Soft drug (Dutch law)
The term “soft drugs ” is used in the Netherlands to distinguish “hard drugs”. The reason for this is that the acquisition, possession and use of these "soft drugs" in certain cases does not lead to prosecution . The Dutch Opium Act ( Dutch Opiumwet ) regulates in two appendices which drugs are "hard" (list 1) and which are "soft" (list 2).
Affected drugs
The "soft drugs" include, above all, the cannabis products hashish and marijuana .
Also include psilocybin psychoactive mushrooms in Dutch smart shops are available to the "soft drugs". Other "soft drugs" under Dutch law are benzodiazepines , barbiturates and some appetite suppressants , opioids and amphetamines . However, these are not available in smart shops, but, as in Germany, only on prescription in the pharmacy. So-called liquid ecstasy ( GHB ) is counted among the “soft drugs”, but is no longer freely available in Dutch smart shops. Until recently GHB was also available in German smart shops, but is now subject to the Narcotics Act (BtMG).
Hashish oil, on the other hand, is one of the “hard drugs”, which is particularly suitable for medical purposes with its much higher active ingredient content than marijuana and hashish.
Legal situation in the Netherlands
"Soft drugs" may only licensed in the Netherlands Coffee Shops sold or smart shops. There are 573 coffee shops in the Netherlands (as of 2016). The buyer is encouraged to only consume his purchase there or at home, but not in public. However, this is not always observed, especially on the part of tourists. Many restaurants and hotels therefore use signs to indicate the prohibition of drug use.
Since September 1, 2003, hashish and marijuana have been available in pharmacies as painkillers in the Netherlands on presentation of a prescription . Two hemp breeding farms received approval to grow cannabis products for pharmacies. The pharmacy price is significantly higher than that in coffee shops. This is explained by the additional expenditure for production according to biological aspects.
Drug use in the Netherlands
The hemp prohibition in other countries leads to drug tourism in the Netherlands. Amsterdam is considered the drug capital of Europe. Although only "soft drugs" are tolerated, many users and dealers of "hard drugs" can also be found. In addition to the main reason for this, namely that the Netherlands is a focal point of the drug turnover in Europe, critics claim that the liberal attitude of the Netherlands in dealing with drugs should also have contributed to this.
Dutch drug policy
The cabinet of the conservative government in The Hague adopted anti-drug measures in May 2011 and wants to stop drug tourism . All coffee shops are to become closed clubs for Dutch people over 18. The Ministry of Justice announced that the implementation of the anti-drug measures now decided by the cabinet will begin after the summer.
The main goal is to curb organized crime , which has developed around coffee shops in recent years. Opposition politicians warned that the measures would lead to a revival of street drug trafficking.
