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Stef, most foreigners can't resist the Dutch temptations! 'We' export the stuff to other countries - the average use here is lower than abroad.

If you wish to drink coffee in Holland, then go to a cafe-bar-restaurant.
If you wish to smoke cannabis or hash, then go to a 'Coffee Shop'. They also serve you coffee, but that not what you be expected to do in a 'coffee shop'.
If you wish to grow your own cannabis, you can buy the aquired seeds, and instruments like lamps, hydration systems and fertilizers in a 'Grow Shop'.
Up to 30 grams of cannabis/hashish or 5 plants (I think) in your possession is considered for private use, so you will get no problems with the police.
These so called 'soft drugs' pose a real problem to our society, both financial and mentally. For 30 years politicians have considered it harmless. Now very slowly these ideas are changing, and people are going to see that these drugs aren't as innocent as they seem to be.

And jfko6 is invited too! Of course. But only for drinking beer, not for smoking

(We must however realise that eating 20+ year old rations can do much more harm to the body and mind, than smoking drugs! A more plausible action is that people first smoke some drugs BEFORE eating old rations!)

i have a cousin that visited one of your coffee shops. he brought back a menu that showed the various items for sale. it was pretty cool to look at. i would love to visit the netherlands. although i would not be a smoker.

of course I was speaking of the famous Dutch pipe TOBACCO

I gotta admit, even though i live in the Netherlands, i've never smoked pot.
I walk by a coffee-shop every day in the city, but have never stepped in and smoked a joint. It's not that appealing to me, maybe someday i will try it but i'd rather drink a beer or smoke a good cigar.

Stock tanks on recession and jobless claims news affecting global markets. This is going to be a long recession.
My prediction is that Obama losses in 2012 but only narrowly.

The Dow closed up 37 points today but lost 738 points this week, the worst since October 2008. All three major indexes fell by more than 5% for the week.
-CNN

jfko6 wrote:The Dow closed up 37 points today but lost 738 points this week, the worst since October 2008. All three major indexes fell by more than 5% for the week.
-CNN

I don't think this is what Obama voters had in mind when they voted for Hope and Change. But that sure is what they got.

Dow Drops 1,100 Points. Reminiscent of 2008 dive, but worse. And the Natalie Wood case: Wagner named person of interest.

Another bad day on Wall Street

The mess from 2008 never really ended. It was still a mess.
Some more downward spiral in the Stock Market. Jobs will get lossed.