Amsterdamn Cannabis Policys

I found this on www.totse.com

This tells the truth about cannabis legalisation, and why the whole world should legalise RIGHT NOW.

This prove that legalising reduces addcits, and how good it is for the country.

AMSTERDAM: FACTS AND FIGURES

13. Drugs

The Amsterdam policy on drugs is a purely pragmatic one. The capital has a
population of more than 700,000, including approximately 6,200 hard drug
users. The policy is mainly focused on discouraging the use of hard drugs and
combating the drug trade. In addition, every effort is made to restrict the
risks run by addicts themselves and the drug-related problems they confront
the rest of society with. In the Amsterdam policy on drugs, a distinction is
drawn between hard drugs and soft drugs. About 1,500 of the 6,200 hard drug
users are from Surinam, the Netherlands Antilles and Morocco, and about 2,000
are from other countries in Europe, mainly Germany, Italy and England. The
number of drug addicts is now on the decrease. The average age of the addicts
has risen in recent years from 26.8 in 1981 to 32.3 in 1990. In the same
period, the percentage of drug addicts under the age of 22 fell from 14.4 to
2.5%.

Policy of Discouragement With respect to the use of drugs, Amsterdam adheres
to a policy of discouragement. Active efforts are made to combat the drug
trade. The Narcotics Brigade of the Amsterdam Police has doubled its staff in
the past few years. This discouragement also takes place by way of an
intensive information campaign on the effects and risks of drug use. The
policy of discouragement means that the police take an extremely intensive
line of action in dealing with drug addicts who commit crimes. In recent
years, there has been a sharp rise in the number of policemen assigned to
combat drug-related crime. The attitude of the Amsterdam authorities to drug
addicts from abroad has been part of the discouragement policy. Foreigners do
not have access to the assistance programmes Amsterdam has set up for its own
drug addicts.

Hard Drugs and Soft Drugs

The Dutch policy on drugs differs in a number of ways from the policies of
other countries. One of these differences is the distinction drawn here
between hard and soft drugs. Ever since 1978, this difference has been
stipulated by law: the possession of hard drugs is a felony and the possession
of a small quantity of soft drugs is a misdemeanour. "A small quantity of soft
drugs" means a maximum of thirty grams. Amsterdam has approximately a hundred
coffee shops and other public places where soft drugs are - illegally - bought
and sold. Soft drug prevention does not have a high priority, but if there is
a quantity of more than thirty grams of soft drugs in a coffee shop or some
other public place, or if hard drugs are sold or there are disturbances of the
peace, the police will immediately have the premises closed down. There is an
extremely intensive check on places of this kind. As a result of this policy,
a distinction has developed between the soft drug trade and the hard drug
trade. The soft drug trade had thus been "decriminalized.n Studies have shown
that very few users go from soft drugs to hard drugs.

Assistance Programmes

A number of assistance programmes have been developed for addicts. The most
widely known one is the methadon programme. In two mobile dispensaries and a
number of stationary ones, drug addicts receive a daily dose of methadon.
Every day, the mobile dispensaries drive to a number of fixed spots in the
city. By providing addicts with methadon, the Municipal Medical and Public
Health Department can have regular contact with them. This makes it possible
to give the addicts certain useful information and, if they so wish, to offer
them further help. This "further help" includes drug rehabilitation programmes
and social work facilities. The methadon enables drug addicts to continue to
function within society in a more or less normal fashion. The use of the same
injection needle by various addicts can lead to the spread of AIDS and
hepatitis B. In order to prevent this, there are eleven sites in Amsterdam
where addicts can exchange used needles for new ones free of charge. In the
recent past, more than 1,000,000 needles have been exchanged this way every
year. This "needle exchange" has been set up on the request of organizations
that promote the interests of drug users. A survey has indicated that it has
not led to any increase in this form of drug use. In Amsterdam, only 30% of
the addicts take drugs intravenously. Most of them prefer "the Chinese way,"
i.e. sniffing.

Street Junkie Project

There are about 400 "extremely problematic" drug addicts in Amsterdam. In
general they are homeless and have no legal source of income. Most of them
live in the city centre. Many of them see to their daily needs by stealing and
disturb the people of the neighbourhood in any.number of ways. In an effort to
alleviate this problem, the "street junkie project" was set up. Criminal drug
users who have been arrested five or more times within a short period of time
are given a choice. They can either do a non-suspended sentence for all the
crimes they have committed or they can sign up for a drug rehabilitation
programme, which they then have to complete. The project, which was set up in
close conjunction with the national authorities, started at the beginning of
1989. By the end of 1989, it is to be totally operational and forty extra
cells and sixteen beds at a drug rehabilitation clinic (Jellinek) are to be
available.

