HOW DO CANNABIS LAWS IN AMSTERDAM COMPARE TO CALIFORNIA?

I had the opportunity a few weeks ago to travel to Amsterdam. When I told people about the planned trip it often elicited a laughing inquiry into my plans to visit the redlight district and enjoy what is now recreationally legal thanks to Proposition 64.

Many of you may be surprised to hear that cannabis is actually illegal in the Netherlands. What? I thought it was legal to smoke marijuana in Holland?

No. Despite the existence of coffeeshops, which sell cannabis over the counter, the drug is not legal in the Netherlands. The locals told me that the authorities turn a blind eye to anyone in possession of 5g or less.

“Coffeeshops” not to be confused with “Cafes” - which, actually serve coffee - are allowed to store a maximum of 500g of cannabis on the premises at a time.

So are coffeeshops illegal, then? No. Though coffeeshops are technically illegal, they are granted permits to trade by the authorities.

In addition, smoking cannabis is to be done in coffeeshops and only in coffeeshops. Smoking in public places is not tolerated by local authorities.

Some of you may have heard of the”Weed Pass” which was designed to prohibit non-Dutch nationals from visiting coffeeshops. It testedin some of the country's southern provinces – including the city of Maastricht – but most towns and cities have reportedly abandoned the scheme. Amsterdam has been exempted from enforcing the Weed Pass on the condition that the mayor closes coffeeshops located within 250m of a school. However, coffeeshops in Maastricht still require smokers to prove they live in the Netherlands.

So, before your next trip to the Netherlands be sure you check out the local laws.