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CHRISTMAS IS OVER for another year… You may well have lost track of the days of the week over the festive period. So just to be clear – it’s Sunday, and here’s what’s going on:
1. #FRANK WARNING Another big storm system is set to hit on Tuesday. This one’s been provisionally named ‘Frank’ and it’s set to bring exceptionally high Atlantic waves, Met Éireann says.
2. #ACCIDENTAL SHOOTING Police in Chicago say a 55-year-old woman killed during a domestic call-out was shot accidentally by an officer.
3. #ROAD DEATH A 20-year-old woman has died after a crash in Co Wexford. It happened at Camblin, New Ross, yesterday afternoon. The car she was driving struck a wall.
4. #PENSION PROMISES Tánaiste Joan Burton is promising to increase the State pension by €5 every year over five years if Labour is returned to government, a number of Sunday newspapers are reporting.
5. #UK FLOODS Homes are being evacuated in the north of England, as flooding continues to hit the area. 30 severe warnings remain in place, the BBC reports.
6. #EXTREME SPORTS A 39-year-old French soldier was killed while attempting a wingsuit jump in the Alps yesterday. He died after jumping off the 2,525 metre-high summit of Le Brevent.
7. #KEEPS ON GIVING Not happy with your Christmas gift haul? This Irish charity is redistributing unwanted (or unneeded) presents to the homeless and to young people in care.
8. #POLES APART Got some time this morning? Check out this piece about what Kildare-born explorer Ernest Shackleton was up to, 100 years ago on his most famous journey.
9. #AMERICA’S GOT TALONS A Louisiana police officer dealt with an attack from an unlikely suspect on Christmas Eve. An owl flew in the window of his car and tore at him with its beak, talons and wings, CNN reports.
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Will this affect the cannabis laws? Going there in December…
they changed the law during the summer only dutch citizens can legally buy hash in the cafe’s no more tourists
Oh yea, I’d say its for the weed yer goin. Oh yea.
That law is not currently being widely enforced, unfortunately.
Max – tourists who are visiting Amsterdam in December will still be able to smoke pot in the coffeeshops. The ban is in place in southern cities such as Maastricht and the plan is for it to be introduced nationwide in January. Whether this govt plans any change to the proposed legislation is unclear, but will become clear in the next day or so.
Thank you Neil!
It’s actually doesn’t come into effect until November after cannabis cup, a major tourist attraction.
I’m only back yesterday from amsterdam its jan 1st the weed pass comes in
When it comes in, it means Dutch *residents* can buy it, not just Dutch citizens. If you’re Irish and you live there, happy days for you. If you’re Dutch and you live in Belgium, tough.
Ur welcome Max. Who knows I might c u there
now’s the chance to legalise and smoke our way out of the recession,cafes with PlayStations,lots of burger bites and sweets,400000 jobs in tourism and service industry,enda Kenny statue on o Connell street,money to burn,criminals moving into legitimate business!!!it’s win win
I bet the new Dutch government will achieve their goals too, not like our crowd of amateurs.
They will if their citizenship continue to pay their water rates and property tax.
Banning the weed tourism, raising the drinking age , next theyll be banning prostitution and turning the netherlands into a tourist wasteland
Interesting reading comments here .the vast majority ignored the main thrust of the report which was based on their economic platform ,we are mor interested in how it will effect Drugs and Booze and we wonder why we elect duff governments.
Never thought I would hear a liberal party looking at raising the age at which you are allowed to consume alcohol.
Brian – Rutte’s party are liberal in name only. They are definitively right of centre and austerity is the agenda that defines them. Much like Cameron’s Tory party in UK.
Gavin apologies.
the sales on the streets will be booming again. they just announced you will need an identification and proof of residence. so club membership for dutch citizens only has been scrapped.
http://www.dutchnews.nl has an interesting summary of what this means. Reading between the lines it looks like local/city councils will have discretion as to how the law is enforced but the ‘Weedpass’ is dead.
have your say