DUTCH PLAN DRIVE-THRU DOPE SHOPS

VENLO, Netherlands -- Dutch authorities plan to open two drive-thru
shops next year where "drug tourists" can legally buy marijuana and
hashish.

The officials in Venlo say they want to make it easier on Germans who
flock to the southern Dutch border town for drugs by opening two
coffee shops with drive-thrus selling drugs such as marijuana and hashish.

They also want to keep the "drug tourists" from lingering in the
Netherlands, where so-called soft drugs are legally sold in small quantities.

Drug tourists draw street dealers selling illicit harder drugs,
creating "an environment that generally makes ordinary people feel
unsafe," said Venlo spokesman Tamira Hankman.

Hankman couldn't say exactly what the shops will offer, but she said
they would not be like Amsterdam cafes where visitors can enjoy a cup
of coffee and a joint, but no hard drugs or liquor.

"The new coffee shops need to be outside the city and they need to be
easily accessible," Hankman said.

"Our city centre has been flooded with these tourists and the plan is
part of an offensive to make it safer."

Officials are working on the final details of the proposal. If the
city council approves the idea, the drive-thru shops are expected to
open next year after consultations with German municipal officials,
Hankman said.

Marijuana and hashish are technically illegal in the Netherlands, but
authorities tolerate their use and they are openly sold in small
amounts. The distribution of marijuana in bulk and its cultivation are
considered serious offences.