The Other Amsterdam

Prostitution has been legal here since 2000. The red light district surrounds what was once a church but is now used as a theatre. There were many window-shoppers! One woman tapped on her window as John passed by and he gave her a smile and a wave. The red neon light above the window indicates that the prostitute is available. There are more than 300 windows in 3 districts. Better working conditions and safety for the women seems to work well here.

The smoke shops that sell marijuana are being reined in. In recent years the numbers have dropped from 350 to just 167 because the government has instituted proximity rules that forbid smoke shops near schools. Now some are concerned that this will force the drugs back to street dealers with loss of control over the industry and increased crime rates. We’ll soon see how effective Canada’s new laws will be.Read more