Question by Selene :): Drug problem in Europe and the U.S.?
I know that drugs are a global problem. I used to live in Germany, and although I was very young, I can remember drugs not being a major problem. However, my best friend told me that he doesn’t want to reside in Europe mainly because of the increase in drugs. I understand that some drugs are legalized in Amsterdam. Is he being hypocritical? Just because of one city, it doesn’t mean that all of Europe is consumed in drugs. I also heard that the laws in Europe regarding drugs are far more rigorous than in the U.S. Thank you.

Best answer:

Answer by Andrew H
Let’s begin by making it clear that it’s too great an area to go into details about the continent of Europe. There are 47 countries! Each country has it’s own drug policy.

The Netherlands did not “legalize” soft drugs, they are merely being pragmatic. Cannabis remains a controlled substance in the Netherlands and both possession and production for personal use are still misdemeanors. The so called ‘coffeeshops’ are technically illegal but “tolerated”.

In Scandinavia you can find very strict laws and practices. Even possessing Cannabis here will get you fined, larger quantities will lead to prosecution. The Police actively fight against drug sales and use.

There are lots of people that use drugs in Europe from mild to strong. However the urban poverty in American cities creates a better foundation for such problems. I believe it’s worse in the US.

You friend is being very silly if he thinks moving from Europe will solve anything.

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Heroin is a real problem for the small group of junkies in Oslo. Sure, we have some of them! However nothing compared with the huge amount of meth and crack users in American cities.

Answer by bla bla
Firstly, Andrew is right. It is not legalised in Amsterdam.

Talking about the Netherlands at least, then the sales of marijuana are not legal but are ‘tolerated’ under given conditions (e.g. to over 18 year olds, no advertising or alcohol on the premises, max 5g per person etc). Hard drugs are not tolerated or legal under any circumstances

Secondly, this is not a law for one city (Amsterdam). Amsterdam is part of the Netherlands and national law applies in the same way to all cities in the country

Most importantly, the results that bear out, are that the Netherlands have lower rates of consumption, addiction and both short & long term use of drugs than some other Western European countries, and most definitely a LOT lower than the UK and the US>

Therefore I am afraid that everything your friend is saying about the Netherlands/Amsterdam is just hearsay, rumour, speculation and completely ungrounded.

I would get your friend to read the following publication produced by the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs. It gives details of the drugs policies in the Netherlands, the background & reasoning, and most importantly, the results of these policies. I think he/she will be surprised http://www.minbuza.nl/binaries/en-pdf/faq-2008/faq-drugs-2008-en.pdf

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