DUTCH TO OPEN DRUG DRIVE-THRU 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 spokeswoman 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 center 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 offenses.