A Dutch court has fined the owner of the Netherlands' biggest cannabis-selling coffee shop 10m euros (£9m, $13.3m) for breaking drugs laws.
Owner Meddie Willemsen, who was tried along with 15 staff of the Checkpoint coffee shop in Terneuzen, was also sentenced to a 16-week prison term.
He was convicted for keeping more than the maximum tolerated amount of 500g (18oz) of drugs at the cafe.
Checkpoint served up to 3,000 people a day before being closed last year.
On a couple of occasions, police found 200kg (440lb) of cannabis when they raided the coffee house.
Willemsen was sentenced to 16 weeks in prison, but was released as he had already spent the time in jail ahead of the trial.
He and his staff were convicted of breaking drugs laws, exporting drugs and membership of a criminal organisation.
The 10m euro fine was lower than the 28m euro fine prosecutors had asked for because of the "role of the authorities" in allowing Checkpoint to grow unchecked.
"Checkpoint could not have expanded as much as it did without collaboration from the municipality of Terneuzen," a court statement said.
The town, close to the Belgian border, put up road signs showing the way to the Checkpoint and built a car park near it to reduce traffic congestion in town.
Though technically illegal, the Netherlands decriminalised the consumption and possession of under 5g (0.18oz) of cannabis in 1976 under an official "tolerance" policy.
from the BBC: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/low/europe/8587576.stm
Isn't a 500g limit unworkable? The free market clearly ordained that a stock of about 200kg was needed to serve the 3,000 customers every day. Doesn't this case smack of an unjust lack of common sense and an unwarranted interference in the market mechanism?
Dutch political culture is one of consensus and compromise. The result is frequently some watered-down approach that neither side is really happy with, but at least everyone can live with. Cannabis drug policy is a prime example. Possession and sale are "illegal" but "tolerated". Coffee shops are somewhere in legal limbo and are often harrassed by local authorities for no real reason. The police spends a lot of resources trying to find cannabis plantations, and coffee shops are only allowed to have a very small (unworkable) amount in stock - and they aren't allowed to buy it, only to sell it!
Now the situation in Terneuzen (note that this is a small town, pop 24k) is rather funny because after this huge coffee shop was closed down, complaints about drug tourism went through the roof because the drug tourists from Belgium and France kept coming and they needed their drugs. The result was predictable: instead of the problem being focused in a single, easily controllable place, the streets are now crawling with drug dealers. Amazing solution.
I know this guy who ran a coffee shop at one time, and it was quite the task to actually get the cannabis into the coffee shop, since the trade is illegal (when this succeeded, he called it a "touchdown" because once it was in, the police usually would not confiscate it). Police would randomly arrest him to see if he had any drugs on him and would randomly raid the coffee shop to see if he had too much cannabis in stock (usually the case). But the hilarious part of the story is that since as far as the law is concerned, he isn't actually buying any of his stock (since that is illegal), when the police would confiscate his stock he would write it off as the most expensive kind of cannabis regardless of what they took - so that when he had to file his taxes, he would get more money back.
Originally posted by FMFHumm? It's interesting to see what goes on in other parts of the world...in Oregon you can posses medical marijuanna. A patient can grow up to 4 plants, and have 12 young-uns. He is allowed 2.5 lbs of dried pot in possesion a year.
[b]A Dutch court has fined the owner of the Netherlands' biggest cannabis-selling coffee shop 10m euros (£9m, $13.3m) for breaking drugs laws.
[quote]Owner Meddie Willemsen, who was tried along with 15 staff of the Checkpoint coffee shop in Terneuzen, was also sentenced to a 16-week prison term.
He was convicted for keeping more than the maximum tolera ...[text shortened]... an unjust lack of common sense and an unwarranted interference in the market mechanism?[/b]
Naturally it makes in out of it's controlled enviroment. especially with this economy dragging.
There is very little actual policing of these sites. Usually ony if a neighbor is complaining.
Purchase of seeds usually comes from THE SEED BANK,, lol I think that's in Holland.
Originally posted by FMFThe government has no business banning marijuana. It's not dangerous except to schizophrenics as far as I can tell.
[b]A Dutch court has fined the owner of the Netherlands' biggest cannabis-selling coffee shop 10m euros (£9m, $13.3m) for breaking drugs laws.
