November 20, 1998(Marijuananews note: The
Cannabis Cup has all of the advantages and disadvantages of organized tours. It saves some
money, guides you around and keeps you surrounded by Americans with similar interests.
However, while there are lots of nice people attending the Cup, that also means that it
can be crowded and hectic.
It is funny that the AP would report on something like this. Even though De Dampkring
is a very nice shop and it won last year’s cup, this hardly seems like a major news
story. On the other hand, it is a way of smuggling a few facts about Dutch cannabis policy
past the editors.
If there is a real news story about the Cup, it would be that
the Dutch government continues to tolerate the event. There are never any problems
associated with the Cup, but it has brought them more publicity than they would like.
This year -- especially after the German elections -- they are
under much less foreign pressure. Our Drug Czar made a complete fool of himself earlier
this year and hardened Dutch determination to resist DEAland pressure.
See
Drug
Czar Lies Again About the Dutch, Who Respond With The Facts;
Czar’s Aid Says, "forces at work to legalize drugs are trying to bring
these wonderfully allied governments into conflict."
PS — I am not going this year.)
See
Vraag Een Politieagent. Go
Ahead, Ask A Cop For Dope. The Dutch Don't Mind
New Scientist Special Report
and
Very Accurate
Description of Dutch Cannabis Policies
On Front Page Of Canada’s National Newspaper! Important!
and
Toronto Star Runs An Op-ed
Calling For Full Legalization Of Marijuana
With Slightly Muddled Praise Of Amsterdam
Cannabis Coffee Shop Leaves Contest
AMSTERDAM, Netherlands (AP) - Marijuana users are rolling into town for the annual
contest to crown the Dutch capital’s best drug "coffee shop."
But a cloud of controversy hangs over the usually mellow Cannabis Cup. Last year’s
winner withdrew Friday, saying the yearly smoke-out has become a "commercial
circus."
During Cannabis Cup week, an event sponsored by the American magazine "High
Times," hundreds of people, mostly Americans, descend on Amsterdam to sample the best
brands of marijuana and hashish the shops have on offer.
Dutch authorities tolerate the shops, saying they allow police to
keep tabs on the trade in soft drugs and deter cannabis users from hard drugs such as
heroin.
But 21/2 days of judging by cannabis connoisseurs can lead to - believe it or not - a
"stressed atmosphere" in some of the "coffee shops" where marijuana
and hashish are freely sold, said two-time winner cafe De Dampkring.
"With grave concern we see how the event, which started in 1988 as a harvest
festival ... gradually deteriorates into a commercial circus in which the economic
interests of coffee shops and seed companies pull most weight," the cafe said.
"We hate the stressed atmosphere, the favoritism and the
buttering-up to the media," it added.
During the cup, which begins Monday, coffee shops slash their prices and often dole out
free marijuana samples. De Dampkring argued that such extravagance means
only about 20 of Amsterdam’s 356 coffeeshops can afford to participate.
Supported