amsterdam-drugs legal or not?

[Prussian to the Iron]

i remember reading something about a drug ban in holland, and was wondering the extent of it/ if it is true.

please only reply if you live in amsterdam/holland currently

[Kadagar_AV]

Was no problem 2 weeks ago :)

[Hooahguy]

backroom

[Lemur]

Yup.

[Hax]

It is legal to buy weed. Certain types of mushrooms were forbidden, they are called paddo's in Dutch (from the word "paddestoel", which means mushroom)

You can use weed:

-At home
-At certain designated places (in cannabis coffee shops, as they are called)

[Beskar]

I heard that is is actually illegal, but the authorities don't actually prosecute. That is being the difference.

In Portugal, it is actually legal.

[Fragony]

I heard that is is actually illegal, but the authorities don't actually prosecute. That is being the difference.

In Portugal, it is actually legal.

Sums it up. We have a word for it 'gedogen', which means not enforcing the law when it doesn't suit us. The Netherlands is a bit of an odd country when it comes to certain things, as long as it's practical it doesn't have to make sense, dutch logic.

[AlexanderSextus]

It is illegal to possess more than 5 grams outside the home.

it is also illegal to sell weed, so the way that the coffee shops get their weed is illegal, but once they have it in the store, it's legal.

oh, sorry btw i'm not from NL, but i am well researched on the subject as i am the self-proclaimed Marijuana Activist on The Org.

[LittleGrizzly]

Sums it up. We have a word for it 'gedogen', which means not enforcing the law when it doesn't suit us. The Netherlands is a bit of an odd country when it comes to certain things, as long as it's practical it doesn't have to make sense, dutch logic.

Im guessing the English phrase for it would be decriminalised. Not legal but not prosecuted either...

Edit: Distant dream that British politicians would ever be so practical on the issue...

[Philippus Flavius Homovallumus]

Sums it up. We have a word for it 'gedogen', which means not enforcing the law when it doesn't suit us. The Netherlands is a bit of an odd country when it comes to certain things, as long as it's practical it doesn't have to make sense, dutch logic.

Im guessing the English phrase for it would be decriminalised. Not legal but not prosecuted either...

Edit: Distant dream that British politicians would ever be so practical on the issue...

No, decriminalised would mean it was legal. At no point has Canabis been "decriminalised" over here.

[Prussian to the Iron]

It is illegal to possess more than 5 grams outside the home.

it is also illegal to sell weed, so the way that the coffee shops get their weed is illegal, but once they have it in the store, it's legal.

oh, sorry btw i'm not from NL, but i am well researched on the subject as i am the self-proclaimed Marijuana Activist on The Org.

Thanks! thats exactly the answer i needed.


please don't c,lose until i ask tho: i need to show my friend so he'll stop arguing about it.

[Fragony]

Thanks! thats exactly the answer i needed.


please don't c,lose until i ask tho: i need to show my friend so he'll stop arguing about it.

Also in the coffeeshops it isn't legal, it is just allowed. It's illegal to have even 1 gram of weed, also in your home. If you have more than 5 grams the assumption is that you have it to sell, but in reality no charges will be put against you. Same with coke and XTC, if you only have a small amount it will just be confiscated, usually you can keep it, depends on the cop really.

[Ice]

No, decriminalised would mean it was legal. At no point has Canabis been "decriminalised" over here.

I'm pretty sure decriminalization does not equate to making something legal. IIRC, all it means is that police stop targeting people with a low amount of the said substance/not for profit transfers and go after the big sellers/growers.

[Philippus Flavius Homovallumus]

I'm pretty sure decriminalization does not equate to making something legal. IIRC, all it means is that police stop targeting people with a low amount of the said substance/not for profit transfers and go after the big sellers/growers.

Over here decriminalisation means declassifying the drug so it is legal.

[Banquo's Ghost]

Over here decriminalisation means declassifying the drug so it is legal.

I'm not sure that you are correct.

IIRC, when cannabis was reclassified downwards, this meant possession was decriminalised. This did not make the drug legal, but removed criminal sanctions for being caught with it. In other words, possession meant one could be cautioned, or fined at worst - which are civil law punishments, not criminal.

[Fixiwee]

Over here decriminalisation means declassifying the drug so it is legal.

What you mean is that THC is illegal de jure as the law still says it, but de facto it's legal since noone applies that law anymore.
The Dutch Opium Act in accordence with the EU states clearly that everything with the hemp plant is illigal except for the seeds.

Again, the difference lies between de jure and de facto. Bottom line; It's illegal, but tolerated.

[AlexanderSextus]

It's illegal to have even 1 gram of weed

So how is it that you can smoke openly? Do cops actually fine ppl for smoking weed?

Dutch law is weird, it just so happens the weirdness of dutch law benefits a cannabis connoisseur like me.

[Fragony]

So how is it that you can smoke openly? Do cops actually fine ppl for smoking weed?

