CANNABIS MAY SOOTHE EURO 2000 HOOLIGANS

Amsterdam's Drug-Selling Coffee Shops Win Right To Stay Open During Football
Tournament After Negotiations With The City Authority

It has become of one the Netherlands' most famous products, and if those who
advocate its virtues get their way then Euro 2000 could be the most peaceful
and laid-back football tournament in sporting history.

Representatives of Amsterdam's coffee shop owners, where cannabis is openly
sold and smoked, have been locked in negotiations with the city's authority,
after fears that they would be forced to close along with hundreds of bars
in the city during Euro 2000 because of possible violence.

During the weeks of negotiations, representatives of growers and sellers of
cannabis have told the city authority that it would be better off ensuring
that the coffee shops remain open and that as many football fans as possible
visit them, to ensure that peace reigns in the city. Meetings have taken
place with the Netherlands justice department, local police officials and
the local authority which regulates the coffee shops and issues licences for
the selling and smoking of cannabis.

"Fortunately we have made them see sense," said Roland Dam, founder of
Amsterdam's Cannabis College which provides information on the industrial,
medicinal and recreational uses of the herb. "There is always less trouble
when cannabis is involved. I mean, have you ever heard of anyone smoking a
joint and then starting a riot? Keeping the coffee shops open is good news
for the city and the tournament as a whole."

Owners of coffee shops or those involved in cannabis manufacture are not
under Dutch law allowed to directly encourage its usage, but have been
allowed to point to the wider benefits it could bring to Euro 2000.
Officially, cannabis is not legalised in the Netherlands but is
decriminalised with the authorities turning a blind eye to its use. Millions
of people visit the city each year, which has become famous for offering one
of the widest selections of cannabis in the world that can be smoked without
fear of arrest.

"We are not saying that fans should come and smoke," emphasised Mr Dam. "But
we are saying that smoking a joint is likely to contribute towards a
peaceful tournament. People will be very relaxed, they will be more
objective about the games and they will also become a bit more tolerant if
their team loses."

Around the city's red-light district yesterday, where almost all Amsterdam's
coffee shops are located, preparations for Euro 2000 were being made in a
manner that befits the product being offered for sale. Many coffee shops
have been granted late licences and will be able to stay open beyond 1am,
while several are planning to erect giant television screens where fans can
puff while their teams play. "I must admit we haven't got around to it yet,"
said a worker in the Dutch Flowers coffee shop.

Among the handful of customers there was relief that the coffee shops would
remain open but dread at the arrival of thousands of football fans, even
though some were not totally up to date with what was going on, given that
most of the day had been idled away in the Dutch Flowers.

"I'm hoping there's not going to be a lot of violence," said Paul, an
Australian backpacker travelling around Europe. "But which teams are playing
and when does it begin?" he asked through a puff of smoke. "Who cares who
wins so long as it's Holland," said Gary, a local resident. "It should be
fun. I hope the fans have a good smoke and just love each other."

In total there are around 230 coffee shops in Amsterdam and the average cost
of cannabis is around UKP15 for a five gram bag. Football fans have been
warned that they will not be allowed to drink or smoke cannabis on the
street and that while bars will remain open in city centres they will be
closed around grounds.

Like football teams, the cannabis world operates a league to see which is
proving to be the most popular with smokers. Currently topping the premier
pot league is a Dutch-produced cannabis called Real McCoy followed by Pot of
Gold, another domestically produced cannabis.

"It should prove to be an interesting tournament," said Mr Dam. "We are
preparing for a massive party.

"I think Real McCoy will prove to be the most popular but don't ask me who
is going to win at the football. We just want it to be fun and peaceful."