Amsterdam Threatens Strict Measures Against Cannabis Souvenir Shops
Amsterdam’s famous coffee shops now face competition from stores selling cannabis-themed souvenirs that mimic psychoactive cannabis edibles. In reality, these are just regular foods, with the most you might find being hemp oil. City authorities are unhappy with these shops, claiming they harm Amsterdam’s image. Currently, souvenir sellers are fined for improper product displays, but officials promise to introduce even tougher penalties soon.
City Council Concerned About Amsterdam’s Reputation
The Amsterdam City Council remains determined to shed the city’s “sin city” reputation. Recently, officials announced plans to more strictly control the mass sale of souvenirs that imitate cannabis edibles—such as candies, pastries, cookies, and similar products. These souvenirs are typically sold in tourist areas and marketed as psychoactive products. In reality, they are just ordinary foods in flashy packaging, and only rarely contain hemp seed oil.
Background
Last summer, the Amsterdam City Council approved a proposal to end the sale of such souvenirs, arguing that they damage the city’s image and worry coffee shop owners. According to Ilse Griek, a member of the Centrum district executive board, these souvenirs used to be found only in specialty shops, but now they are increasingly appearing in supermarket displays and stores selling sweets like waffles. Authorities believe this encourages drug use among locals and misleads tourists into thinking cannabis products are easily available in the country.
No Clear Ban, But Stricter Enforcement
There is no outright ban on these souvenirs, as they do not contain any illegal substances, so authorities have to get creative. This week, during inspections, six shops selling these souvenirs were fined for violating store zoning rules. These rules state that only 5% of a store’s inventory can be souvenirs, and that these items must be kept at the back of the store.
Now, the owners of the identified shops face confiscation of their goods and fines amounting to several thousand euros. According to Griek, most stores understand the need to adjust their product range, but there are still some who disagree with the city’s policy. For these cases, authorities plan to “take a stricter approach” and are considering other ways to prevent the sale of unwanted products.