You may not know this yet, but the city of Amsterdam is seriously considering banning tourists from coffeeshops. Local elections are coming up LATER THIS MONTH… but we are not here for the politics or to influence any elections! We are here to help the local government become more aware of the problems a ban would manifest. The parties who are likely to win power want to push the I-criterium through. 

This would mean only Dutch residents could enter. But we still have time to stop this madness. 

We need your signature – and those of all your friends and family who see how this would ruin Amsterdam and experiencing the Dutch culture while visiting. Please share this petition immediately after signing.

Our goal:

to prevent the city of Amsterdam to implement a tourism ban for coffeeshops and to focus more on their value to the city and her safety . 

The last thing you want is someone to green out because of the inferior quality of cannabis that will be available on the streets. 

We aim to show Amsterdam's city council through signatures that excluding tourists will lead to a rise in street dealers, (public) drug sales, public drug usages. And the especially by vulnerable young people. 

secundair effects would be that you take a safe space to consume away from the people that will visit your beautiful city. You can also expect a uprise in home dealers who deliver to hotels combined with other more dangerous drugs. 

The third effect is what we see in Maastricht even after 10 years people still get send away by the dozens in that town, followed they are approached by a street dealer, who now has a good customer that will return. 

Closing certain stores for non locals is not the way! Especially with all the countries legalizing in some sort of way, and the Netherlands finally making some good steps with the best legalized flowers in the world. Shout out to the legal growers!

We don’t believe that banning tourist would stop gentrification or solve problems with overcrowding. 

What banning tourists will cause:

1. A surge in street dealers, aggression, and public conflicts.
2. Overload on already stretched BOAs, enforcement officers, and police.
3. A costly "anti tourists" campaign that fails – visitors think: "Amsterdam = legal cannabis, I'll find some." If blocked, they'll buy in Rotterdam, Utrecht, or The Hague and smoke it on Amsterdam streets or in hotels.
4. Just like Maastricht: after years of a tourist ban, crime shifted to suburbs, aggression and theft spiked, hard drugs spread – and tourists still visit Maastricht. 
5. Coffeeshop owners are unfairly punished, facing closure if even one non-Dutch person enters.
6. You lose the positive role of coffeeshops =
   Coffeeshops do far more than sell – they serve a vital social role. Staff advise tourists on safe use, provide support for first-timers or lightweight users, and help vulnerable people. Crucially, they ensure quality through testing, keeping dangerous street products out and users safe.

By signing, you commit as a citizen of the world that you do not believe that cannabis using tourists who follow the rules cause harm to the city. Open coffeeshops make sure for safe and responsible usage. 

Our clear request to Amsterdam Her Local government:

Keep coffeeshops open to tourists.
Strengthen existing bonds and tackle complaints together without banning tourists in your beautiful city. 
Collaborate with coffeeshop owners, residents, and experts on real solutions.

Sign today and share widely!
Initiated by Dutch Flowers Magazine,

(Living in Maastricht, visit Amsterdam every week)