Are Tourists Allowed in Dutch Coffeeshops? The Strange Tale of the ‘Weed Pass’
When it comes to selling cannabis to foreigners, the pendulum of public acceptance in the Netherlands keeps on swinging. Back in 2012, after years of political debate over tourists pouring into Holland to buy and consume cannabis, the Dutch government introduced a so-called weed pass that would effectively ban tourists and allow only locals into the country’s famous cannabis coffeeshops. Now, just four years later, most cities have abandoned the system — only the city of Maastricht and a handful of smaller towns in the country’s southern region still enforce the ban.
Instead of embracing foreign visitors and the money they spend in coffeeshops and the surrounding communities, some Dutch politicians have labeled them “drug tourists.” This started in Maastricht, the southernmost city of the Netherlands, which shares borders with Germany and Belgium. The city has drawn visitors from those countries for centuries.
Maastricht officials welcome visitors who want to...
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