Why it matters: Amsterdam’s Red Light District has officially banned smoking cannabis on the streets as part of an effort to make the area more hospitable to residents and workers. Those found in violation of the new law will face a €100 fine.
What they are saying: The ban was proposed earlier this year by the Amsterdam city council, which stated that tourists cause street dealers to cause crime and insecurity in the area. The smoking ban will reduce the nuisance, said the council.
The big picture: This new policy is part of an effort led by Amsterdam’s first female mayor, Femke Halsema, to improve conditions in the Red Light District and protect sex workers from gawking tourists and their camera phones, and also to combat a rise in abuses such as human trafficking.
What to watch: The city council will discuss four possible plans for sex workers in the De Wallen neighborhood, including fewer window-style rooms, moving the brothels to new locations elsewhere in Amsterdam, and creating a sex worker “hotel”. The plans will be discussed with sex workers, residents and businesses in July and taken to the city council in September.
My take: This new policy is an important step towards making the Red Light District a safer and more hospitable place for its residents and workers. However, it remains to be seen how effective the smoking ban will be in reducing nuisance and crime in the area, and how successful the city’s plans for sex workers will be in protecting them from exploitation and abuse.