[quote]Owner Meddie Willemsen, who was tried along with 15 staff of the Checkpoint coffee shop in Terneuzen, was also sentenced to a 16-week prison term.
He was convicted for keeping more than the maximum tolera ...[text shortened]... an unjust lack of common sense and an unwarranted interference in the market mechanism?[/b]
It's possible it prevents lung cancer! It may save on health care costs to have a stoner populace!
Originally posted by Hugh GlassMy brother grows his own weed. Its quite a sophisticated business. He has ultra violet lights, fans, temperature gauges, the plants themselves are grown in some kind of sterile soil and fed liquid supplements. I think he buys the seeds over the net. So pungent is the smell that he sealed up a room in his home with silicon to prevent the aroma permeating the surroundings, i mean every gap in the floor, walls, ceiling, windows, everything. Apparently it is very potent. He claims that it is an infringement of his human rights not to grow it, i think he just likes being stoned.
Humm? It's interesting to see what goes on in other parts of the world...in Oregon you can posses medical marijuanna. A patient can grow up to 4 plants, and have 12 young-uns. He is allowed 2.5 lbs of dried pot in possesion a year.
Naturally it makes in out of it's controlled enviroment. especially with this economy dragging.
There is very little actual ...[text shortened]... aining.
Purchase of seeds usually comes from THE SEED BANK,, lol I think that's in Holland.
Originally posted by robbie carrobieHe claims that it is an infringement of his human rights not to grow it, i think he just likes being stoned.
My brother grows his own weed. Its quite a sophisticated business. He has ultra violet lights, fans, temperature gauges, the plants themselves are grown in some kind of sterile soil and fed liquid supplements. I think he buys the seeds over the net. So pungent is the smell that he sealed up a room in his home with silicon to prevent the aroma per ...[text shortened]... at it is an infringement of his human rights not to grow it, i think he just likes being stoned.
I think it's both.
Originally posted by AThousandYoungIts quite interesting from a technical perspective, i think he uses hydroponics. I could not comment on either its infringement of his rights nor on his hedonism.
[b]He claims that it is an infringement of his human rights not to grow it, i think he just likes being stoned.
I think it's both.[/b]
Originally posted by robbie carrobieYeah, growing weed and growing weed properly for maximum harvest are different things. To do it right you need money to invest, and it leaves a paper trail (high electric bills).
Its quite interesting from a technical perspective, i think he uses hydroponics. I could not comment on either its infringement of his rights nor on his hedonism.
Originally posted by AThousandYoungIn Oregon it can be grown outside, so that takes a bunch off the top of the bill. They buy those carport structures, and cover them with clear plastic. The door has to have the permit placed on it.
Yeah, growing weed and growing weed properly for maximum harvest are different things. To do it right you need money to invest, and it leaves a paper trail (high electric bills).
But, they do have to have guards, and dogs come autumm. Some kids always try to sneak their shares...
Indoors you need HP sodium, or metal halide lights. CO2 injection, Hydroponics., exhaust fans.
Funny paradigm, I always though it was a breeze in other countries, and apparently it's not?
Originally posted by FMFYes, 500 grams is a petty small amount to have on hand..... how good was it??
[b]A Dutch court has fined the owner of the Netherlands' biggest cannabis-selling coffee shop 10m euros (£9m, $13.3m) for breaking drugs laws.
[quote]Owner Meddie Willemsen, who was tried along with 15 staff of the Checkpoint coffee shop in Terneuzen, was also sentenced to a 16-week prison term.
He was convicted for keeping more than the maximum tolera ...[text shortened]... an unjust lack of common sense and an unwarranted interference in the market mechanism?[/b]
I only picture dynamite stuff from that part of the world?
Originally posted by FMF..who would have thought....laissez-faire capitalism can on occasion reveal some interesting bed-fellows........
Isn't a 500g limit unworkable? The free market clearly ordained that a stock of about 200kg was needed to serve the 3,000 customers every day. Doesn't this case smack of an unjust lack of common sense and an unwarranted interference in the market mechanism?
Originally posted by Hugh GlassA nickle? I thought that was a $5 baggie. That's no 8 grams.
anyone have a scale? I think a nickle weights 8 grams?
7 grams is a quarter ounce. They go for $40 - $150 depending on quality at CA dispensaries. On the street I remember similar prices; good stuff for about $50 an eighth (or ~$90 for the 7 grams) I guess you mean $50 as a nickle?