Amsterdam style coffee shops in england

23 posts / 0 new

Topic locked

Mon, 2010-02-22 14:27

Possibly an adult only discussion,
but Iv'e been thinking a bit of late, recently in my home town we had a bit of bad news with the closure of the corus steel plant, 1600 jobs lost in one day, then there is the probable risk of the domino effect.
Well Middlesbrough is no longer the ironopolis it was, now it is just heritage. But I have noticed that lately there has been a lot of local media coverage in the town as a tourist spot, we have the MIMA and comedy club and fabulour architecture in the town hall and other old buildings.
What i would like to see is a debate on the possibility of amsterdam style coffee shops possibly in england, now if its good for a european city in holland, is there much objection to it being an economically good idea for a town like Middlesbrough a town about to face hard times in the wake of recent job losses.

Mon, 2010-02-22 15:19

tcook

So you think that getting everyone off their heads just when they've lost their jobs is a good idea? I'm not sure that this would play well.

Mon, 2010-02-22 15:31

WillSimpson

No, Im suggesting we have an open discussion on wether amsterdam style coffee shops would be a good idea to boost a towns economy, from the docks which would benefit with extra work from the imports from holland, to the town that would benefit with tourism, most of the people i have ever spoke to in the town either use cannabis reguarly or know someone who does anyway, it would simply take out the element of having to approach drug dealers or risk prison by growing it themselves, if we are allowed to get off our face in pubs every weekend why cant those of us who wish to chill out be allowed to in the comfort of a relaxing coffee shop.

Until we feel our thoughts our thinking remains unfelt

Mon, 2010-02-22 16:02

(Reply to #3) #4

C_A_JONEStechno

I'm with you all the way Will. Half the people in this country have some sort of run-in with the police for smoking hash or grass. It's an easy collar for the police and helps to keep their statistics up. Unfortunately it also makes a lot of people think the police are wankers. I live in a very small town in N Devon and everyone knows who the heroin and crack dealers are. For some reason the police seem to leave them alone and target the ganja smokers. Several times a year they have a 'DRUGS BLITZ' as they call it. Do they arrest the real dealers? No, just the grass smokers. When was the last time you saw someone kick-off because they were stoned? Drunk? Oh yes. Shit, I kick off if I have too much to drink! Legalise ganja and stop putting half the country in the hands of criminals. Carole

Carole

Mon, 2010-02-22 16:32

tcook

I agree with you both - but by legalising 'coffee shops' in Middlesborough alone you will soon fall foul of the accusation of using drugs to keep a large unemployed population in control. If we are going to legalise it then we should do just that - legalise it!

Mon, 2010-02-22 16:55

andrea

You all seem to have a very peculiar idea of what an Amsterdam coffee shop actually is, and what goes on in one. Can you explain what you think happens in an Amsterdam coffee shop, and what, if any, the regulations are in running one? Have you checked? They are strictly regulated (and being closed down all the time, sadly, by an idiotic government which I'm delighted to say has just fallen.) http://www.ukauthors.com http://www.ukapress.com

http://www.ukauthors.com

http://www.ukapress.com

Mon, 2010-02-22 16:57

Chundar

I doubt that the stubborn mule that is the government would do more than debate this until the likes of the Dailly Mail and Sun mount a campaign to shift public oppinion against legalisation but it would if it were allowed be a wonderful improvement to a society that already pursues one form of recreational drug or another, and despite what certain media magnates claim, its hardly (if at all) as addictive as gambling (which is sadly being pushed by local governments to replace lost commerce after the national crusade against pubs)

Mon, 2010-02-22 17:07

lenchenelf

Will, I can't see how the addictive nature of coffee and a stroopwaffle or anything else sold in these emporiums are going to give back livelihood, dignity and sense of identity to 1600 families in the short term or long term.

Mon, 2010-02-22 17:32

C_A_JONEStechno

I was gonna put something here but I'm stoned and I forgot what I was going to say... :) Carole

Carole

Mon, 2010-02-22 19:00

#10

Jaws

tcook: "So you think that getting everyone off their heads just when they've lost their jobs is a good idea?" I imagine they already are off their heads, now as always. On alcohol. The question isn't heads and who's on or off them, but which drug they use to do it. But the same people say the same things every time this debate arises. I'm bored.

Mon, 2010-02-22 21:18

#11

bobblehat2023

You are expecting too much for the moment because - pissed or otherwise - politicians in the UK are locked into a political narrative about drugs which leaves no room for either pragmatism or logic. Portugal takes the approach I support: http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/thereporters/markeaston/2009/07/how_portugal_... That gives enforcement agencies the tools to tackle social problems while not wasting time chasing consenting adults for making a conscious choice to do stuff that bad for them - which I don't see as being a useful thing for the police to be spending their time doing. That doesn't deal with people's desire to openly by cannabis (or other softer drugs) for recreational use on a night out. That's a different matter.

