cannabisnews.com: Dutch Support Legalizing Marijuana in Netherlands





Dutch Support Legalizing Marijuana in Netherlands
Posted by CN Staff on April 27, 2005 at 06:26:04 PT
By The Associated Press
Source: Jerusalem Post
Amsterdam, Netherlands -- Two polls released Wednesday showed strong support in the Netherlands for legalizing marijuana outright after several decades of a tolerance policy. Newspaper Trouw interviewed the mayors of the Netherlands' 30 largest cities, and two-thirds supported legalization.
Meanwhile, Dutch pollster Maurice de Hond found that 49 percent of Dutch support legalization, while an additional 15 percent want tolerance to continue, and just 33 percent want a more restrictive policy. The poll had a margin of error of less than 3 percentage points. Marijuana is technically illegal in the Netherlands, though people aren't prosecuted for possession of small amounts. It is sold openly in some cafes. The latest polls follow a call Tuesday by the minister of reform to license more marijuana sellers outside cities to ease problems caused by foreign drug tourists in city centers. Parliament is to debate the issue later Wednesday. In Trouw's survey, 20 mayors said they wanted so-called soft drugs hashish and marijuana to be legalized. Four supported tougher measures proposed by the conservative government, including restricting the number of licensed sellers and increasing penalties for growers. Six mayors had no opinion or could not be contacted. "Something has to happen, otherwise we're going to go crazy here," Jan Mans, mayor of the eastern border city of Venlo, told the paper. Many Germans drive across the border into Venlo to buy hash and marijuana. "Why not do a trial with legalizing soft drugs in the border region? With the results, we can no doubt show Europe that it works," Mans said. Source: Jerusalem Post (Israel)Published: April 27, 2005Copyright: 2005 The Jerusalem PostContact: editors jpost.comWebsite: http://www.jpost.com/Related Articles:Dutch Celebrate 30 Years of Legal Pothttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread14861.shtml Dutch Cannabis Cafe Marks 30th Anniversaryhttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread14853.shtml
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Comment #17 posted by FoM on April 30, 2005 at 10:23:58 PT
afterburner
I guess one thing I've learned from Dr. Weil's teaching is watch your stress level. I take that to mean move away from high stress situations as a way to help keep healthy. I do that. If something really gets to me I walk away from it. Bush makes me walk away and at a fast clip! LOL!We can be energy efficient if we work with the earth. My father in law use to say when they take all of the oil out of the ground what happens to that empty space it will make. He was very smart to think that way.Renewable energy is the only way that will work in my opinion.
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Comment #16 posted by afterburner on April 30, 2005 at 10:03:16 PT
FoM
I don't like listening to Bush either. My son had CNN on, so I heard part of the speech. I prefer to Google the transcript and read for myself.BTW, R. Buckminster Fuller had solutions to the so-called "energy crisis" decades ago, solutions that still largely elude our elected leaders.
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Comment #15 posted by FoM on April 30, 2005 at 08:44:11 PT
afterburner
I hope they do make the Dr. Weil's chat available to listen to when people have the time. Dr. Weil is a good Doctor. He isn't into drugs but herbs and self healing. They talked a lot about drugs and mentioned using Valarian as a sleep aid and acupuncture to help with different ailments was discussed. I got from what he said is that he isn't into legalization of drugs but harm reduction more then anything. I'm use to hearing Dr. Weil talk more about natural medicine then drugs which was more of a topic on this chat.As far as watching Bush's speech. I really tried to watch but after a few minutes I got up and found some work to do. I can't stand listening yet alone watching him. I feel sick literally when he is on TV. He isn't a smart man and he is a nasty man and that isn't what I like in people. 
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Comment #14 posted by afterburner on April 30, 2005 at 08:12:00 PT
Thanks for Trying, FoM
Sorry I missed it. Maybe someone will post an after-link. Dr. Weil was one of my early sources of truth about herbs and psychoactive herbs. His Integrative Medicine is "just what the doctor ordered" for the troubles of the healthcare systems, patient confidence, and affordability of health coverage. Politicians, take note.BTW, did you hear Bush's speech on energy. Of course, his emphasis was on oil, coal, natural gas and nuclear, but he also touched on alternative sources, like hydrogen-powered fuel cells, solar, wind, bio-diesel and ethanol (Bush mentioned corn as a source, but left out the hardier hemp), and biomass. He even proposed some more significant funding, $1.9 Billion in subsidies for renewable energy. Someone in the President's office must be reading this site. Are we surprised?! Maybe we need a vision of Integrative Energy.
