Maastricht city council has launched two inquiries to determine the effect of limiting the sale of marijuana in the Netherlands to Dutch residents.

The inquiries will end in in June with a report answering a number of questions, including whether the introduction of "weed passes" for the purchase of cannabis products will lead to more or less drug-related crime in the southern Dutch region bordering Belgium.

In the Netherlands, outlets called "coffeeshops" are licensed to sell small amounts of marijuana to the public. In recent years, "drugs tourists" from across the border in Belgium and Germany have caused increasing trouble in southern Dutch towns where they come to buy the soft drugs.

More recently still, the region has been hit by a wave of violent crime connected to the supply of cannabis to the outlets. While the sale of marijuana is permitted, the supply of the soft drugs to the licensed coffeeshops remains illegal and is controlled by criminal networks.

(mw/ae)

© Radio Netherlands Worldwide