Question:
Ok .. all these question about amsterdam are starting to get tiring .. so i have started a Faq addon .. this addon is not complete ..i do not claim to be a expert on this subject but i think i can answer most of the basic question truthfully.

*What is Amsterdam ?

Amsterdam is the capitol of the Netherlands. It has approximately 700 000 inhabitants.

*I heard cannabis is legal in Amsterdam .. is this true ?

technically speaking .. no but the sale and use of marijuana is "gedoogd" (allowed) in Amsterdam and indeed all of the Netherlands. This means that you are allowed to posses buy and use a small ammount of marijuana. So officially its illegal but for all practical purposes you could say its legal.

*Ok so where do i buy weed in amsterdam ?

In so called "coffeeshops" these are bar like establishments that sell marijuana. Some people also like to smoke their weed in a coffeeshop along with all the other people that are smoking there. Coffeeshop also usually sell drinks (mostly non alcoholic although a few coffeshops have a liquor license) and some also sell some food (like tosti's , fruit and candy).

*Where do i find these coffeshops ?

Everywhere in Amsterdam in the rest of the Netherlands you might have to search for a cofeeshop but in Amsterdam coffeeshops are everywhere. In fact as soon as you step outside the central station you can see a few. But if you somehow manage to not find any coffeeshops you can always ask people.

*How many coffeeshops are there ?

The exact number is not know but there are approximately 400 coffeeshops in Amsterdam.

*What is the best coffeeshop ?

There is no best coffeeshop .. there is only the best coffeeshop for you. The atmosphere and style of decoration is different in each of these shops it is up to you to find one that best suits you. If you really dont know where to start you could try a recent cannabis cup winner.

*Are there age restrictions on the sale of cannabis ?

Officially yes. You have to be 18 to be allowed to enter a coffeshop. But usually coffeeshop holders wont check for age and most of the time you can find one that will sell you the goods even if you are younger then the required age.

*Is there a limit on the ammount i can buy ?

Again officially yes. You are only allowed to buy 5 grams a day. But this rule is hardly enforced. For example you could go into a coffeshop buy your 5 grams and come back a hour later and buy another 5 grams or you could simply go to several shops and buy 5 grams in each one.

*What are the prices like ?

The prices of weed vary a lot from strain to strain and from shop to shop. Generally speaking however you could say that the prices vary between 7,50 ($3) and 17 ($6.8) guilders a gram. However usually the weed isnt sold per gram but per baggie. The two most common sizes are 12,5 ($5) guilders and 25 ($10) guilders. Note that the dollar prices given are subject to change.

*Can i / am i allowed to smoke weed in public ?

Yes. No one can do anything to you if you smoke weed on the street. Although its only fair to say that some people consider it rude.

*I dont feel like learning any foreign languages .. how far will english get me ?

English is taught at all Dutch schools and hence commonly spoken and understood in Amsterdam.

*What is the price of a hotel in Amsterdam ?

There really isnt one answer to this as the prices vary from hotel to hotel. However if you want to check prices on the web you could try www.bookings.nl

*What is the price of a plane ticket to Amsterdam

How the do you expect me to know where you are flying from ? .. look it up yourself.

*Can i bring weed back with me to my home country ?

Only if you plan to go to jail for a couple of years.

Now i am sure i forgot about a lot of questions .. and some of you may not agree with the answers i have given. This was however only meant to start work on the Amsterdam Faq addon. Feel free to add your own stuff. when its done we will have to find the guy in charge of the Faq and mail it to him. elrond

Answer: Sorry to be a pain - if someone complains about you smoking in public you officially have to stop otherwise you can get arrested. I read an article about someone who got arrested for smoking in public after several requests for doing so.

Most cinema's and the likes won't appreciate you doing it either, although some will let you get away with it.