What will the impact be from the headline "Amsterdam Bans Marijuana Smoking on Streets of Red-Light District"?
Amsterdam will soon ban the smoking of marijuana on the streets of its popular red-light district, according to rules introduced on Thursday that are aimed at cracking down on the noisy tourists that local residents have long complained about.
“This should reduce the nuisance caused by drug use in public spaces, particularly by tourists,” Mayor Femke Halsema of Amsterdam said in a statement. The rules, which will further limit alcohol sales in the area, are set to go into effect in mid-May.
The mayor’s statement said that residents of the red-light district, a hub for legal prostitution in Amsterdam, have been “excessively bothered” by crowds and nuisance caused by mass tourism and substance abuse on public streets. The atmosphere in the old city has become especially grim at night, when drunken tourists, loitering in the streets, compromise the safety and the ability of residents to live there undisturbed, the statement said.
Amsterdam, like other European capitals, has struggled with how to make itself a vibrant hub for international tourists while also being safe and quiet for residents. The Dutch capital, known for its centuries-old canals, art scene, restaurants and historic buildings, has also attracted tourists because of its liberal attitude toward prostitution and drug use.
The announcement of this rule has important implications, both socially and economically, for Amsterdam. On one hand, it will likely help to improve the quality of life for all who reside in or visit this historic area by removing any potential negative externalities associated with public drug use. On the other hand, this decision could potentially hurt businesses that rely on drug tourism since fewer tourists may wish to visit an area where recreational activities are limited or nonexistent. Time will tell whether these restrictions have their intended effect; however, it is clear that they have already had an immediate impact on how Amsterdam is viewed locally and abroad.