Amsterdam Sees New Cannabis Regulations

he Dutch Senate recently voted to implement yet another
draconian anti-cannabis law upon the city of Amsterdam.  Last month they voted to close down the local
grower markets by initiating a plan where all the city’s cannabis will come
from one government supervised grow factory. Their latest round of voting will hammer
down on the shops that have kept the illicitgrowers stocked with supplies, as
well as cutting down permissible THC levels.

As of Mar. 15, it will be illegal for grow shops to sell any
fertilizers, lamps, hoods, pots or any type of product related to the growing
of cannabis— including seeds. Another addition to the legislation is that
coffee shops will not be able to sell cannabis that has over a 15% THC count.
This is, of course, going right to the jugular of the Amsterdam’s cannabis
scene, which is totally unprecedented across the many years of its
decriminalization.

The government will not be whimsical in their manner of
treating these new laws either. Cannabis that goes over the 15% limit will be
viewed as a hard drug, and any one growing or selling it faces up to 3 years jail
time and a levy of fines.

Amid the ever growing labyrinth that the Netherland’s cannabis
laws are becoming, there is still a little loophole when it comes to the home
grow. The citizens have always been able to produce up to 5 plants for personal
use, but now, if you are caught doing it you must give up the plants to the
police or face arrest.  Of course, the
legislation doesn’t mention how home growers are supposed to get all their plant
grow products.

Also, that same new 15% THC limit still applies to what they
grow for themselves. The most disgraceful part of this is that it applies to
people who grow and use medicinal grade cannabis for therapy. This will
essentially make the effectiveness of their medicine substantially weaker.

If this recent anti-cannabis legislation trend continues,
there is no telling where it might end. 
An observer of this phenomenon might see that they are fixing to rid
Amsterdam of one of its most notable attractions, and by doing so, they might
end up feeling a heavy loss in tourism, while cannabis lovers move onto greener
pastures.