Coffee Shop Rules

Don’t leave Amsterdam without visiting a coffee shop aka hash bar. But before you go. Did you know that it is a misconception to think that possession of soft drugs is legal in the Netherlands. They are decriminalised, and that’s all.

coffeeshop, bulldog

Every person over eighteen is allowed (tolerated to be more precise) to possess thirty grams of soft drugs. A coffeeshop can stock five hundred grams of weed and can sell five grams to one person per day. One hundred customers and the owner needs to replenish his stock.

Selling is decriminalised but storing is illegal. So if the coffeeshop owner wants to stock up he has to do sixteen runs to his supplier, because if he has more than thirty grams on him and is caught, the stuff is confiscated and he is fined €1000.

Growing marijuana is illegal, but possession of five plants for private use is tolerated. Professional growers hide their plants among other crops in the fields. But the police finds them through Google Earth or they inspect the  fields by flying over them in helicopters.  Some growers convert their loft into plantations. These are often discovered because police uses special equipment that shows heat. Since cannabis cannot grow without heat or light, these planatation are often dismantled. The owners are fined, but because growing cannabis is very lucrative, they start all over again elsewhere. 

As advertising marijuana is not allowed, you will have to ask for the menu when you are in a coffeeshop. The menu shows a variety of weed and hash. Prices range from €5 to €15 per gram. We, Dutch, usually mix weed with tobacco and smoke our joints in the coffeeshops.

coffeeshop amsterdam

 The word coffeeshop on the ouside of a buildings means that they sell weed. It doesn’t mean that this is the only thing you can buy here. They also sell soft drinks, never alcoho, and snacks. However, if you want a cup of coffee look for the word cafe on the building.

After you have bought your hash you are not required to sit down and smoke it in the coffeeshop. You can take your purchase with you, but you cannot smoke it in restaurants, cafés, shopping malls etc.

Just a word of warning; exercise moderation like you would do with alcohol, as we feel quite hostile against so called drug tourists, people (of all ages) who spend a lot of money to fly halfway across the world simply to get high.

coffeeshop amsterdam

 Don’t ever try to take marijuna home with you, not even the tiniest amount. Chances are that hash is illegal in your country.

If I hadn’t told you all this you would probably not have noticed the existence of the many coffee shops. There is no loitering in front of them (actually this is forbidden and if clients do, the coffee shop’s license is taken away). There are no unsavoury types hanging about, there is no begging. Coffee shops are safe places. So, why don’t you take your grandmother? I am sure she’ll enjoy it.

Photo credits: personal collection