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June 19, 2008
Dutch to exempt cannabis coffee shops from workplace smoking ban: A template for post-prohibition Madison?
Posted by Gary Storck
Thursday, June 19, 2008
Dutch authorities acted wisely in exempting cannabis from the nation’s upcoming smoking ban. Science has pretty much debunked any cancer connection from smoking the herb, while establishing cannabis and its cannabinoid constituents are actually potent cancer fighters click here.
Madison has been a cannabis friendly city for decades, and has always seemed like a place where cannabis coffeeshops would not only be a good fit, but also offer a safer alternative to alcohol, click here. But what of the smoking ban? The Dutch solution seems like the rational way to proceed.
Now, if we could only jettison cannabis prohibition and let Madsterdam blossom!
Dutch health minister says marijuana to be exempt from July 1 smoking ban
Source: Forbes.com click here
AMSTERDAM (Thomson Financial) - Dutch health minister Ab Klink said visitors to coffee shops will be free to smoke marijuana as long as it is not mixed with tobacco, after a smoking ban affecting all restaurants and bars goes into effect on July 1.The minister was replying to questions tabled by parliamentary colleagues on whether coffee shops will become completely smoke free when the ban goes into effect.
Current tobacco laws in the Netherlands do not cover the smoking of pure marijuana or cannabis in coffee shops, he said.
Coffee shops also will be allowed to set up separate smoking areas for customers who want to smoke marijuana and tobacco, although staff will not be allowed to serve or do other work inside those areas.
Minister Klink said he would look into the ban's effect on coffee shops at the end of 2008 or beginning of 2009, including what percentage of coffee shops have opened a separate smoking area.
Posted by Gary at June 19, 2008 12:04 AM
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