HOLLAND SMOKING BAN STAYS TYPICALLY RELAXED

Coffee Shops; Targets Tobacco, Leaves Loophole For Marijuana

AMSTERDAM (Reuters) - When a smoking ban comes into force in the
Netherlands tomorrow, it may kill the buzz for people who like to
smoke their cannabis with tobacco. But some owners of the famous
Dutch coffee shops are staying mellow.

Fittingly, in a land renowned for its relaxed attitude to drug laws,
the new rules contain a few loopholes.

People will still be able to smoke pure cannabis joints in around 700
coffee shops, something some tourists -- notably from North America
- --already often do.

Also, restaurants, cafes and coffee shops will be allowed to set up a
separate room or glass partition behind which people can smoke. But
customers will not be served in these areas, to protect staff.

This dispensation makes the Dutch law more relaxed than smoking
restrictions in some other European countries where smoking is banned
completely in bars, restaurants and other public spaces.

But Arjam Roskam, who owns the Green House coffee shop in Amsterdam,
is not worried.

His marijuana strains have won 31 Cannabis Cup prizes over the years
and he counts Hollywood celebrities, members of Europe's royal
families, lawyers, judges and police officers among his clients.

"The English, Americans and Japanese are our biggest customers.
Already for a very, very long time they don't smoke tobacco because
tobacco is the number one killer on this planet," he said. "We don't
mind the smoking ban."

Many smokers mix marijuana with tobacco, but it can also be smoked on
its own in joints, pipes, vaporizers and other devices, or eaten in
cakes and cookies.

Soft drugs are officially banned in the Netherlands but under a
policy of tolerance, buyers are allowed to have less than five grams
of cannabis in their possession.

Small quantities are sold in coffee shops, making the usually small
and cozy venues big attractions for tourists.

Despite Mr. Roskam's comments, for some of these visitors, a joint is
not a joint without tobacco.

"We come [to Amsterdam] just for the coffee shops, three to five
times a year," said Briton Barry Johnson, who was lounging in the
Green House coffee shop with a friend.

"I don't smoke pure marijuana, as it is too strong for me, it makes
me sleepy," he said. "I definitely won't come back if mixed joints
are not allowed."

The Dutch Health Ministry said it did not think the smoking ban would
lead to more drug-related problems by driving more people to smoke
cannabis-only joints.

"People can still smoke tobacco mixed with cannabis in coffee shops
but only in a closed area where employees cannot serve them," said
Ministry spokeswoman Saskia Hommes.

"Maybe the smokers have to travel a bit more to find a coffee shop
with a closed area," she said.