Foreign Addicts

There are about 2,000 foreign hard drug addicts living in Amsterdam. In the
past few years, Dutch authorities and various social work agencies have
established contact with the authorities in other European countries with
respect to this point. The aim of this contact is to develop assistance
programmes so that foreign drug addicts can return to their own countries and
get the help they need there. The agreements made in this connection only
pertain to drug users who have not committed any crime in the Netherlands. If
they have, they are deported. The transfer of deported drug addicts takes
place in close cooperation with the authorities of other European countries.
As a result of these measures and the discouragement policy in Amsterdam, the
Dutch capital is no longer a Mecca for the drug users of Europe. This news is
gradually spreading to foreign drug users.

Results

The Amsterdam policy on drugs has enabled medical and social agencies to
establish contact with approximately 85% of all the drug addicts in the city.
The number of drug addicts infected with Aids or hepatitis B is much lower
than in other European and North American cities. Compared with other large
cities in Europe and North America, the drug addicts of Amsterdam are not
responsible for large-scale crime. There is a growing desire among them to
stop using drugs. Calculating over a longer period of time, the number of
addicts in Amsterdam is declining. The reduction in the number of young
addicts has been the most striking.

wate wate wate so how is it leagl to grow your own pot if it says thirty grams or less there r states in teh us thats have a decrimalazation of over that

I like the text, But its worthless. As far as any one politician ike figure whos sees it is concerneed. Damn totse.

Coffee Shops

Over the years the above mentioned legislation has lead to the
establishment of the so-called coffee shops where trading in soft drugs on
certain conditions is not prosecuted. Trade in hard drugs, however, is
strictly prohibited. Thus the cannabis consumer is not dependent on multi-
drug markets which reduces the risk of switching to harder substances
('Stepping-Stone Hypothesis').

According to police estimates the number of coffee shops in the
Netherlands was 1200 - 1500 in 1991. Other points of sale of cannabis are
so-called home dealers (estimated number between 700 and 2200),
community centers (between 500 - 1000) and further outlets
(approximately 60). In the bigger cities, however, most of the cannabis products are obtained in coffee shops. These are mainly small, caf-like
enterprises catering for a diverse public from various social backgrounds.
Just like regular local cafs and restaurants, coffee shops often have a socio-
cultural function in their neighbourhood. Most coffee shops offer a wide
range of hashish and marijuana products from various countries and of
varying quality. Prices are anywhere from 10 to 15 Dutch guilders per
gram. According to recent estimates the turnover of cannabis products in
coffee shops amounts to approximately 2 billion Dutch guilders per year.

The majority of the coffee shops adheres to nation-wide criteria
('Regulations'). The closing down of a number of coffee shops and a more
rigid police control in recent years have shown that these criteria are strictly
maintained. Immediate causes for police activity are usually related to
trouble in the neighbourhoods, suspected hard drug traffic or possible
criminality. Other specific problems are an increase in the number of coffee
shops, particularly near undesirable locations (such as schools), and the
attraction of drug tourism, especially in the border towns.

In order to deal with these specific problems police control and public
prosecution with regard to adherence to the regulations have been more
rigidly enforced. Furthermore, more and more often administrative
measures are being taken on a local level for the prevention and combat of
nuisance around the coffee shops. General bye-laws, nuisance regulations,
environmental regulations, zoning-plans and building regulations offer
possibilities in this respect.

Data on cannabis use

In the Netherlands an estimated 600.000 people regularly use cannabis.
("Risks of canabis use') This is about 4.6% of the population of 12 years
and older. There are no reliable data, however, on the use of cannabis with
regard to the total population in general.

According to a 1990 Drug Use Survey in Amsterdam 24.1% of the
population of 12 and older had ever used cannabis; 6% had done so
recently (during the month preceding the survey). 1.3% scored frequent
use, i.e. more than 20 days in the previous month. As compared to 1987,
cannabis use among the population of Amsterdam had remained stable
(reference: "Licit and illicit drug use in Amsterdam", Sandwijk et al.,
1991).

Large-scale nationwide surveys among Secondary School students (age 12
- 18 years) have shown that in this group the use of cannabis has increased
recently. In 1984 4.8% had ever used cannabis and 2.3% had used
cannabis recently (during the previous month). In 1988 these percentages
were 8.0% and 3.1% and in 1992 13.6% and 6.5% respectively. From the
difference between ever and recent use it appears that in more than half of
the cases experimental behaviour is indicated. Boys score a significantly
higher percentage than girls with regard to cannabis use and the group of
16 - 17 years scores highest in recent use.

