When I read the questions in this group, I see a lot of people happily anticipating their use of soft drugs when visiting Amsterdam. Why is that? Do you really think it is such a special treat to use it? Why then does over 90% of the Dutch never use it after they have tried it once or twice?
2007-12-15 09:21:29 · 9 answers · asked by leatherbiker040 4 in Travel ➔ Europe (Continental) ➔ Netherlands
I'm German, and a frequent traveller to Amsterdam (well, it's just around the corner, more or less), and when I was young, I used to smoke marijuana in Amsterdam until I fell over. Why did I do it? For curiosity's sake. And, hell, there's nothing wrong about it. See the lots of Japanese tourists getting senselessly drunk at the Munich Oktoberfest (and lots of Europeans, too): If they wouldn't carry them away one by one, you'd need some forklifts and trucks to clear the place at closing time.
Of course it's a special treat to use it. Once or twice, and every time I come to Amsterdam. But now, as I've grown older, when I come to Amsterdam, I sit down in a coffeshop (that's where they sell it and where you are legally allowed to smoke it), have a good drink, take a Dutch newspaper (I don't speak very much Dutch, but anyway), lean back, and light it on. That's a real relaxation, and to me, a sort of tradition.
2007-12-15 12:52:23 · answer #1 · answered by Lucius T Fowler 7 · 4⤊ 0⤋
I think that in a perfect world, we should make drugs legal, as long as there is no chance that the user will harm another. However, this is not the case, and no guarantees that innocent people would be safe if drugs were legalized. Millions of people have died in drunk accidents. Think about how that number would sky rocket if drugs were legalized.
2016-05-24 02:52:50 · answer #2 · answered by myung 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Good question, but I have a feeling that the statistics you're using are not correct... Is the 90% an official figure or did you make that up? And I'm sure it's not ALL Americans...
Anyway, I have a feeling that the answer is in the illegality of it. People often want what isn't allowed because it's not allowed... Best advertising you can give certain products is to ban them... And personally I think it's just more fun to get stoned than to get drunk...
2007-12-16 01:23:11 · answer #3 · answered by Vince has left the building... 5 · 3⤊ 1⤋
america is a land run by christians and people who want to kill your buzz... amsterdam offers a type of freedom from getting hassled by the man for pleasurable vices.. like screwing women, and tokin some chiba...
the man is always trying to keep us down over here
and the stories of the quality of the product offered out there are legendary... amsterdam is a modern day xanadu, or shan-gri-la for americans. Especially those who have been cast off to the fringe for partaking in an activity harmless to those around you... It's a personal choice to smoke yourself up.. why is the gov't or anyone else so concerned about me smoking a joint before i go to bed? I do pretty well without that concern
2007-12-15 09:25:56 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 9⤊ 0⤋
Most Americans aren't obsessed with it. Yes, the people who post questions here might be, but these people are not the typical American traveler. Those of us who don't use drugs don't post messages saying "I'm going to Amsterdam and I'm not going to smoke dope!"
2007-12-15 12:28:32 · answer #5 · answered by The Shadow 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
It is pretty embarrassing to be honest. But the media is to blame since that is how they and the travel shows portray Amsterdam. And it is Dutch tour guides in the travel shows doing it!
They don't show the museums(except the sex museum), the flower shows, the mills. Only cafes selling weed, prostitutes, gay marriage and then the shows end with a rant about the US not being open minded.
So these shows attract drug addicts and whiney liberals. So if you want people to stop asking about these things in Amsterdam, tell the Dutch to stop promoting it in the US
2007-12-16 02:34:56 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 3⤋
After living in a country with draconian drug laws, it's pretty thrilling to smoke legally.
I kind of equate it to having your first apartment after living with strict parents. Whoo hoo! Party!
But as you say, it gets pretty old pretty fast.
2007-12-15 10:24:24 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
because americans aren't used to the freedom of using it since in america it's illegal
i personally don't think it is and dutch don't use it after once or twice because no one is telling the not to use it.
It's reverse physcology(i think)
2007-12-15 13:53:09 · answer #8 · answered by sara 2 · 3⤊ 0⤋
because it is forbidden by law in the united states, and they figure that if they go where it is legal, they will have a better time
2007-12-15 09:24:46 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