You’ll never guess which iconic city wants to ban cannabis tourism

Now that vaccines are rampant, travel is becoming a priority for the people of the United States. When it comes to cannabis users, a specific European travel destination is high on the list.

Recently the European Union announced that it would reopen its borders to vaccinated travelers, including Americans and citizens from countries that have successfully vaccinated large parts of their populations.

The EU will allow visitors who have received EU-approved vaccines (Moderna, Pfizer and Johnson & Johnson) to travel without testing or quarantine. This is great for Americans who have been vaccinated and who may be itchy to travel and try different things after living in pandemic conditions for a year.

Photo by Jeff W via Unsplash

When it comes to marijuana, enthusiasts may need to reconsider a trip to Amsterdam, a city that has been one of the most popular cannabis destinations in the world for decades. In January the city’s mayor, Femke Halsema, said she might consider banning marijuana tourism in the country and allowing only residents of the city to participate in cannabis-related activities.

RELATED: International Travel: This is where experts predict it will go back to normal

Before the coronavirus pandemic, Amsterdam, the capital of the Netherlands, received over a million tourists every month – most of whom were hoping to stop at one of the city’s infamous cafes.

Photo by Flickr user Dominic Milton Trott

“Coffee shops, especially in the center, are mostly run by tourists,” said Halsema. “The rise in tourism has only increased demand while attracting hard drug crime. We can be an open, hospitable and tolerant city, but also a city that makes life difficult for criminals and slows down mass tourism. “

RELATED: Brexit Fallout: British Nationals Banned From Amsterdam’s Cannabis Coffeeshops

The Netherlands is currently a Level 4 risk target for COVID-19, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). “Due to the current situation in the Netherlands, even fully vaccinated travelers can be at risk of getting and spreading COVID-19 variants and should avoid all travel to the Netherlands,” explains the CDC.

While the cannabis industry has been beneficial to Amsterdam, generating revenue, keeping pharmacies running, and promoting a culture of fun and freedom, COVID-19 concerns could lead the mayor to adopt a more conservative stance. It could be the push the city needs to protect the further spread of COVID-19 infections and control drug-related crime.