Amsterdam was once the ‘Mecca of marijuana.’ They had the best marijuana on the planet according to my friends that traveled there, and their laws were very liberal. After all, that’s why High Times always held their annual Cannabis Cup event there. But it appears that those days are gone, as this year’s Cannabis Cup has been the target of Amsterdam’s mayor. Per The Cannabist:
The Amsterdam Cannabis Cup was shut down on Sunday — its first day — for fear that “all participants would be arrested,” according to organizer High Times magazine.
The mag said the mayor’s office had issues with the legality of the Cannabis Cup.
“This morning we were informed that if were to proceed with the Cannabis Cup Expo the event would be shut down and all participants would be arrested,” High Times wrote on Sunday. “In the 26 years of the Cannabis Cup, there has never been any health or safety issues, nor has there been any lawlessness on the part of attendees.”
New rules in Amsterdam resulted in this year’s Cannabis Cup being dab free. Participants are not allowed to share marijuana either, which drastically changed the Cannabis Cup. Yet, despite the attempts by the Amsterdam mayor to crush the spirit of the Cup, the event moved on with seminars as planned. Per High Times:
It’s official: What should have been a death knell for this year’s Cannabis Cup in Amsterdam has only made us stronger.
All seminars held at the Melkweg today were packed. Cup attendees, even after all they have been through, remained in good spirits and eager to learn all the insider secrets (grow and otherwise) that were unveiled during the day.
Again, this Cup and been a difficult one so far, but we (both HIGH TIMES and all Cup attendees) are standing strong. Until tomorrow!
I’m curious to see what the future holds for the Amsterdam Cannabis Cup. With Amsterdam becoming more and more conservative with it’s marijuana laws, will the Cup continue to be held there? If so, will people keep attending the Cup knowing that it isn’t the same as it used to be? High Times is holding more and more Cups in America, so will people just start going to those instead of traveling to Amsterdam? While I only plan on attending Cups in America, it’s a sad day to know that the amazing event that has occurred in Amsterdam for so many years is not going to be the same as it used to be. In a way, it’s the end of an era.
