Weed in Amsterdam
The Dutch refer to marijuana as weed, for the purposes
of this article; we'll as the Dutch refer to marijuana
as weed.
The Netherlands has a very interesting drug policy,
one in which the rest of the world may want to model.
Weed is considered a soft drug, while heroin, speed,
cocaine, and ecstasy are classified as hard drugs.
While weed is illegal to sale under the Opium Act,
there are prosecutorial guidelines set-up for the
enforcement of the sales/distribution and consumption.
The Netherlands (Amsterdam) has a lower rate of
drug use in ever drug, including weed then the United
States.
Weed Policy in the Netherlands
Every year Amsterdam sets the stage for the annual
Cannabis Cup, how is this possible to sample weed?
Well it's the liberal yet very effective drug policy
that clearly classifies drugs into different categories.
In this classification system Weed is defined as
a drug that doesn't segway into the use of harder
drugs.
Decriminalization of Weed
Personal amounts of weed has been Decriminalized in
Amsterdam, prosecutorial guidelines allow for legal
sale of weed. You can purchase weed legally in increments
of 5 grams or less over the counter at one of over
300 coffee shops that cater to weed smokers, although
you must be over 18 to purchase weed.
The Dutch believe that casual weed smoking may
be a youthful misjudgment and affirm the compassionate
treatment for those that develop an abuse problem.
The biggest reason behind the decriminalization
of weed was so that weed smokers wouldn't have to
deal in the black market and would be less likely
to come in contact with hard drug users in the pursuit
of weed.
Weed Coffee Shops in Amsterdam
With over 300 coffee shops where you can buy personal
amounts of weed and smoke on the premises, Amsterdam
has become a Mecca for weed smokers. High Times Magazine
sponsors the Cannabis Cup in the Netherlands once
a year.
An annual event that brings out weed smokers from
around the world to sample the finest weed strains
Amsterdam has to offer. Such as White Widow, Salmon
Creek, Master Kush, OG Kush, Purple Kush, AK-47,
Sage, NYC Diesel, Northern Lights, Hogsbreath, Silver
Haze, Jack Herrera, Madagascar Mist, MK Ultra, Grape
Ape and the list goes on. Weed is definitely in
full effect in Amsterdam.
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