International
Netherlands: Amsterdam bans smoking cannabis in the Red-Light District
The city of Amsterdam has implemented a ban on smoking cannabis in public areas within the famous Red-Light Disctric. The ban is part of the city's efforts to address the negative effects of "overtourism" in the historic district. The measure comes into force next May.
In an official statement, the city council stated that “residents of the old city center are structurally and excessively disturbed by crowds and nuisances caused by mass tourism and substance abuse in public space. This behavior comes at the expense of residents' night rest and the quality of life and safety of the entire neighbourhood”.
The Netherlands is known for its tolerant drug policy, where cannabis is sold openly and prostitution is legal. However, city officials are taking steps to mitigate the impacts of tourism in the capital. In 2014, a former mayor unsuccessfully tried to ban famous coffee shops of cannabis in the Red-Light Disctric, and since then, the government has increased taxes on hotel rooms and short-term rentals, and there are proposals on the subject practically every year.
The smoking ban will come into force from May and is part of a number of changes aimed at improving the quality of life for residents of this historic quarter of Amsterdam. The city has also tightened restrictions on the sale of alcohol after 16 pm from Thursday to Sunday and will also limit the opening hours of certain businesses from April, where cafes, restaurants and prostitution establishments with catering services can be located. open until 2 am on weekends, as opposed to the current schedule which is until 3 or 4 am, and businesses dedicated to prostitution will now be open until 3 am and not until 6 am as they are now.
In addition, the municipality has introduced a “window of time” for establishments serving alcohol, with a ban on entry after 1 am and closure of terraces at the same time. The City Council is also exploring the possibility of banning smoking on the terraces of coffee shops in the future.
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[Disclaimer: Please note that this text was originally written in Portuguese and is translated into English and other languages using an automatic translator. Some words may differ from the original and typos or errors may occur in other languages.]____________________________________________________________________________________________________
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With a professional background in CAD technical drawing (2D and 3D), João Xabregas is an activist and advocate for all uses and applications of cannabis. He discovered and entered the world of cannabis during his youth, where he developed a special interest in the cultivation of the plant, which led him on a journey of self-learning through the world of cannabis that continues to this day. His adventures linked to cannabis cultivation began with the same goal as many others: to be able to guarantee the quality and eliminate any possible risks to his health of what he consumed, as well as to avoid any type of dependence on the illicit market. However, he quickly began to view the world of cannabis and everything related to it with a very different perspective. He admits the enormous passion he has for the most persecuted plant in the world and about which he is always willing to write and have a good conversation.
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