I know that drugs are tolerated in The Netherlands, but i was curious as to whether or not they still have drug awareness programs in schools. Do they still try to teach kids not to do them even though they are readily available?
2007-12-10 06:13:15 · 7 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Other - Society & Culture
Contrary to popular belief, marihuana isn't legal in the Netherlands, but as you stated correctly, tolerated. Possesion of five grams or less of marihuana is considered to be 'for personal use' and will not be prosecuted. Anything beyond that, including of course all hard drugs such as coke, heroin, xtc, crystal meth etc., is prosecuted to the full extent of the Dutch law, and legal repercussions for those offenses are pretty severe by European standards.
The Dutch government and several health organisations have established a number of don't-do-drugs programmes, that are targeted at kids from ages 7 and up.These programmes have curricula that are taught in schools, sports clubs etc.and are sometimes supported by infomercials on popular tv stations such as MTV Holland.
The Dutch prosecution service for instance, has launched a kid-friendly information campaign called Vetverkeerd, which roughly translates as 'awesomely wrong' . This programme is highly popular amongst educators, and deals with lots of complex subjects such as drugs, human trafficking, (under-age) prostitution etc. in a way that makes these things understandable for younger kids.
Registered cafes or coffee shops as they're usually called, that are allowed to sell marihuana for personal use, must not be located within less than a mile or so from a school or place that's likely to be visited regularly by youngsters. Customers must be at least 18 years old, and may be required to identify themselves at any given time. Enforcement of these rules is immensely strict, and over the years the number of these registered coffee shops has dwindled. If a coffee shop owner is caught contravening the rules, the place is usually boarded up within the hour after which it has effectively ceased to exist.
Statistically, the Dutch policy on drugs seems to work as the drug-related problems are no bigger than those of other west-European countries, and in some areas this policy seems to be even more effective than other European approaches. The Dutch way of trying to keep things manageable may not be perfect, but I do believe that it should be given a fair chance given its pedestrian approach. Many of the objections that can be heard may be right in a moral sense, but that doesn't erase the fact that drug sales don't follow moral principles and often need a more practical legal response.
2007-12-11 00:15:59 · answer #1 · answered by nuclearfuel 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I'm sure if they have such a thing, it's probably a good deal more realistic than the "drugs are evil" BS they push on kids in the US. Ideally they would tell kids the real effects and real dangers of using various substances without all the moral hysteria about how they'll ruin their lives if they ever smoke weed, etc.
2007-12-10 06:22:31 · answer #2 · answered by Ox 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
All drugs are not criminal, they only are not "offender". enormous distinction. you do no longer pass to penal complex for possession, you're ordered to rehab. Even pot isn't "criminal" interior the netherlands, it relatively is barely decriminalized. coffee shops pay a "wonderful" each 365 days to function. "Portugal and the Netherlands do no longer share a land direction to the middle of drug united states. They in no way had the super smuggling industry that we've right here in u.s." -in case you understood economics and prohibition, you will understand why it would not paintings.
2016-12-10 18:41:50 · answer #3 · answered by dashrath 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes they do teach kids about drugs. But the people in Holland are very open about drugs. It's legal. You can buy it in the coffee shop. I think that are the reasons that there is no drug problem in Holland. Not as big as in the USA.
2007-12-12 03:20:26 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Sure they do. Just because drugs are more relaxed legally there, it's still important for anyone and everyone to know the effects and the dangers involved.
Prostitution is legal there too, but they still teach about STD risks too.
2007-12-10 06:24:13 · answer #5 · answered by Doubledown 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I don't think they do. The parents do that side of things but most of the dutch people don't take them anyway it's only the english when they come over.
2007-12-10 06:19:43 · answer #6 · answered by Sean 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Good question
2007-12-10 06:18:37 · answer #7 · answered by fred g 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