cannabisnews.com: High on Wink Wink 'Coffeehouses' 





High on Wink Wink 'Coffeehouses' 
Posted by CN Staff on July 20, 2002 at 10:58:18 PT
By Rosie DiManno
Source: Toronto Star 
Amsterdam - I was supposed to write this column about drug cafés, see? But (as the song goes) "then I got high, then I got high, then I got high." Man, I am so ... mellow. Better than a couple of hours ago, though. A couple of hours ago, I was zonked.In the trailing haze of Justice Minister Martin Cauchon's recent admission that he'd smoked marijuana in his youth (he's still only 39), there has arisen (I'm told) a rekindled debate about loosening up Canada's drug laws. 
Britain took that political toke last week, where those in possession of marijuana and hashish will not be arrested for simple possession. Millions of potheads lit up a spliff to celebrate; the national drug czar resigned in protest.But in Holland, where I felicitously happen to be at the moment, possession of pot for personal use has been legal since 1976, which makes Amsterdam in particular the mecca for stoners. A very laid-back place, especially in the Damstraat area near the central train station, where the majority of the city's 300 recognized "coffeeshops" — euphemism for dope joints — can be found. (Of these, 86 also sell alcohol.)Strictly in pursuit of front-line journalism, we set about investigating these establishments yesterday, starting out the morning at Barney's Breakfast Bar, a hole-in-the-wall (as many coffeeshops are) that comes recommended in many of the local druggie guide books.(Break here for munchie attack. Clean out entire snack content of hotel mini-bar.)At Barney's, run by a jolly Irishmen, I quickly settle on the full Irish breakfast but have more of a quandary picking from the drug menu: hash, weed, pre-rolled joints, seeds. A beggar's banquet of mood-altering substances. Dutch Delight, Sky High, Zero-Zero, Afghan gold, Mother's Finest, White Widow Special.In a sentimental mood, I opt for a gram of Mazar-e-Sharif hashish — it's slick, black and oily. Also, relatively expensive at 11.50 euros. But, hell, I'm on expenses.A mess of bacon, beans and eggs, a pipe of monster hash — nice way to start the day. At Barney's, with only a handful of bench tables, patrons are expected to jam in together. I'm squeezed in with a couple from Birmingham, old-time tokers in their late 40s, who are just ecstatic about the drug developments back home. "Bloody well time," snorts Andrew, a pipe-fitter who has been coming to Amsterdam twice a year since he was a teenager. "How can smoking a joint hurt anybody? It's crazy that we've been putting people in jail for it. You don't see smokers starting football riots, do you? It's relaxing, the last thing you'd want to do is start a row." His wife, looking up from her copy of the Sun tabloid, murmurs agreement as she expertly rolls a jay.Feeling just a pleasant buzz, I meander down the street to Pink Floyd, a psychedelic coffeehouse where every second song played over the sound system is by that revered psychotropic band. Elaine, the painfully thin girl behind the front counter, is just mixing up a batch of batter for the "Special Cake" that is featured on the menu. I have a piece of it from under a glass display. It's a ganja-green wedge, surrounded with pink something-or-other. Cappuccino on the side, as Elaine complains about an increase of heroin junkies from Northern Africa, whose presence is changing the ethos of the soft pot neighbourhood. "They make trouble, they bring crime. Lots of robberies around here."Holland is specific about the quantity and variety of drugs that it will legally tolerate. No more than five grams on any individual, only legal for those above 18, no hard stuff. "The thrust of our drug policy is to discourage use but combat the drug trade," a police spokesman had earlier explained to me. "Making soft drugs legal minimizes the risk for users, we have found."The drug industry here is not heavily scrutinized, although any coffeehouse found to have hard drugs on the premises will be immediately shut down. Hence the warnings posted in most establishments: "No heroin! No cocaine!"At Blue Velvet, stop for a milkshake and a couple of puffs on a Tutti-Frutti jay. A large white cat jumps into my lap. Together, we scan the International Herald Tribune. I read the same paragraph five times. I cannot remember what I've just read.ALERT! ALERT! As is rapidly becoming evident, soft drugs have become remarkably stronger in the years since my youth. Most dope in Amsterdam is substantially laced with high-quality THC. That doesn't put the grass and hash around here into the hallucinatory category, but a serious high is to be expected, especially for those long out of practice.I am now entering the realm of completely silly. At Freeland, I shoot pool and watch golf on the TV over the bar. Golf is a stupid game. It's even stupider — and slower — with a buzz on. The owner and I cackle over golf clothes, golf shoes, golf hats.He switches the channel and I watch an entire episode of Cheers in Dutch. This does not strike me as a waste of time. Somewhere in the back of my expanding head, though, there's an unfinished thought nudging at my brain. Something I'm supposed to be doing ...In the Netherlands, there's even a Cannabis Retailers Union, and its members stick professional decals in their windows. It's all quite civilized and casual. And perhaps it's this attitude that permitted the Dutch to go where no Just Say No program would ever dare to go. The consensus is that cops should spend their time on more important matters than hauling in nickel-and-dime (bag) users. And — while statistics can be massaged any which way — there's no evidence that Holland's permissive drug laws have led to a huge social problem or a surge in drug addicts. Authorities claim there are no more than a thousand drug "nuisances" in Amsterdam and about 5,000 hard-drug users. For the rest, drugs are a casual and intermittent diversion.