--President Bush calls for action on energy development and conservation http://www.caprep.com/0405067.htm{[R. Buckminster] Fuller was one of the earliest proponents of renewable energy sources–solar (including wind and wave)–which he incorporated into his designs. He claimed, "there is no energy crisis, only a crisis of ignorance." His research demonstrated that humanity could satisfy 100% of its energy needs while phasing out fossil fuels and atomic energy. For example, he showed that a wind generator fitted to every high-voltage transmission tower in the U.S. would generate three-and-a-half times the country’s total recent power output.} --Who Is Buckminster Fuller?
http://www.bfi.org/introduction_to_bmf.htmR. Buckminster Fuller's metaphor of the baby chick (of humanity) pecking at the remaining egg-white (of fossil fuels) and accidentally breaking through the shell to discover a whole new world (of energy abundance) follows:{5. general systems theory
 
{How may we use our intellectual capability to higher advantage? Our muscle is very meager as compared to the muscles of many animals. Our integral muscles are as nothing compared to the power of a tornado or the atom bomb which society contrived-in fear-out of the intellect’s fearless discoveries of generalized principles governing the fundamental energy behaviors of physical universe. 
{In organizing our grand strategy we must first discover where we are now; that is, what our present navigational position in the universal scheme of evolution is. To begin our position-fixing aboard our Spaceship Earth we must first acknowledge that the abundance of immediately consumable, obviously desirable or utterly essential resources have been sufficient until now to allow us to carry on despite our ignorance. Being eventually exhaustible and spoilable, they have been adequate only up to this critical moment. This cushion-for-error of humanity’s survival and growth up to now was apparently provided just as a bird inside of the egg is provided with liquid nutriment to develop it to a certain point. But then by design the nutriment is exhausted at just the time when the chick is large enough to be able to locomote on its own legs. And so as the chick pecks at the shell seeking more nutriment it inadvertently breaks open the shell. Stepping forth from its initial sanctuary, the young bird must now forage on its own legs and wings to discover the next phase of its regenerative sustenance. {My own picture of humanity today finds us just about to step out from amongst the pieces of our just one-second-ago broken eggshell. Our innocent, trial-and-error-sustaining nutriment is exhausted. We are faced with an entirely new relationship to the universe. We are going to have to spread our wings of intellect and fly or perish; that is, we must dare immediately to fly by the generalized principles governing universe and not by the ground rules of yesterday’s superstitious and erroneously conditioned reflexes. And as we attempt competent thinking we immediately begin to reemploy our innate drive for comprehensive understanding.} 
--Operating Manual For Spaceship Earth 
http://www.bfi.org/operating_manual.htm
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Comment #13 posted by FoM on April 28, 2005 at 16:04:12 PT
afterburner
I really tried to copy the show but it was streaming and I just don't know how to do it. It was good. I like Dr. Weil. He is a Doctor that believes in herbs and finding the root of our problems. He only answered a couple questions about medical marijuana though. I wish they would have done more. 
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Comment #12 posted by FoM on April 28, 2005 at 14:56:46 PT
afterburner
All I had to do was give an e-mail so I am listening to the chat now. I am going to try to copy it but if it's streaming I don't know if you can save and copy but I'm trying.
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Comment #11 posted by FoM on April 28, 2005 at 10:11:59 PT
afterburner
I hope you get to see this note because I'm not sure how to get the chat. I was checking the link and it seems they want personal information. Maybe it won't be that way when the chat starts but if they do need personal information I won't be able to get it. I hope someone else gets to the chat and can help you if I can't. 
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Comment #10 posted by FoM on April 27, 2005 at 23:01:55 PT
afterburner
I'm not sure I know how but I will try!
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Comment #9 posted by afterburner on April 27, 2005 at 22:17:10 PT
Re Dr. Andrew Weil Audio Web Chat 
FoM, are you going to record the chat on a CD/DVD? I have to work during this one, but I would like to hear it.
