The Hague bans cannabis consumption in public

While the Netherlands is currently looking to legal cannabis production, The Hague is becoming a little less weed-friendly.

The city has decided to ban public consumption of cannabis in its city center, railway station and shopping areas.

The decision was prompted by various complaints from neighbors and tourists about «the strong smell of cannabis and the noise made by users».

Coffeeshops, homeless shelters and hotels will receive flyers explaining the ban and the penalties for infringement. For 2 weeks, the police will issue warnings only, followed by fines.

While the sale of cannabis is tolerated in coffee shops, Some Dutch cities have introduced new rules to further regulate the distribution and consumption of cannabis.

In 2012, the Netherlands attempted to introduce a «Weed pass» that would have required Dutch residency to purchase cannabis. The initiative was not as successful as expected, and Amsterdam was exempted as long as coffee shops stayed away from schools. As a result, the number of coffee shops in Amsterdam has dwindled, and some historic names have had to move away from the city center.

Cannabis consumption itself is not necessarily the target of these measures, as the Netherlands has one of the lowest prevalence rates of all European countries. The public display of cannabis and the resulting tourist attraction are more at stake, without reducing the accessibility of cannabis in the country.