Coffeeshops are establishments in the Netherlands where the sale of cannabis for personal consumption by the public is tolerated by the local authorities (in Dutch called gedoogbeleid).
Under the drug policy of the Netherlands, the sale of cannabis products in small quantities is allowed by 'licensed' coffee shops. The majority of these "coffeeshops" (in Dutch written as one word) also serve drinks and food. It is not allowed for a coffeeshop to serve alcohol (although in the past some coffeeshops in central Amsterdam have transgressed this law without reproach) or other drugs (a policy that is universally adhered to). The idea of coffeeshops was introduced in the 1970s for the explicit purpose of keeping hard and soft drugs separated.
In the Netherlands, 105 of the 443 municipalities have at least one coffeeshop. Many at the borders sell mostly to foreigners (mostly from Belgium, Germany and France), who can also buy marijuana in their own countries, but prefer the legality and higher product quality of Dutch coffeeshops. In 2010 a bill is proposed banning sale to foreigners; however, the local government of Amsterdam opposes the bill, because of the expected increase of illegal street trade.
Dutch coffeehouses not serving marijuana are called koffiehuis (literally "coffee house"), while a café is the equivalent of a bar.
In the Netherlands, the selling of cannabis is "illegal, but not punishable", so the law is not enforced in establishments following certain. nationwide rules. These are the functioning house rules of all Dutch coffeeshops:
- no advertising
- no hard drug sales on the premises
- no sales to anyone under the age of 18
- no sales transactions exceeding 5 grams
- no public disturbances
For some offenses, a business may be forced to close for three to six months, for others, completely; all this is detailed in official policies.
Source: Wikipedia
