The new Amsterdam? Turn Brighton into 'dope destination', says councillorPA


A councillor in Brighton wants to capitalise on a Dutch proposal to ban tourists from its cannabis cafes - by offering Brighton as an alternative.

Home Affairs spokesman for the aptly named Green Party, Ben Duncan, says Brighton's seafront cafes would be licensed and the drug legalised under his plans.

He told The Sun: "Think of all the millions our shops and hotels would make if all those tourists being turned away from Amsterdam by the Dutch Tories came here to spend their holiday cash instead!

"Of course, in Brighton and Hove, we know only too well the damage that the current drug policy of complete criminalisation of drug use is causing rather than seeing it as a health issue.

"Cannabis use can be harmful, but all analysis shows that it's much less likely to harm you than, say, driving a car, or crossing a road.

"So what about it? Brighton, the liberal, tolerant, tourist capital of Europe?"

We're sure the locals might have a thing or two to say about that idea...

Last week a judge in the Netherlands upheld a new law to stop foreign visitors from entering cannabis cafes, meaning they could be banned by the end of the year.

Under the new law, Dutch residents will still be allowed in Holland's famous coffee shops as long as they have valid identification or a new 'weed pass'.

The ban is due to commence in three southern provinces next month and go nationwide by the end of the year.

The restrictions came as concerns grew that tourists were solely visiting the country for drugs and that foreign dealers were selling them illegally back at home.

But some cafe owners have said they will lose 90% of their business if the ban goes ahead.

What do you think about Brighton being the new 'spliff centre' of Europe? Leave your comments below...

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