The city council of Amsterdam has declared that smoking cannabis on city streets will shortly be prohibited. Although the city’s center is becoming uninhabitable due to overtourism, the destination has long been known for its cannabis. Last year, more than 18 million tourists came to Amsterdam.
The council stated in a statement that “residents of the old town suffer greatly from mass tourism and alcohol and substance abuse in the streets.” And then continues: “Street sellers are drawn to tourists, which leads to crime and unrest.” They continued by saying that when drunk people hang out for a long time, the atmosphere can “get grim, particularly at night.”
Now, it will no longer be permitted to smoke joints in public in central cities starting in mid-May. The council is contemplating extending the ban to cover cannabis coffee shops’ terraces if the situation doesn’t get better. This is following the latest ban to consume cannabis products in other parts of city.
What new legislation is being put forth to combat overtourism?
The city council has unveiled a number of new bylaws, including one that forbids cannabis use, that are intended to curb the excesses of tourism.
From Thursday through Sunday, booze will not be permitted to be sold in inner-city stores after 4 o’clock. They will also need to take alcohol cans and bottles out of window displays or conceal them. At three in the morning, the sex industry must shut.
On weekdays, bars, eateries, and cafes must close at 2 a.m.; on weekends, they must close at 4 a.m. After midnight, no new clients will be allowed inside.
How is Amsterdam dealing with unruly tourists?
The city declares that it is unlawful to consume booze while walking down the street and that it has taken action against street vendors.
According to Dutch media accounts, almost the entire city council is in favor of the new measures to combat overtourism. The bylaws are just one component of ongoing efforts to rein in unruly visitors and will be available for residents and company owners to comment on for a month. Other cities in Europe are also considering limiting access in public for cannabis products.
In order to control crowds, Amsterdam has already hired “city hosts,” and certain areas of the red light district may be entirely sealed off. It is also looking into the possibility of outlawing stag and hen gatherings.
