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Dutch cannabis policy and it’s effects

Dutch cannabis policy and it’s effects. Harald Wychgel Drugs Infoline. THE DUTCH DRUG POLICY. Integrated approach Prevention and care (Drug Demand Reduction) Fight against organised crime (Drug Supply Reduction) Maintaining public order (Nuisance Reduction).

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Dutch cannabis policy and it’s effects

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  1. Dutch cannabis policy and it’s effects Harald Wychgel Drugs Infoline

  2. THE DUTCH DRUG POLICY • Integrated approach • Prevention and care (Drug Demand Reduction) • Fight against organised crime (Drug Supply Reduction) • Maintaining public order (Nuisance Reduction)

  3. KEY ELEMENTS OF THE DUTCH DRUG POLICY • Realism • Pragmatism • Personal freedom • Health protection • Harm reduction • Separation markets for hard and soft drugs

  4. Expediency principle • Part of the Penal Code • This empowers the Public Prosecutor: "to refrain from prosecution of criminal offences if this is in the public interest" • Guidelines: - recommendations regarding the penalties to be imposed - priorities to be observed in investigating and prosecuting offences

  5. Priorities according to these guidelines • Punishable offences involving hard drugs other than for individual use take the highest priority • Punishable offences involving soft drugs other than for individual use • No investigation and prosecution of possession of hard drugs for individual consumption (generally 0.5 gram) and soft drugs to a maximum of 30 grams

  6. CANNABIS POLICY • Separation markets hard and soft drugs • Toleration of sale of cannabis in coffee shops • Guidelines 1996 of the Public Prosecution Department • Local policy: three kinds of licensing policy 1. Zero-policy (coffee shops not permitted) 2. Tolerance policy with additional conditions (next to AHOJ-G) 3. Tolerance policy without additional conditions (only AHOJ-G)

  7. COFFEE SHOPS • AHOJ-G criteria: No Advertising No selling of Hard drugs No causing of Nuisance (Overlast) No selling of soft drugs to Young persons under 18 (Jongeren) No great quantities (more than 5 Grams) per transaction

  8. PREVENTION POLICY • Realistic and non-moralistic • Personal responsibility for own health • Primary prevention • Secondary prevention (harm reduction)

  9. RESULTS OFTHE DUTCH DRUG POLICY(1) Cannabis use: • Same trends as in countries with a more repressive cannabis policy • Prevention of marginalisation of cannabis users

  10. RESULTS OF THE DUTCH DRUG POLICY(2) Opiate use: • Number of opiate addicts relatively low • Almost no young people get addicted • Average age opiate addicts is 37 • Very low number of drug related deaths • Low number of addicts infected with HIV

  11. PREVENTION PHILOSOPHY • Realistic and non-moralistic • Increasing knowledge and changing attitude: credible information and education, no exaggeration of risks • Behaviour change: improving of skills, like dealing with peer pressure and decision making

  12. PREVENTIONPROGRAMS • Local/regional community approach, on the spot (Safe Rave) • National mass media campaigns, Drugs Infoline • Combined Healthy School and Drugs, Going Out and Drugs

  13. Cannabis use in Europe

  14. Cannabis consumption amongst Dutch youngsters

  15. Short term risks • Unexpected (unwelcome) effects • Concentration ↓ • Reaction time ↓ • Blow away your problems

  16. Long term risks • Cannabis dependency (Mental / Physical) • Head -neck cancer • Lung cancer • Cannabis more harmful than tobacco???

  17. Long term risks • Schizophrenia (Chances increasing x 2) • Depression • Fear • The younger you start the higher the risk • The more you take the higher the risk • Risks are small but real

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