(Break here. Have become fascinated with music videos on TV. Think Eminem is poetic and profound. Wonder why I never realized this before.)I'm looking at a stack of individually wrapped Sweet Tooth joints. Think these would make nifty souvenirs for friends back in anal-retentive Toronto. Then I think again.At Popeye's, I surf the net. And surf contentedly in my head. The man behind the drug bar is playing a mean air guitar ...Ducking in and out of coffeehouses now, getting a top-up off second-hand fumes: Global Chillage, Rookie's Bar, La Grotte with its zebra stools. The Doors, with Jim Morrison posters on the wall and a yellowed ad for a Psychedelic Rock line-up at the New Haven Arena, Dec. 10, 1967: The Doors, Sly and the Family Stone, Jefferson Airplane ...Write a column! That's it. I'm supposed to be writing a column! Yet deadlines suddenly don't feel so imperative. Don't worry, be happy.Order a pint of Amstel at Pub Emmelot, which doesn't sell dope. Watch the crowd go by in the company of fellow beer drinkers. It's noisier in here than at any of the chill-out drug cafés. And, in truth, I prefer the more convivial atmosphere of a saloon. Alcohol is my preferred poison.Prime Minister Jean Chrétien, saying he would leave any movement on reformed drug legislation to his justice minister, doesn't sound opposed to the idea — this, three decades after Canada's Le Dain commission recommended that cannabis should be decriminalized. Even the Canadian Medical Association is cool with the idea. After all, with an estimated 3 million Canadians using marijuana and hashish, however sporadically, it seems silly to classify them as criminals.I don't know how it would go over in Toronto, though, a city ruled by health Nazis. Legalize pot and it might lead to — smoking cigarettes!Really must take a nap now ...Disclaimer: It is not my practice to get high whilst working. I am not advocating drugs. DO NOT TRY THIS AT HOME! This was an assignment.Rosie DiManno usually appears Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday. Newshawk: puff_tuffSource: Toronto Star (CN ON)Author: Rosie DiMannoPublished: July 19, 2002Copyright: 2002 The Toronto StarWebsite: http://www.thestar.com/Contact: lettertoed thestar.com Related Articles & Web Site:Canadian Linkshttp://freedomtoexhale.com/can.htmCannabis Entrepreneurs Go Dutch http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread12482.shtml No Business Like Cannabiznesshttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread12375.shtmlCafes To Test Cannabis Laws http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread12297.shtml 
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Comment #9 posted by FoM on July 20, 2002 at 13:11:32 PT
Yes it was very good!
Did you catch that the DEA said marijuana isn't there highest priority? I never heard that before I don't think. That is an important statement. It sounds like they might be moving away from marijuana without saying they are. It's a beginning!
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Comment #8 posted by BGreen on July 20, 2002 at 13:05:55 PT
Yeah, baby!!!!!
What a great story! He said the polls show that if the election was held today, it would pass ... overwhelmingly!!!!
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Comment #7 posted by BGreen on July 20, 2002 at 13:01:47 PT
Those are the same video images
but now the voice-overs are talking about California and the court ruling there.Two story teasers, one video clip, and to this point, no story.
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Comment #6 posted by FoM on July 20, 2002 at 12:38:32 PT
We need music and news
I have click radio. I might turn it on. I haven't tried it since I got the satellite but will give it a try. Then I can mute the TV and the words will appear on the screen. That's how I'll do it. Where there's a will there's a way!
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Comment #5 posted by BGreen on July 20, 2002 at 12:34:28 PT
It's FOX
I don't want to get too excited about their coverage. I may be switching to the "Jazz" music channel in a few minutes, myself.
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Comment #4 posted by FoM on July 20, 2002 at 12:29:01 PT
Thanks BGreen
I don't want to miss it and will put my music mood away til later! 
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Comment #3 posted by BGreen on July 20, 2002 at 12:26:34 PT
It hasn't been on yet
You're in time!
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Comment #2 posted by FoM on July 20, 2002 at 12:24:52 PT
BGreen
Thank you! It's 3:15 ET here. I hope I didn't miss it. I have the news off and music on today to give my poor brain a rest but now I snapped out of my music mood and have Fox News on since you mentioned it. Thanks!News what a way to wreck a good attitude! LOL!
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Comment #1 posted by BGreen on July 20, 2002 at 12:08:08 PT
FOX news channel 1:55 PM central time
They just did a teaser for an upcoming story about cannabis in Vegas, which I assume is about the election.
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