Vansterdam contradiction?

[Febo]

Back from a wee trip to Canada. Had to check out a smoking joint in Vancouver: $5 to use a vape, provide your own weed.

Now, I really don't know what to think of this. On the one hand I'm thinking, if I had some BC bud I'd be in the woods or on the beach using it, rather than in a back room on the seedy side of Van. On the other hand maybe you have to "support the cause".
But it is a cheek to charge to sit and use a vape innit?

[pete21]

They are a business, have to pay rent and whatnot. I assume they were not covering expenses letting stoners come in and vape for free. What would you suggest they do to pay bills?

I'm not saying they are doing it the right way. But these are the considerations more than "cheek" if you get my drift. ;)

"Cool" and no business plan is still just "Out of Business."

If I were them, I'd try to offer other herbs and such to vape. I've never explored the Volcano for it's aeroma-therapy abilities, but I'd think there would be things like mints or other flavorful mixes or other ethnobotanicals that could be offered. I assume they sell drinks, snacks and so on...

There are ways to make more money facilitating people's activities than just selling them something, but that isn't always the case.

[dopefiend]

Well, if you think about it it makes sense: the BC Marijuana Party have to pay their rent, they have to buy the vaporizers, and they also have a load of other great initiatives that they can put money into (like Emery's extradition battle).

So $5 isn't really that much is it? In an Amsterdam coffeeshop, you'd either have to buy their weed or a drink before you could sit and smoke in their place, personally if I didn't have my own vape, i'd prefer the Van way.

[Febo]

Well, if you think about it it makes sense: the BC Marijuana Party have to pay their rent, they have to buy the vaporizers, and they also have a load of other great initiatives that they can put money into (like Emery's extradition battle).

So $5 isn't really that much is it? In an Amsterdam coffeeshop, you'd either have to buy their weed or a drink before you could sit and smoke in their place, personally if I didn't have my own vape, i'd prefer the Van way.

It ain't my experience of Dutch coffeshops that you have to buy beforehand - I mean, I avoid those that do that.
Anyway, what I didn't tell you was - I didn't listen to the guy very well and thought the weed was included, so I was sitting there waiting for it to be served up to me like a chump before I finally cottoned on ..... then I saw all the notices saying "don't ask us were to find weed" and had no option other than to leave. got me dosh back no probs.
Scored some BC bud later - smoked it walking on the beach - excellent stuff.

[dopefiend]

It ain't my experience of Dutch coffeshops that you have to buy beforehand - I mean, I avoid those that do that.

Are you serious? You think it's OK to sit in someone's establishment and smoke your own weed there without evening buying a drink? I wouldn't do that out of sheer politeness, to be honest, and would fully expect the owner to come and ask me to buy something if I did. They're not public spaces, they're businesses, if you're taking up space there without buying anything, they're losing money!

[Febo]

Are you serious? You think it's OK to sit in someone's establishment and smoke your own weed there without evening buying a drink? I wouldn't do that out of sheer politeness, to be honest, and would fully expect the owner to come and ask me to buy something if I did. They're not public spaces, they're businesses, if you're taking up space there without buying anything, they're losing money!

Hold yer hat, I said I avoid coffeeshops that force you to buy, I never said I use coffeeshops without buying anything.
Breadhead.

[dopefiend]

OK, well I did say "you'd either have to buy their weed or a drink".

[Febo]

Coffee, beer or this delightfully named stuff:

http://www.studiofox.com/Looza.jpg

[dopefiend]

Coffee, beer or this delightfully named stuff:


Love the loozas too man, just not enough in those little bottles for me. And no beer anymore in coffeeshops either, by the way.

[Febo]

And no beer anymore in coffeeshops either, by the way.


It appears I lived there during the best period then.

[Steeldiehard]

Hold yer hat, I said I avoid coffeeshops that force you to buy, I never said I use coffeeshops without buying anything.

Curiously, what's the difference? Do you mean force you to buy weed when you walk in?

Steel

[Febo]

Turnstiles were coming in when I left.

Some coffeeshops would open all the windows every now and then to flush out the couch locked. My favorites in Amsterdam were the slightly down at heel ones on the peripheries - the non dutch ones.

My favorite of them all is the boat in Utrecht.

[Hudsonrulez]

the Canadian coffeshop experience is much different than an Amsterdam one. we can't exactly sell raw cannabis but that doesn't mean that the places in question will provide you with special drinks made with lots of love. ;)

But put yourselves in their shoes for a minute. In Canada selling raw cannabis (and sometimes edibles) is officially not tolerated. You can face a maximum 7 years in jail for selling any drugs. Also police don't tolerate trafficking too much. What they do appreciate though is stoners hanging out in the streets toking up in front of the kids. So they just prefer to keep things on the down low.

But believe me hang around a Canadian coffeshop for a while and you'll eat some good grub meet some cool people and maybe shown a spot or two if someone trusts you enough.

Maybe its cause I only spent 48hrs in the dam but the coffeshop vibe I got was too impersonal to be honest. I seriously doubt that would happen at dopestock!