Netherlands:
In reading scholarly articles I figured out the main reason for dug policies in Netherlands, to protect the health of individual users and everyone around them. The Netherlands put these laws into effect to restrict both the demand and supply of drugs. It’s been about 20 years that the Netherlands have been enforcing these policies in their country. In the Dutch society they approach their problems with certain characteristics that they keep in mind. Netherlands is one of the densest places to live. It has a population of about 15 million. The Dutch really focus on freedom with every individual. In the Netherlands you can get a maximum of 12 years for importing or exporting hard drugs and you would also receive a fine of 100,000 guilders. Any person found using a substance for personal pleasure would suffer a year in jail and 10,000 guilders fine. Importing or exporting soft drugs like marijuana results to 4 years in jail and a 100,000 guilder fine. If someone is found with less than .5 grams of hard drugs they will generally not be prosecuted, but the police will confiscate it. In Dutch culture they believe that putting cannabis in coffee shops will give young adults an urge not to do hard drugs. These coffee shops must obey rules, which are the following
- No more than five grams per person
- No hard drugs sold
- Drugs must not be advertised
- Coffee shop must not cause any nuisance
- No drugs may be sold to minors (18)
- Mayor has power to close coffee shop
Story:
In 1995 351 kg of heroin were confiscated. The Netherlands is not a major transit country for heroin and most consignments that are confiscated come through other European countries.
In 1995 4,851 kg of cocaine were confiscated - 23% of the total amount confiscated in the EU in that year. In 1994, 215 kg of amphetamines were confiscated, in addition to 143,000 pills containing other synthetic drugs (mainly MDMA, MDA and MDEA). 17 illegal laboratories for the production of synthetic drugs were dismantled in 1995, while a total of 50 were dismantled in the EU in the same year. In 1995 too, 549,337 hemp plants and 332 pounds of cannabis were confiscated - 44% of the total amount confiscated in the EU that year. In 1994, 323 illegal hemp nurseries were dismantled. With these confiscations, the Netherlands occupies a leading position in the international war on drugs.
(EU) European Union
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Drug_policy_of_the_Netherlands
http://www.holland.com/us/tourism/article/dutch-drug-policy.htm
http://www.parl.gc.ca/Content/SEN/Committee/371/ille/library/dolin1-e.htm
http://www.netherlands-tourism.com/dutch-drug-policy/
In reading scholarly articles I figured out the main reason for dug policies in Netherlands, to protect the health of individual users and everyone around them. The Netherlands put these laws into effect to restrict both the demand and supply of drugs. It’s been about 20 years that the Netherlands have been enforcing these policies in their country. In the Dutch society they approach their problems with certain characteristics that they keep in mind. Netherlands is one of the densest places to live. It has a population of about 15 million. The Dutch really focus on freedom with every individual. In the Netherlands you can get a maximum of 12 years for importing or exporting hard drugs and you would also receive a fine of 100,000 guilders. Any person found using a substance for personal pleasure would suffer a year in jail and 10,000 guilders fine. Importing or exporting soft drugs like marijuana results to 4 years in jail and a 100,000 guilder fine. If someone is found with less than .5 grams of hard drugs they will generally not be prosecuted, but the police will confiscate it. In Dutch culture they believe that putting cannabis in coffee shops will give young adults an urge not to do hard drugs. These coffee shops must obey rules, which are the following
- No more than five grams per person
- No hard drugs sold
- Drugs must not be advertised
- Coffee shop must not cause any nuisance
- No drugs may be sold to minors (18)
- Mayor has power to close coffee shop
Story:
In 1995 351 kg of heroin were confiscated. The Netherlands is not a major transit country for heroin and most consignments that are confiscated come through other European countries.
In 1995 4,851 kg of cocaine were confiscated - 23% of the total amount confiscated in the EU in that year. In 1994, 215 kg of amphetamines were confiscated, in addition to 143,000 pills containing other synthetic drugs (mainly MDMA, MDA and MDEA). 17 illegal laboratories for the production of synthetic drugs were dismantled in 1995, while a total of 50 were dismantled in the EU in the same year. In 1995 too, 549,337 hemp plants and 332 pounds of cannabis were confiscated - 44% of the total amount confiscated in the EU that year. In 1994, 323 illegal hemp nurseries were dismantled. With these confiscations, the Netherlands occupies a leading position in the international war on drugs.
(EU) European Union
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Drug_policy_of_the_Netherlands
http://www.holland.com/us/tourism/article/dutch-drug-policy.htm
http://www.parl.gc.ca/Content/SEN/Committee/371/ille/library/dolin1-e.htm
http://www.netherlands-tourism.com/dutch-drug-policy/