Question by marzilla: what are some of the negative effects Dutch Drug Laws have on Amsterdam?
I am doing a debate on the legalization of marijuana in the US, and I am arguing against legalization. Amsterdam’s drug policies are sure to come up in our debate, and I need some cons of these laws to repel them with. thanks so much!

Best answer:

Answer by blα blα
Difficult for me to answer because I actually think the policies that are in place here are working and effective!

Anyway, a couple of comments first. The policies in place are not “Amsterdam’s”, they are nation-wide and apply for the country as a whole and not just the city of Amsterdam (which is a common myth)

Secondly no drugs are “legal” in the Netherlands (another myth and this will probably surprise many in your debate!) Drug use is not illegal (actually this is the same for many countries) but possession and sales are still illegal. Soft drugs (marijuana & hash) are ‘tolerated’ sales from licenced coffeeshops under given conditions only
- no more than five grams per person may be sold in any one transaction, per person, per day;
- no hard drugs may be sold;
- drugs may not be advertised;
- the coffeeshop must not cause any nuisance;
- no drugs may be sold to persons under the age of 18, nor may minors be admitted on the premises.

Hard drugs are not legal, not tolerated under any conditions and are acted on strongly.

So back to the cons. Well with the policies of the Netherlands, the use of cannabis has seen a decline in all age groups including school kids since 1996 and this trend is the same for hard drugs. In comparison with other countries then it is in the middle range but lower than many Western European countries including the UK and also compared with the US as well, so this is not a real arguement winner.

The only thing that I can really say is an issue with the drugs policies is the link to organised crime (but this is the same case as with countries like the US where marijuana is illegal as well). There is a constant battle against the crime rings that operate the supply of marijuana and Amsterdam authorities especially have issued a number of initatives to crack down on the links with organised crime as of late.

The only other thing I can think of which is a current issue in the news over the last year is the issue of “drug tourism”. The polices of the Netherlands are not the same in it’s neighbouring countries (Belgium, Germany & France especially) and day tourists drive to coffeeshops on the bordering towns to purchase and drive back home. As a result coffeeshops have had to be closed due to an influx of tourists causing a public nusiance in Roosendaal & Bergen op Zoom, and there has been a discussion underway in Maastricht to have a “membership only” basis for sales. Plus there have been an increase in checks on the roads by Belgian & German authorities.

Drug tourism is not an attractive feature and personally speaking (having lived in Amsterdam for years) it is incredibly annoying to have a city which is so beautiful, culturally & historically rich & with so much to do, known only for “I can smoke legally there”. Many locals live with this and hate the small element of tourists that only come over to smoke & drink themselves crazy. This is something I personally would argue is a negative to a city.

Anyway, good luck, and hope I gave you some ideas (even though, like I said, I personally I would be arguing for the other side of the debate!)

This is a good document to read http://www.minbuza.nl/dsresource?objectid=buzabeheer:58788&type=pdf it’s produced by the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs so you can be sure the info is accurate

What do you think? Answer below!