moral: The Netherlands is a very free and tolerant country that is under a lot of attack by the rest of the world for her drugpolicy. Please be gratefull for the existing freedom and don't try and stretch the law any further, thereby risking a lot. Not just for you personally, but for all other tourists, the Dutch people and ofcourse, everyone who finds a job at coffeeshops.

Alternatives:

-ask 18+ friends to buy weed for you and smoke it somewhere else. Usually, the authorities wont check for age if your for example peacefully sitting in a park smoking. It still is your own responsibility though.. don't sue anyone here if you do get into problems.
-don't have any 18+ friends? Make friends with some of the numerous other tourists and see if you can get them to buy. Be nice and share some with them as a 'thank you'!
-False ID. Don't. You are still risking the closing of the coffeeshop if the authorities do a thorough check-up and find out.
-Buying of the street. DON'T. Don't buy weed (or any other stuff) from shady street dealers. It's very likely to be bad quality and over priced.

Err... what else?

Ok people (esp. WE1 and NEMESIS).. please change and add.. after a week or so I'll rewrite and ask someone to make it a sticky.. ok?

Thanks guys!

(ofcourse there could still be threads that discuss the sticky.. but just for the general info and general opinions here I think a sticky would be nice..?)

 

Narcotics--The use of narcotic drugs is officially illegal in the Netherlands, but Amsterdam allows the sale in licensed premises of up to 5 grams (.2 oz.) of hashish or marijuana for personal consumption, and possession of 30 grams (1.2 oz) for personal use to people 18 years or older.

 

Respect -- The traditions,customs and laws of a nation and a culture hundreds of years older and a great deal more civilized than Americas. Just because the Dutch are a tolerant people does not mean you can disreguard there laws and customs.

1. Do not use drugs around National Monuments,Museums or wherever there are children or the elderly.

2. Minors stay out of the coffee shops and smart shops.

3. The hash and especially the marijuana that is available in the Neatherlands is much stronger than most people are used to. The THC levels are now approaching 20%. Be very careful with your consumption especially during the first few days your in the Neatherlands. This would be especially true with mixing weed and alcohol together. Needless to say,many tourists do not follow this simple advice and pass out.

4. Try and learn few simple words of Dutch like please [Alstublieft] and thank you [Dank U]. These two simple but extreamly important words alone have opened more doors and made more friends for me then I can ever tell you.Dag.


This thread is a very good idea.Thank you velvet...

 

First aid: if you feel sick, drink a coke or ask for sugarwater (hot water with a lot of sugar

 

. Try and learn few simple words of Dutch like please [Alstublieft] and thank you [Dank U]. These two simple but extreamly important words alone have opened more doors and made more friends for me then I can ever tell you.Dag.
do you know of any good sites where we could learn dutch lang.?

 

Good point, but maybe for another sticky about Dutch habits and the language.. I think there is so much to say about the drug policy and coffeeshops that the post might get way too long to also include other stuff. Maybe some weed related Dutch words though.. like

English - Dutch

coffeeshop - coffeeshop (how convenient!)..
weed - wiet
bong - waterpijp (water pipe)
pipe - pijp
the paper you roll a joint with - vloei or vloeitje
joint - joint (but note: in Holland this means weed AND tobacco.. so if you buy a prerolled this will include tobacco as well!)
ID - ID (in Dutch: identificatie)
closingtime - sluitingstijd
to smoke - roken
forbidden - verboden
drugs - drugs
police - politie
​

hmmm.. what else (weed/coffeeshop related)?

 

Maybe you can add that holland is bigger than amsterdam and you can do more things here than use drugs..

 

smoke till ya puke

42 days to go

 

Bijdehandje

(that dutch for how much I like her... )

*grin*

 

so true!
have any of you dutchees every been to ruigoord? its a squat around sloterdijk? its amazing, you should check out there full moon partys. pm if you want info on how to get there and all the rest.