By TOBY STERLING,
Associated Press Writer
Friday December 2nd 2005
Everything
You Need To Know About Amsterdam,
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AMSTERDAM, Netherlands - A broad coalition of political parties unveiled
a pilot program Friday to regulate marijuana farming on the model of
tobacco, which opponents say would be tantamount to legalizing growing the
drug.
Under the test program, to be conducted in the southern city of
Maastricht, existing health and safety standards will apply to growers, but
they would no longer be the target of police raids or prosecution.
Coffee shops permitted to sell marijuana would be required to provide
consumers with information about the health hazards of smoking — similar
to tobacco companies — and the chemical content of the marijuana. The
shops would also have to say where they bought the marijuana they sell,
which proponents say will deter growers from operating dangerous underground
greenhouses.
Under current Dutch policy, marijuana and hashish are illegal but police
don't prosecute for possession of less than one ounce. Authorities also look
the other way regarding the open sale of cannabis in designated coffee
shops.
But commercial growing is outlawed, giving rise to a contradictory system
in which shop owners have no legal way to purchase their best-selling
product.
Dutch mayors along the country's borders have lobbied hardest for the
change, which they say would make it more difficult for German and Belgian
drug tourists to smuggle large quantities of marijuana out of the country.
"It will be possible to trace where cannabis is grown, and where
it's sold," said conservative lawmaker Frans Weekers.
Opponents, however, have argued that regulation could open the door to
outright legalization of marijuana in a country that already has some of
Europe's most lenient drug laws. Prime Minister Jan-Peter Balkenende and his
ruling Christian Democrat Party said regulating marijuana cultivation would
set the Netherlands another step apart from the rest of the continent.
"This experiment would be at odds with Dutch law, and there's a
legal problem" internationally, as well, Balkenende said.
The Justice Ministry has ordered an investigation into whether the plan
would violate international law. The findings are expected within several
days.
Weekers said, however, that the current policy is "leading to
increasing problems."
"There comes a moment when you say, 'Now we have to take the next
step,'" he said. "If this pilot program works, and we can show to
everyone that it's an improvement, then you have a good argument to take to
foreign governments."
The coalition of parties gave Balkenende until Dec. 14 to implement the
testing program, after which lawmakers said they will introduce a bill in
parliament to do it. They said about two-thirds of parliament members
support the plan.