Nope, tourists love asking them for a light. It's really not that complicated, it's illegal, but the law isn't enforced, so you can do as you please. But don't think about smoking one on a commercial terras, or where there are many kids, that is not done, you will be asked to leave. In parks, streets, beaches, no problem.

[Ice]

Nope, tourists love asking them for a light. It's really not that complicated, it's illegal, but the law isn't enforced, so you can do as you please. But don't think about smoking one on a commercial terras, or where there are many kids, that is not done, you will be asked to leave. In parks, streets, beaches, no problem.

I wish I was Dutch

[Moros]

Nope, tourists love asking them for a light. It's really not that complicated, it's illegal, but the law isn't enforced, so you can do as you please. But don't think about smoking one on a commercial terras, or where there are many kids, that is not done, you will be asked to leave. In parks, streets, beaches, no problem.

Did that in Belgium too...

[Fragony]

Did that in Belgium too...

In reality the police in just about every western-european country (minus England) is pretty relaxed. Public smoking or having a few grams of weed won't get you into trouble anywhere, also in France and Spain who have a reputation for tough police they will just take it from you, dealing it is another matter but so is it here. The Netherlands is no drug-paradise it only has the name really, a brand to lure tourists.

[Moros]

In reality the police in just about every western-european country (minus England) is pretty relaxed. Public smoking or having a few grams of weed won't get you into trouble anywhere, also in France and Spain who have a reputation for tough police they will just take it from you, dealing it is another matter but so is it here. The Netherlands is no drug-paradise it only has the name really, a brand to lure tourists.

Ah well they didn't find it too funny really. Smoking weed outside normally shouldn't cost you, but they do confiscate it and stuff.
But then again I even puked on a policemen's shoes ones and got a way with it. It wasn't really intentional of course, but I was just drunk as hell. Ah you gotta love college!

[AlexanderSextus]

i was told by my tour guide in italy that they will lock you up for one joint.

he was from rome, so i took his word for it and didnt try to buy any weed.

[Moros]

i was told by my tour guide in italy that they will lock you up for one joint.

he was from rome, so i took his word for it and didnt try to buy any weed.

You shouldn't buy any weed in a city like Rome, or any city you don't have connections in for that matter. They just go to an alley or something out of plain view, wait for you to take out your money, then they grasp it, take their knives out or just plainly run away. In fact it's better not to even buy weed on the street at all. Weed from the street is usually junk anyway. With chemicals and glass on it.

[Kralizec]

I can't say that I'm a fan of the current drugs policy. Cannabis should be legalised entirely.

On a national level, the justice system won't prosecute owners of "coffeeshops" provided that they don't have an inventory exceeding 500 grams. So far so good. But on the local level, mayors often refuse to allow coffeeshops for concerns of "public order".
In Terneuzen, a town near the border with Belgium, they had the marvelous idea of only allowing two of them as that would certainly do away with all the problems associated with drug tourism. Result: the demand for the stuff didn't drop whatsoever and the two existing shops had to expand to keep up. When the police noticed that one of them had more than 500 grams under the counter the owner was arrested.

[Idaho]

In reality the police in just about every western-european country (minus England) is pretty relaxed. Public smoking or having a few grams of weed won't get you into trouble anywhere, also in France and Spain who have a reputation for tough police they will just take it from you, dealing it is another matter but so is it here.

This isn't true.

The UK police are fairly unconcerned about personal possession. They can give you a fine or a caution. Often they just tell you to keep it in your own home.

French police are far more severe.

Spain you are allowed to grow a certain amount yourself without any problems.

[Fragony]

This isn't true.

The UK police are fairly unconcerned about personal possession. They can give you a fine or a caution. Often they just tell you to keep it in your own home.

My bad, just parroting

[AlexanderSextus]

With chemicals and glass on it.

JEEZ! I know weed can have chemicals on it, and that is pretty easy to detect because you will know that it doesn't smell right but, glass!? Dealers in the US would call you a scumbag for doin that to someone.

This kind of crap is why it should be legal. I don't care if someone is against pot, you should at least have the common sense to realize that it is better that people can enjoy a little cheebah without it being that much WORSE due to pieces of that do stuff like that.

[AlexanderSextus]

This isn't true.

The UK police are fairly unconcerned about personal possession. They can give you a fine or a caution. Often they just tell you to keep it in your own home.

French police are far more severe.

Spain you are allowed to grow a certain amount yourself without any problems.

I thought Cannabis is Class B in the UK now...Did it get reclassified back down to C?

[LittleGrizzly]

I got done once, got Ferns instead, but a few other times i got some in a foriegn country and it was ok.... the worst i have had is some chalky substances in there... or sprayed with sugar...

Im fairly sure a while ago it went down to C then recently it went back up to a class B... but the punishments stayed the same...

So it was a bit of a show for the media...