Is The Netherlands’ Marijuana Policy Been A Failure?

Some people believe that marijuana policy in the Netherlands, which allows anyone over age 18 to buy, sell, and use marijuana openly, has resulted in increasing rates of marijuana. Those people therefore say the policy is a failure.

Here’s an explanation of the policy and why that’s not an accurate statement. In 1976, the Dutch Parliament decriminalized cannabis possession and retail sale. This was not done on a whim – it followed the recommendation of 2 national commissions. This law did not officially legalize marijuana altogether, but it did allow coffee shops to sell it without living in fear of prosecution.

The rules are not extremely complex. One needs to be 18 at least to purchase, advertising is not allowed, and personal purchases cannot be over five grams. The shops may not sell illicit drugs either. Over 1000 coffee shops in the Netherlands exist where individuals can buy hashish and/or marijuana.

Why did Dutch legislators choose to allow the coffee shops to sell marijuana? They wanted to decrease the likelihood of having marijuana users being exposed to heroin and cocaine. They also wanted to decrease the youth rebellion associated with marijuana as an illegal drug.

There are no scare tactic drug programs in the Netherlands. The education provided to the younger population includes drug information and cautionary warnings about drug dangers.

When one looks at the marijuana statistics in the US versus the Dutch, 28% of Dutch have tried marijuana versus 31% of Americans. Looking at the category of older teens, 29% of Dutch have tried it versus 38% of Americans. Quite interesting to see that once teens reach the legal age in the Netherlands he or she is 9% less likely to try marijuana than in America.

Less Dutch adolescents use other illegal drugs than Americans. During the mid 1990’s, Dutch teens were 5 times less likely than American teens to try cocaine. The Dutch appear to have successfully separated marijuana from harder drugs.

The Netherlands policy has widespread support. The people overwhelmingly support the policy which desires to normalize rather than dramatize cannabis use. It has been quite the opposite of a dramatic failure, rather a significant success.

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