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Lothar121

Dutch Cannabis Users Turn to Home Growing From Buying Retail
Evalinde Eelens | Bloomberg | 07/08/2005

July 8 (Bloomberg) -- Cannabis users in the Netherlands, home to a $300 million legal industry in the drug, are seeking to save money amid the highest unemployment rate since 1996 by growing their own marijuana instead of buying rolled joints.

Dutch authorities license two venues to sell the drug: so- called coffee shops, which offer finished cannabis products as well as seating and refreshments for customers, and outlets identified as growing shops, which provide only seeds.

The number of growing shops has risen ``substantially,'' to 318, the department of justice said in a report yesterday, giving no comparable number. Such venues offer as many as 1,400 kinds of marijuana seeds, costing as little as 12.50 euros ($14.93) for 10. At coffee shops such as the Bulldog chain, one joint costs 7 euros. The number of coffee shops fell last year.

``Growing it yourself saves you the trouble of going to the coffee shop, and it's also cheaper,'' said Eman Dekker, a 31-year- old employee at Amsterdam's Interpolm growing shop.

Dutch consumer spending on food, tobacco and alcohol dropped 0.7 percent in April, the most recent month for which figures are available. The country's economy recorded its biggest contraction in almost 12 years for the first quarter, and the unemployment rate stands at 6.6 percent.

Barney's Breakfast Bar, a coffee shop in Haarlemmerstraat, Amsterdam, is among venues offering more than cannabis to draw customers. Barney's presents food as well as marijuana and hash combinations, including Amnesia High marijuana.

Amnesia High won the 2004 Cannabis Cup, for drug of the year. The award is sponsored by the industry's High Times magazine.

``So far, July seems quieter than it usually is,'' said Paul Brett, the son of Derry Brett, who owns Barney's. ``We give the business a lot of love, and that helps.''

Pablow Picasso

Annual revenue in the Dutch cannabis industry is between 211 million euros and 283 million euros, according to the department of justice. There are about 1,200 establishments selling the drug, employing 4,600 people.

The number of coffee shops fell 2.3 percent to 737 shops in 2004, from 754 in 2003, the justice department said. Of the 483 Dutch cities, towns and villages, 105 have coffee shops.

``Without coffee shops there would be no Amsterdam,'' said Dafydd Williams, a 39-year-old tourist from Wales smoking a joint at Pablow Picasso, a shop in the city's Jordaan district.

The sprawl of coffee shops and growing shops in central Amsterdam is known locally as the Green Light District.

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killer12382

In reality there is room for both in the world of commercial cannabis. Some people will take a great of pleasure in growing their own, just as some people like to make their own wine. But some people couldn't grow mold on a slice of bread and therefore need a source of reliable cannabis.

Lothar121

Exactly. The population that would wish to grow their own is in the minority, and it is very plausible they would buy from a vendor in between crops.

Liberty4All

Additional reasons to frequent coffeeshops and purchase the retail supply:
- The ability to sample a variety of strains without having the time investment of growing it. Sample it, if you like it, buy a few seeds.
- The atmosphere.
- The people you can meet there.
- Supporting a benevolent business for the right reasons.

solutions

Amen,

Some 200,000 visitors come in a year to enjoy their liberty in Amsterdam. I've had up to five plants until a few years ago. From my appartment I can spot 4 people with 1 to 4 plants, growing their own. There are 3 coffeeshops within walking distance, and that's walking reaaallllly slow.

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