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Comment #8 posted by FoM on April 27, 2005 at 14:46:38 PT
Reminder - Dr. Andrew Weil Audio Web Chat 
PLEASE JOIN ME FOR A LIVE AUDIO WEB CHAT WITH DR. ANDREW WEILDear Fellow Reformer,I'm sending this note to remind you that best-selling author Andrew Weil, M.D., and I will be online for an audio web chat on the revised and updated editions of From Chocolate to Morphine: Everything You Need to Know About Mind-Altering Drugs and The Natural Mind.Before Dr. Weil became known to tens of millions for his pioneering work and writing on integrative medicine, he was already highly regarded for his insightful writing about drugs. His first book, The Natural Mind, is one of the greatest books ever written about psychoactive drug use. It played an important role in shaping my thinking on the subject, and is widely regarded as a classic in the field. As for Chocolate to Morphine, which Andy co-authored with Winifred Rosen, there is simply no better drug education book -- both for young people and adults.Dr. Weil will be online to address your questions on a range of topics. Please email questions drugpolicy.org to submit questions, and don't forget to bookmark the chat address!When: Thursday, April 28, 2005, 3 PM PST / 6 PM EST Where: http://actioncenter.drugpolicy.org/ctt.asp?u=3178&l=90529Read on for further information about Dr. Weil and myself:About Andrew Weil:Recognized as one of the world's most influential people by Time magazine, Andrew Weil, M.D., is a world-renowned leader and pioneer in the field of integrative medicine. He is also a clinical professor of medicine and the founder and director of the Program in Integrative Medicine at the University of Arizona in Tucson. He is an expert in the traditional use of mind altering substances and the different effects of various legal and illegal drugs 
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Comment #7 posted by FoM on April 27, 2005 at 07:44:49 PT
Druid
We were on the same wavelength! 
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Comment #6 posted by ekim on April 27, 2005 at 07:40:24 PT
“Century of Lies” Dean Becker’s new r
Apr 28 05 The BJ Ellis Show 07:00 PM Richard Watkins  
 Speaker Dr. Richard Watkins is a welcomed phone in guest on The BJ Ellis Show. Dr. Watkins will be addressing drug prohibition issues such as mandatory minimums, the connection between drug trafficking and violence and the failed drug war's effects on minority populations. The B.J. Ellis Show is available **LIVE** VIA Internet stream (only at this time) on Monday & Thursday evenings from 7:00 to 9:00 Eastern Standard Time. Visit http://boxersandbriefsshow.com/ for more information. Apr 29 05 “Century of Lies” with host Dean Becker débuts with LEAP Update 07:30 PM Houston TX USA 
 Executive Director Jack Cole will discuss LEAP’s last two years of progress toward ending drug prohibition, on Dean Becker’s new radio show, “Century of Lies” which débuts in the Houston-Galveston area of Texas from 8:30 to 9:00 p.m. EST on KPFT 90.1FM. You can listen on the Internet at www.kpft.org. May 2005 May 3 05 Sante Fe Radio Café: KSFR 90.7FM 10:30 AM Howard Wooldridge Santa Fe New Mexico USA 
 Board Member Howard Wooldridge and his faithful companion Misty, pause for a bit on their cross country tour to talk to Mary-Charlotte Domandi of the Sante Fe Radio Café Show on KSFR 90.7FM. Howard will be discussing the reason behind his one-man one-horse journey to end the failed war on drugs. Specific topics of discussion are sure to include drug prohbition issues related to the southwest region of the country, the waste of tax payer money on the failed war on drugs, the failed drug warrior ideology and other facets of American drug policy. Visit the Santa Fe Public Radio web site at: http://www.ksfr.org/ Follow Howard's cross country journey at http://www.leap.cc/howard 
http://www.leap.cc/events
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Comment #5 posted by Druid on April 27, 2005 at 07:40:15 PT
Nol Van Schaik
or cannabinol as he is known on OverGrow has recently posted:
 Cannabis Clash in Dutch ParliamentDutch Ministers clash over coffeeshops and weed.It is well known that the Dutch Justice Minister, Piet Hein Donner, does not like coffeeshops and softdrugs users, he wants to get rid of them all.
That is why he visited the southern province of Limburg yesterday, so he could personally deliver his disapproval of the plans of two of his rebellious town mayors, Mayor Leers of Maastricht and Mayor Som van Kerk of Heerlen, all CDA politicians.
These Mayors want to see the production of cannabis for coffeeshops regulated and legalized, they consider the War on Drugs a waste of time, funds and effort.
