Amsterdam, long a hazy haven for marijuana fans, could be poised to do the unthinkable. 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 fuelled 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 Dutch News. 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 underway. 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.
420 Intel – Marijuana Industry News, 04/24/2022 20:00:00