NL: Manifest of 30 years of toleration (short)

Two million Dutch men have at sometime in their life smoked a joint. In the past thirty years the coffee shop replaced home dealers. Moreover, coffee shops have become enterprises with a strong social function, which should be considered normal enterprises from the fiscal and social point of view. They have a rather large economic effect on the area where they are located. Over 99% of cannabis consumers do not experience problematic use, and the presence of coffee shops does not lead to an increase in the demand for cannabis. All of the facts that should be taken into account in the evaluation according to the founders were considered. The current toleration policy exclusively regulates the front door of the coffee shop, which means that only the rules for the sale of cannabis to consumers exist. Nothing has been established for the production and supply of cannabis to the coffee shop (the so called back door). This has come along with many consequences, such as: illegal cultivation in areas that are unsuitable, no quality control on cannabis, and therefore, no product information for customers. The consequences of not regulating the back door should indeed be part of the evaluation. The founders of this manifest 30 years of toleration believe that they have to provide a starting point from their extensive experience with this substance for a far-reaching evaluation that involves all of the mentioned aspects. The founders hope that such an evaluation will lead to transparent production lines, sales, and consumption of cannabis products.

That is why Marc Josemans, chairman of the Maastricht coffee shop entrepreneurs (VOCM), on behalf of the other founders: Myranda Bruin (Society of Rotterdam Coffee shop entrepreneurs), Nicole Maalsté (researcher, sociologist) and Ronald Motta (PvdA councilor in Rotterdam) is presenting this manifest to members of the government (House of Commons) Albayrak, Van Der Ham and Weekers on Tuesday October 17 at 1.00 P.M. in ‘zaal Wandelganger 2’ in Nieuwspoort in the Hague.

The founders cordially invite you to be present during this presentation. On Tuesday 17 October at 12.00 PM we will send you a digital version of the manifest. Of course, we are always pleased to provide you with further information. Yours sincerely,

Myranda Bruin, Nicole Maalsté, Ronald Motta, and Marc Josemans.

Contact information: Marc Josemans
 31-653493377
 mailto: mjosemans at cs.com>mjosemans at cs.com