Search Amsterdam
Amsterdam Facts
Subscribe to Dutch Amsterdam
Dutch Amsterdam headlines by Email
Follow Dutch Amsterdam at Twitter
Subscribe to Dutch Amsterdam Subscribe only to this topic: Amsterdam News
More Amsterdam Articles
Previous entry: The Flying Pig Downtown Hostel
Next entry: Top Tourist Attractions in Amsterdam — Vote
Book a Hotel in Amsterdam
View available hotels in Amsterdam or book a hotel anywhere else in the world
Most Popular
Amsterdam Shop
Magic Mushroom sellers want age limit
A Dutch association of shops that sell “magic mushrooms” on Monday called for a self-imposed ban on the sale of the hallucinogenic fungi to minors.
The move comes during an ongoing debate in the Netherlands about the safety of the magic mushrooms after a number of incidents involving tourists who had taken them.
A majority in Dutch parliament said it was in favour of a total ban but in June Health Minister Ab Klink said he just wants an age limit because a total ban was not legally possible.
According to the association of so-called “smartshops” VLOS an age limit would solve most problems “often caused by tourists who come to Amsterdam to go wild”, spokesperson Paul van Oyen said.
The VLOS represents 39 of the about 180 shops that sell the mushrooms in the Netherlands. In addition to the age limit the VLOS wants to distribute special information flyers in different languages also warning about mixing the mushrooms with other drugs or alcohol.
In late March a majority in Dutch parliament backed a total ban when a 17-year-old French girl died after throwing herself from an Amsterdam bridge after consuming magic mushrooms.
In the Netherlands the sale of dried magic mushrooms is banned but fresh ones are allowed because they can also be found naturally in some Dutch woods.
Since the beginning of the year, 35 people have called Amsterdam emergency services after eating them. Ninety percent were tourists, according to the health authorities.
In January the GGD raised the alarm over a rise in mushroom-related incidents. However, the same report shows that incidents where an ambulance was called involving alcohol or cannabis far outweigh those with mushroom.
- Source: AFP, July 24, 2007
Related Entries
- Magic Mushroom sellers want age limit
- Amsterdam store owners fear ban on "magic" psychedelic mushrooms
- Sale of hallucinogenic magic mushrooms to be forbidden in the Netherlands
- Dutch look to ban magic mushrooms
- Amsterdam magic mushroom incidents on the rise: health service
- Sale of hallucinogenic 'magic' mushrooms banned starting December 1, 2008
- Judge rejects legal challenge against ban on hallucinogenic mushrooms
- Ban on hallucinogenic mushrooms upheld in The Netherlands
More articles on this topic:
Like this article? Subscribe (free) for more Amsterdam news and info
DutchAmsterdam.nl's Twitter Stream
Get the goods on Amsterdam via email
Get Amsterdam News & Information via 'RSS' News Readers Subscribe to this topic only: Amsterdam News• Home Page Previous entry: The Flying Pig Downtown Hostel Next entry: Top Tourist Attractions in Amsterdam — Vote
|
What else would you like to know about Amsterdam?