Donner went to Limburg to declare a full war on cannabis growers and drugs dealers, and to show the renegade Mayors he does not at all agree with their stance towards cannabis and coffeeshops. This way, Donner wants to stop drugs tourism from countries like Germany, France, Belgium and even Italy. He intends to give the Mayors in the South more power to close drugs houses, even if there are no complaints about such a place.In the meanwhile, Minister Pechtold of City Policy stated his support for the vision of Mayors Leers of Maastricht, who wants to create a Weed Boulevard near the German border, to keep the cannabis tourists from clogging up his City. Leers wants to legalize the supply of cannabis to coffeeshops, in an effort to save money and personnel.
Pechtold fully agrees with Mayor Leers, which nearly made Donner explode in anger.This event will continue in the second Chamber today, I will keep you updated on this Cannabis Clash in Cabinet!Nol van Schaik.
and
Donner denies conflict over soft drugs26 April 2005AMSTERDAM — Justice Minister Piet Hein Donner has denied a difference of opinion between himself and Democratic Reform Minister Alexander Pechtold over the coalition government's soft drugs policy.The two ministers met on Tuesday morning to discuss the commotion sparked by differing statements over the nation's cannabis policies on Monday.
Pechtold said he was in favour of legalising cannabis cultivation across Europe and until such time, he said coffeeshops that sell marijuana should be relocated to municipal limits to minimise inner city drug problems.
But Christian Democrat CDA minister Donner is keen to implement a tougher policy against coffeeshops. Legislation is pending to allow swift closures of coffeeshops to eliminate city disturbances.
Responding to the controversy, Donner said: "It is a lot of commotion about nothing. Essentially, we have no difference of opinion".
He pointed out that the legalisation of soft drugs in Europe is a policy of the Democrat D66 and that Pechtold — who was recently appointed a D66 minister following the resignation of Thom de Graaf — had been speaking about the future of soft drugs policy on Monday.Donner said the current issue was combating criminality and drugs problems and maintaining government policy against cannabis production.
D66 leader Boris Dittrich also defended Pechtold on Tuesday, stressing that neighbouring countries are increasingly understanding of the Dutch policy of toleration when it comes to soft drugs.
He rejected CDA accusations that Pechtold made a "beginner's error", claiming that it would be ridiculous if a minister was not allowed to speak about problems in society. He said Donner and Pechtold will be able to work together.
Both the opposition parties Labour PvdA and green-left GroenLinks reacted positively to Pechtold's statement. "There is now a minister who dares to think," PvdA leader Wouter Bos said.The social-democrats are opposed to continuing the present policy of toleration and are in favour of legalising the cultivation and transport of cannabis.
GroenLinks leader Femke Halsema said Pechtold's statement was a "hopeful sound" within the coalition Cabinet.
MPs will discuss experiments in the nation's soft drugs policy in an emergency debate with Minister Donner on Wednesday. At the insistence of Halsema, Pechtold will also attend the debate.
Currently, the sale of cannabis at coffeeshops is subject to a policy of toleration in the Netherlands, but commercial cannabis cultivation is illegal and subject to prosecution.
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Comment #4 posted by Druid on April 27, 2005 at 07:37:39 PT
oops
JINX! lol FoMSorry hadn't reloaded the page for current comments and ended up being redundant. :)
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Comment #3 posted by Druid on April 27, 2005 at 07:36:12 PT
DankHank
Thank you for posting that. We have some more discussion on Dr. Jay here: http://www.cannabisnews.com/news/thread20576.shtml#24
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Comment #2 posted by FoM on April 27, 2005 at 07:29:20 PT
Dankhank
You might appreciate looking at this thread about Dr. Jay. I never met him but he had many people that really cared for him on OG.http://www.cannabisnews.com/news/thread20576.shtml#25
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Comment #1 posted by Dankhank on April 27, 2005 at 07:19:25 PT
Dr Jay Cavanaugh has passed
List-Software: Majordomo 1.94.4 Dear Drug Policy Reformers,  Dr. Jay Cavanaugh succumbed to liver and kidney failure this morning.  Plans for services are underway and will follow.  His family may be contacted at the Cavanaugh home at (818)346-4493 or at  . All those who knew Dr Jay will miss his kind and gentle spirit, his love for everyone and his dedication to the MedMJ movement.In great sadness,
Ashley Clements
AAMC listmaster 
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