Dutch 'no joint smoking' sign lights up interest

AMSTERDAM - Amsterdam's new street signs banning cannabis smoking in parts of the city have sparked global interest.

The sign shows a red circle around a fat cannabis joint in a cloud of smoke sparked by white marijuana leaves. It has been installed at one square and surrounding streets in Amsterdam where young cannabis smokers are a nuisance.

Soon after the installation on February 1, the first signs were stolen after which the Amsterdam council of De Baarsjes decided it would start selling what it believes is the world's first anti-cannabis road sign.

Over 400 consumers have approached the council to buy one of the "no joints" signs for €90 ($160), excluding shipping, a spokesman said."

About 75 per cent of the requests come from the United States," he said, adding interest is also coming from Singapore, Australia, Scandinavian countries and Germany.

The profits will be donated to a charitable cause that has yet to be chosen.

It is legal to own and use small quantities of soft drugs in the Netherlands whose relaxed position on the issue has brought it into conflict with other European countries like France which claims the Dutch undermine the global fight against drugs.

- REUTERS