Amsterdam Continues to Shutter Coffeeshops

The Abraxas coffeeshop at 51 Spuistraat in Amsterdam is being forced to close on Jan. 1 because of new city regulations.

As the Cannabis Cup draws near, Amsterdam is facing end-of-the-year coffeeshop closures. A new city rule about pot shops being 350 meters from a school is the reason why.

So far such well-known shops as Homegrown Fantasy and The Grasshopoper have had to shutter their doors. Come Jan. 1, the ban will hit Abraxas, Anyday and two more weed stores. Next January, the axe will fall on 14, including Mellow Yellow and High Time. Amsterdam's original coffeeshop tourist trap The Bulldog in the Leidseplein, first thought to be included in the roundup, will survive the shut-downs.

Which are your favorite coffeeshops in Amsterdam?

Steve Bloom

Steve Bloom

Publisher of CelebStoner.com, former editor of High Times and Freedom Leaf and co-author of Pot Culture and Reefer Movie Madness.