Mon, 2010-02-22 21:38

#12

C_A_JONEStechno

There is no ganja here at the moment because the filth nicked all the grass and the dealers and, if they couldn't nick them, they stole their hydroponics. The only drugs readily available at all times here in the wilds of the UK Westcountry are heroin and crack. I take neither. They NEVER arrest the hard-drug dealers, yet everyone knows who they are. It makes one a tad suspicious. However they do like to arrest kids for a spliff and take them in for a caution. Personally I think they are the laziest bunch of people I have ever seen and with the worst morals. One PC who spends his time nicking kids walks along the beach himself smoking fat spliffs. What sort of example is that? When I got nicked once with just over an ounce of hash, the copper told me to just put half an ounce on my statement. Plans for the rest? I think so. Carole

Carole

Mon, 2010-02-22 22:47

#13

andrea

None of you, though, answered my question. Which is(was): What do you think happens in/are, Amsterdam coffee shops? Which would make such an improvement (potentially) to the unemployed of Middlesbrough (or anywhere else)? http://www.ukauthors.com http://www.ukapress.com http://andrealowne.ukauthors.com/

http://www.ukauthors.com

http://www.ukapress.com

Tue, 2010-02-23 00:39

#14

Jaws

Ah, Amsterdam coffee shops. Everybody gets high, high, high, until they just can't drink a single cup more. Then, out come the spliffs. They are all free, of course, because everyone who runs a spliffy shop does it for love. But it is very profitable in good karma and glorious sutra. Policemen forget all their cares and just laugh and laugh and laugh. If you want to know the time, you can ask one. Every member of the force has a watch and chain, of course. Soon come the maharajas with their elephants and wives, all arrayed in colourful silks. They strew flowers everywhere. Then the mahatmas in their dhotis pray for us all. It is a solemn moment. Now the hippies with their bells and free, or at least inexpensive, love. Coffee and a spliff for me and a bun for the - er - long-nosed camels, they say. Does anyone want some acid, man? Or some love? Or some flared jeans? This is the way it is in Amsterdam coffee shops. Some of us never leave. I've been here since 1964.

Tue, 2010-02-23 07:57

#15

WillSimpson

Well, I imagine that in coffee shops they purchase the ganja wholesale, then sell it at a profit, if it was legalised in the uk we could have green houses growing it, or importing it from holland, import export, to me that means business. Obviously a coffee shop doesnt take a huge staff to run, but then there would be a nice little influx of tourism, which would of course introduce new business. more business is more money. The government could fill their troff on taxes, everyone is marginally happy, and stoned too. Also once when I was 16 I got arrested for having an ounce and a knife, yes ok I was going to cut it up and sell it, I was 16 living in a flat on my own, I needed to make some money, but when they had me in the interview room my ounce had turned into a ten pound bit, where did the other portion go I wonder? crooked fuckers, well at least they just let me go with a slapped wrist. back to the discussion though, legalise it, people are always gonna search for highs, look at that dodgy man made thc shite, people will just keep seeking recreational drugs, lets just be done with it and legalise the lot and spend a lot of money educating people on the real dangers.

Until we feel our thoughts our thinking remains unfelt

Tue, 2010-02-23 09:47

#16

Ewan

Well, what does happen in Amsterdam Coffee Shops, Andrea? People have a coffee and a spliff, don't they? Or am I being naive? I have spent more time looking in other windows every time I've been to Amsterdam. We rugger buggers are so predictable. Apropos, the 'Bhang in the Boro'' initiative, I believe there was such a place in Leith for a while, and whilst it enjoyed a short-lived notoriety, I'm pretty sure it's now long gone.

Author Page at the 'Zon

Tue, 2010-02-23 11:54

#17

WillSimpson

But in holland there are coffee shops in every town,

Until we feel our thoughts our thinking remains unfelt

Tue, 2010-02-23 12:54

#18

C_A_JONEStechno

I want to go and live in Amsterdam. My band could play the coffee shops for free ganja. Heaven. Carole

Carole

Thu, 2010-02-25 00:06

#19

andrea

CA Jones, Will Simpson, you might want to do some more research. Check out 'euthanasia/red light district, while you're at it. You're probably better off in Bristol. Jaws, you're a right card, to be sure... http://www.ukauthors.com http://www.ukapress.com http://andrealowne.ukauthors.com/

http://www.ukauthors.com

http://www.ukapress.com

Thu, 2010-02-25 08:45

#20

WillSimpson

Well it was just an idea, maybe one day we will be free to do what we want to do, till then fight the power, ANARCHY IN THE UK now please...

Until we feel our thoughts our thinking remains unfelt

Thu, 2010-02-25 11:44

#21

C_A_JONEStechno

I have done over 28 years cannabis research, so I think I'm qualified. I'm not particularly interested in the red-light district. I'm not a gawper, but I am pleased the Dutch have the sense to regulate it. Much less crime for the police to waste time on. As for euthanasia, I think you mean assisted-suicide. What is wrong with that? We are not owned by the state. They should not keep wasting valuable resources trying to stamp out intoxication - whether it be drugs or sex. They don't try to stamp out mountain-climbing or bob-sleigh or any sport which gets the drug of choice, adrenalin, pumping through your system. Smokers kill themselves but cars are killing the PLANET! Its all about control. Fascism disguised as "helping". It disgusts me.

Carole

Thu, 2010-02-25 11:56

#22

WillSimpson

Im with you all the way, its all state control, this world has existed for millions of years and we have evolved quite nicely, but for the last 2000 years or so we have been stuck in a rut of money, control and class divide, all finely composed by those in power. ie the state, Shameless plug here, check out my story a capital way, I'll plug it all I like so dont slander me.

Until we feel our thoughts our thinking remains unfelt

Thu, 2010-02-25 12:23

#23

C_A_JONEStechno

Will do. ha ha :) I was so pleased with my comment that I copied it to my Blogs folder. I know all about shameless self- promotion. By the way, my band CRIMINAL SUICIDE LTD has an album out soon. You can check the music out at www.myspace.com/criminalsuicideltd

Carole

Topic locked