cannabisnews.com: Belgium To Legalise Cannabis Belgium To Legalise Cannabis Posted by CN Staff on March 28, 2003 at 23:05:11 PT By Andrew Osborn, Brussels Source: Guardian Unlimited The Belgian parliament has voted to legalise the personal use of cannabis, within certain guidelines, for anyone over the age of 18. The move, which has been the subject of fierce debate in Belgium for the last two years, will allow users to smoke small quantities of the drug in private, provided they do not disturb public order. Its sale will, however, remain illegal and Belgium will not tolerate Dutch-style coffee shops selling cannabis over the counter. Hard drugs will continue to be outlawed. The possession of up to 5g of cannabis for personal use will no longer be punishable and police officers who find such quantities in routine searches will take no action. The country's ruling coalition of Liberals, Socialists and Greens said it had been trying to decriminalise use of the soft drug since 2001. The new law cleared the final hurdle after the Belgian senate voted by a margin of 30 to 19 to adopt it.Source: Guardian Unlimited, The (UK)Author: Andrew Osborn, Brussels Published: Saturday, March 29, 2003Copyright: 2003 Guardian Newspapers LimitedContact: letters guardian.co.ukWebsite: http://www.guardian.co.uk/Related Articles:Belgium Relaxes Cannabis Legislationhttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread15806.shtmlDull Belgium Wants To Be as Hip as Holland http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread15424.shtmlAnother Berlin Wall - Cannabis Culturehttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread15212.shtml Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help Comment #7 posted by W on March 30, 2003 at 10:13:30 PT 5 plants? As far as I know, we'll only be allowed to have 1 (one) plant.And basically, in my eyes, the law will only make the weed legal where they couldn't detect it before anyway. You can have 5 grams - but only in your house (you can't "transport" it), and no-one should notice it who doesn't like it. Being allowed to have one plant is of course very nice.It seems though that people are smoking more outside - and doing less effort to hide it. This law is of course a step in the right direction, since it will be officially legal - the tolerance towards weed will probably increase ;). (People will (might?) notice drunks are more of a nuisance, ...)Then again, if you smoke outside and happen to run into some cops, the amount of trouble you get largely depends on whether the cops you meet dislike weed or not - just like before. This new law must be pretty frustation for cops who dislike weed though...And just a note: it is not legal yet. [ Post Comment ] Comment #6 posted by freedom fighter on March 30, 2003 at 09:31:12 PT A compromise I really like that law. But however, that law can be abused by the authorities. Sheriff Brown may hate this Johnny who got leaves growing out of his ears so the sheriff decides he is a troublemaker. From what I have heard, Belgium got alot of corrupted cops. So it's really a catch-22. I like this law because it 's really reasonable as long everybody are honest with each other. ff [ Post Comment ] Comment #5 posted by WolfgangWylde on March 30, 2003 at 08:27:22 PT Developments like this are... ...very important, not just for the country involved, but for its effects on others, particularly Great Britain and Canada. Those are the two nations holding Marijuana Prohibition together, because they are the most like the U.S. As you all know, they are both currently in the process of changing their laws, much to the chagrin of the U.S.,and this will only embolden the steps they take. Throw in the fact that neither country is particularly happy with the U.S. in light of current events, and the wall is ripe to fall. [ Post Comment ] Comment #4 posted by druid on March 29, 2003 at 11:14:44 PT better than nothing! Oh yeaahhhhh I would not mind that law at all. I mean come on you can grow all you want at home just don't sell it. Trade quality buds with your buddys though. :) Ahhh a 5 gram bud is a really decent bud and if it is good enough that's enough to last a recreational user for at least a day. Especially if all your friends have their 5 grams on them too. Smoking in public places is prohibitedSmoking in the presence of minors is prohibitedUsers causing problems for neighbours will be prosecutedA little more detail about the law here: http://www.cannabisnews.com/news/thread15806.shtml [ Post Comment ] Comment #3 posted by Arthropod on March 29, 2003 at 06:22:27 PT: A good sign for all... Just the fact that a government is willing to listen to their people in this day and age is a nice beacon of hope. I only hope that Belgium isn't sanctioned or politically attacked somehow by the plutocracy that was once the United States of America. [ Post Comment ] Comment #2 posted by Duzt on March 29, 2003 at 00:39:37 PT they dont have to buy it... they will be allowed to grow, I think it was 5 plants, so they won't have to buy. They also can only have 5 grams on their person at any time, but not at home. I'm not sure what, if any, limits wil be on amounts at home. Great law, that way anybody who wants it can grow it and you can still swap 5 grams at a time with friends as long as you dont sell it. Sounds perfect to me. [ Post Comment ] Comment #1 posted by pokesmotter on March 29, 2003 at 00:03:54 PT: wowowow such small an article! The problem is they haven't addressed all the issues.1. where should consumers buy it? "Its sale will, however, remain illegal and Belgium..."2. 5 grams is not that much pot.i don't mean to nitpick the law...i would be more than glad to see something like this in the states... [ Post Comment ] Post Comment