Rather strange debate in the Netherlands.....

[dutchdemocrat]

I was just watching a Dutch news program with my wife and saw once again how the government here goes about handling issues in a pragmatic and unusual way... quite unlike anywhere else.

It seems that a group of people are lobbying government to back a 'social' project where a proportion of the growth and production of marijuana in the Netherlands will be 'controlled' (Koffie Shops will have to buy a certain amount from them) by a cooperative. The intention of the group is to provide jobs for those in Dutch society who are not very 'employable' tending to the plants and harvesting them. Space, logistics and management will be directed by a board and it's intended to be a 'non-profit' organization.

If that wasn't strange enough - they then ventured into a koffie shop and interviewed some rather irate owners who feel that the market is better served by being open rather than controlled - and expressed severe disconcern what may happen to the 'quality' of the pot if left to inexperienced growers. Basically they said it's not easy to grow and really should be left up to the experts. Of course the camera showed two or three ounces of grass being picked through by a barman for nice buds for a customer and then zoomed in for a closeup on some guy pulling a huge drag off of a Bob Marley 'cone joint' the size of an ice cream cone.

What a strange place to live sometimes... so different.

I don't smoke but am an adamant supporter of the legalization of marijuana. It makes so much sense - when you see how easily it blends into the society here and is 'normal'.

Cheers.

DD