The use of hard drugs among schoolgoing young people has remained
limited. In 1988 only 0.4% had used cocaine recently and 0.3% had
recently used heroin; in 1992 these percentages were 0.4% and 0.2%
respectively. As compared to cannabis use the consumption of alcohol
appears to be considerably higher. In 1992 66% of the students between 12
- 18 years had ever used alcohol; 42% had done so recently.

International drug survey data, if available at all, are often difficult to
compare because of methodological differences. However, it has been
established that cannabis use, especially among young people, has also
shown a slight increase in a number of other European countries such as
Norway, the UK and Denmark. In the U.S.A. cannabis use has been on
the increase as well in the past few years.

The number of problematic cannabis users which came into contact with
addiction assistance agencies in 1993 is small as compared to the total
number registered. Only 3% of all clients of the Consultation Bureaus for
Alcohol and Drugs (outpatient services) were registered with use cannabis
use as primary problem.

Furthermore, the number of hospital admissions in relation to cannabis
misuse and addiction in psychiatric hospitals and addiction clinics is
relatively low (less than 1.5% of the total number). However, over the
years the number of applications for professional help has been steadily
increasing. Up to now there has been no clear indication as to what specific
factors account for the increase. The fact that cannabis is more easily
obtainable as well as an increase in de production of Nederweed may play
a role. Little is known about the group of problem users and the much
larger group of integrated cannabis users.

Prevention and education

Prevention, information and education are a primary concern of the Dutch
drug policy. In 1991 the project " Healthy schools and stimulants" was
launched, specifically aiming at the Secundary School students. The project
is carried out in coperation with the Netherlands Institute for Alcohol and
Drugs, the local and provincial Public Health Services and the
municipalities. The project provides information on subsequently tobacco,
alcohol, cannabis and gambling for Secondary School students of an age
when they generally have their first contacts with these items. For cannabis
this is usually around 15 years. The project also provides standards for use
(no substance use in schools), observation and guidance in accordance with
the objectives of the project. By the middle of 1994 the project had already
reached 30% of the Secondary School students. A specific consumer
public is being advised about "sensible use" by means of leaflets distributed
in the various coffee shops. The leaflet "Tips on Hash and Weed" warn
against the harmful effects on concentration and reaction ability, the use of
cannabis as a means to overcome problems, the consumption of space-
cake, simultaneous use of alcohol or medication and taking hashish and
weed out of the country.

Critism and Praise

Dutch cannabis policy has met with national and international praise as well
as criticism. As for the social acceptability, the current policy is regularly
under discussion, especially with regard to drug related nuisance. There is
also criticism from the ";Schengen" countries (mainly Belgium and France)
which regard the Netherlands as being out of tune, particularly regarding
the harmonisation of legislation on substance use. In this context, The
Netherlands have tightened up the control of existing regulations. On the
other hand the Dutch cannabis policy has managed to create a (relative)
separation of the soft and hard drugs markets. The fact that cannabis is
relatively easy to obtain in the coffee shops has not resulted in a larger
consumption increase than in other countries. Furthermore, the number of
addicts has stabilised and drug deaths are few in comparison to other
countries. In recent years other countries have come to realize that a certain
decriminalisation of soft drug consumption should be considered with
regard to public health, the prevention of social damage to users and the
control of small but aggressive retail-trade in the streets. Next to
Switzerland and Denmark, a trend towards decriminalisation of the soft
drug consumption can be observed in Germany, the United Kingdom and
Spain. Daily news in the newspapers indicates that such developments are
in full swing on a national as well as an international level.

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Taken from the UK Cannabis Internet Activists Website
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Hope this helps a little more.

It's the results that i was focusing on.

"The Amsterdam policy on drugs has enabled medical and social agencies to
establish contact with approximately 85% of all the drug addicts in the city.
The number of drug addicts infected with Aids or hepatitis B is much lower
than in other European and North American cities. Compared with other large
cities in Europe and North America, the drug addicts of Amsterdam are not
responsible for large-scale crime. There is a growing desire among them to
stop using drugs. Calculating over a longer period of time, the number of
addicts in Amsterdam is declining. The reduction in the number of young
addicts has been the most striking."

It proves that cannabis and soft drugs ARE NOT gateway drugs, which is what the government want us to think.

Police are more concerned with hard drug addicts because they are a factor on crime, but if all countries follwed suit then the number of hard drug addicts would go down and the police can concentrate their time on real issues.

At least the United Nations backs organic markets and reconize the benefits