Owner Meddie Willemsen, who was tried along with 15 staff of the Checkpoint coffee shop in Terneuzen, was also sentenced to a 16-week prison term. He was convicted for keeping more than the maximum tolerated amount of 500g (18oz) of drugs at the cafe.
Checkpoint served up to 3,000 people a day before being closed last year. On a couple of occasions, police found 200kg (440lb) of cannabis when they raided the coffee house. Willemsen was sentenced to 16 weeks in prison, but was released as he had already spent the time in jail ahead of the trial. He and his staff were convicted of breaking drugs laws, exporting drugs and membership of a criminal organisation.
Dutch tolerance of cannabis
So-called because the use, possession or sale of cannabis has never been legalised in the Netherlands. Possession and production for personal use are considered misdemeanours. However, possession of cannabis for personal use is not prosecuted up to five grammes or five cannabis plants. Coffee shops are allowed to stock a maximum of 500 grammes of cannabis. Large-scale production, export or import of cannabis is illegal, and should always be prosecuted. In other words: coffee shop owners can legally sell cannabis but they cannot legally buy it.
