I was determined not to be a marijuana virgin by the end of this trip. Rick Steves is a big proponent of legalizing the drug in America; and I bet he had some effect on the recent Washington State law enacted in 2013. So, he has added this little side trip to his Amsterdam tours. Education is power, you know.
Most of Amsterdam's downtown coffeeshops--the common label for those selling marijuana (as well as coffee) which must be licensed--feel grungy and ominous to American travelers not part of the youth-hostel crowd. Paradox, owned by Ludo (an old hippie--my perception only--and friend of Rick's), is cozy and more inviting to those of us without piercings and numerous tattoos.
Ludo, the owner for the past 22+ years, was happy to spend 30+ minutes explaining the Dutch approach to marijuana, the history, its laws and the rules regarding its sale, etc. I noticed the menus on the table were for coffee and snacks only--you must ask if you want to see a tobacco menu because it's illegal to advertise.
The retail sale of marijuana is strictly regulated; and people are encouraged not to buy soft drugs on the street. Marijuana purchased in well-established shops is always good quality (much safer with good prices); the minimum age to purchase is 18. Proceeds are taxed and it is a competitive business. Coffeeshops can sell up to five grams per person per day--pre-rolled joints, in little baggies, and in cookies and cake. Owners, Ludo says, have an interest in keeping their trade safe and healthy and maintaining their shop's reputation. Because remember, they cannot advertise.
Authorities want shops to stay small and not become export bases. So each coffeeshop is allowed an inventory of about a pound of pot in stock at one time. This means that a popular shop must withstand the hassle of replenishing stock five or six times daily. Otherwise, it can lose its license. There are about 200 coffeeshops in the city now, and 800 have been closed for not following the rules.
Ludo was anxious to tell us that hemp has been around for centuries. Medieval bibles and even the Declaration of Independence are written on hemp; hemp paper, in fact, lasts longer than regular paper). Glaucoma, menstrual cramps, MS, cancer, seizures, side-effects from radiation--all are helped by smoking or ingesting weed. It improves your appetite and health quality without the side effects of other medical drugs.
When smoking weed, Ludo explained, the effects go straight to the brain. However, it may take 30-60 minutes to feel the effects after eating a cookie or brownie, for example, or less if you're eating it on an empty stomach. And those who overdo? The "fix" is to drink a Code, which is full of sugar. "No one dies from weed," says Ludo. "It would take about 2,000 kilos of marijuana to kill a person."
Ludo's partner, Wiljan, was also very informative, patient with descriptions, and happy to help us with our choices. During Ludo's presentation, it suddenly dawned on me--a non-smoker--that it made more sense to eat a cookie than attempt to smoke. So for six euros, I bought a slice of pound cake, which included one gram of pot. Wiljan explained that since I have never tried marijuana, I should only eat a quarter of it at first so I can determine how it effects me.
Soooo, when will I slip this into our schedule and what will happen??
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