From January 1st 2008, Amsterdam Police are no longer allowed to use cannabis whilst off-duty.
Officers in Holland generally and Amsterdam specifically, famous for its liberal drugs laws, have been told they must set the public "a good moral example" and this new guideline has been confirmed this week by Dutch interior minister, Guusje ter Horst.
Amsterdam Police are defending their rights to use cannabis when not on duty - which kind of puts the kai-bosh on UK claims of how dangerous cannabis is, don't you think? The UK Liberal-Democrats have already said they will decriminalise a small amount of cannabis for personal use, so whats with the Labour and the Conservative parties? Unless they change their stance, perhaps we ought to be thinking of a few changes in the UK?
When asked the question by the right-wing Freedom Party, she said that such drug use could undermine a police officer's authority.
While Ms Ter Horst stressed that individual police forces must take responsibility for enforcing the guideline, she also stated that they should adopt a clear single policy on this issue. At present, there are numerous differences between the country's various forces.
The ban, make's the Amsterdam force the first in the Netherlands to bar officers from using drugs when not at work.
Frank Gittay, the city's police council chairman, said: "Until now police were only banned from showing up for work stoned or drunk. But now we are telling officers they should also behave like the police at all times? "That means not taking drugs and not getting excessively drunk whether on or off duty."
But Dutch police union chairman Hans van Duijn said: "Many of our members are opposed to this." The Canna Zine is 1 year old this week. Happy birthday to us, and thanks to everyone who visits the Canna Zine to find out whats happening in the world of cannabis.
You won't find any Police or government propaganda reports on the Canna Zine. We leave that to other cannabis websites. We tell it just like it is, so here's to another successful year of cannabis news, and exerting pressure on UK government to change the irrational policy on cannabis.
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Multiple sclerosis patient Sarah Martin believes cannabis is the best way to liberate herself from the daily pain she endures.She says just half a teaspoon in a hot drink will keep her pain-free and spasm-free for about three hours. She also uses a vaporizer to ingest the drug.But by obtaining the much sought after relief which enables her to walk a little more easily once her muscles have freed up , she becomes a criminal.She chooses not to take any regular - and legal - medication, maintaining it would give her side effects such as high blood pressure, ulcers and even the risk of heart failure and psychosis.
As if to prove the British public are forced to endure one rule for them and another for people in positions of power this was the moment UK newspaper the Daily Mirror exposed two London traffic wardens who were happy to sell the newspaper cannabis even though they were in uniform and patroling the streets of our Capitol city. A Swaggering traffic warden openly deals skunk cannabis while on duty in the street.He thinks nothing of handing over the illegal drug which carries a maximum 14 years jail for convicted dealers in a busy residential area.He was exposed by the Mirror in an undercover investigation in which he boasted he could get unlimited supplies of the dangerous Class B substance.His ticketing machine swinging around his waist, the chubby attendant also proudly claimed to be able to cancel any parking ticket if he gets the nod on the day it is issued.
A British man who served half of a seven year sentence for dealing in illicit drugs has set up again in a similar trade, but this time with a subtle difference. Yes he sells recreational drugs. But this time the drugs (like 2-DPMP, BK-MBDP and 4-MMCat, to name but three) are legal to buy and possess. Not only that but he can sell them with a clear conscience, as any adverse side-effects are covered with a weak, but clearly presented cloak of protection.The label reads Not for human consumption . It looks like coke. Acts like it too, or very similar at least, but this is in fact meeow meeow, (also known as 4-MMCatt or Mepherdrone)
