2 October 2007

THE HAGUE (AFP) - Rotterdam is to close 18 coffee shops that sell cannabis, those closest to schools, in a bid to protect local youths, the city authorities announced Monday.

"The sale of soft drugs will have to end by 1 June 2009 in a total of 18 coffee shops within 200 to 250 metres of schools," said the city council in a statement.

The port city currently has a total of 62 such coffee shops.

The statement said there had been a worrying rise in the use of soft drugs by groups of vulnerable young people. The local authorities will also enforce that local businesses respect the age of limit of 18 on the sale of such drugs.

In the Netherlands, selling cannabis in small doses to adults is tolerated in coffee shops that hold a licence. But it is not legal to transport more than five grammes of the substance or grow more than five plants of cannabis per person.

[Copyright AFP 2007]

Subject: Dutch news