2.03.2010

Impressions: Coffeeshops

First impressions continued... A slight delay

The inevitable topic: Coffeeshops, Drugs, Culture, Tolerance, and Regulation vs. Deregulation

I haven't quite figured out how to discuss the coffeeshop (where they sell marijuana and hash) experience(s) yet in this blog (I actually probably won't go into too much personal detail as I am applying to grad schools or getting/attempting to get a job soon), and feel free to comment as to how to explain it, but now I will discuss how the shops are integrated into culture. Most people think weed and hash among other "soft" drugs including mushrooms and herbal powders and pills are legalized by the federal government.  They are not.  However, coffeeshops and smart shops (where they sell shrooms, marijuana seeds, herbal powders and such) exist because "soft" drugs are tolerated. "Hard drugs"--cocaine, heroine, LSD, etc.-- are socially forbidden and outlawed because of the enormous possiblity for addiction contrary to "soft" drugs. Tolerated means police dont care and "turn the other cheek" when "soft" drugs are present or an issue.

One can be walking around with a decent amount of weed and the toleration still continues; it is when you are smoking or taking other drugs and creating a ruckus or (significantly) stocking up on drugs when trouble can ensue.  This is an effective system because police spend their time doing more meaningful and useful things for Netherlandian society and not waste money and time on the petty things like smoking a single joint. Mushrooms and weed are being slightly more regulated now because of the tourist incident that happened not to long ago when some french tourists took 'shrooms and thought they could fly so they jumped. 'Shrooms were outlawed in 2008, but are still easily accessible which I am still confused about...maybe they are fading them out of the shops?  But, that is a rarity and one hears of very little incidents regarding drugs in Amsterdam or the Netherlands. I recently talked with somebody about the tolerant policy and she said that as a Dutch citizen, it is especially fascinating to see the Netherlands crack down on what it has been so tolerant of and known for (to some extent) and seeing the US become more liberal in the things previously prohibited--take California and its weed policy that seems to be changing/evolving every day into something that eventually might become the decriminalization of marijuana.

Tolerance only opens the eyes of its citizens and thus leads to greater toleration if not acceptance and support in other realms such as gay marriage and euthanasia--and pretty much every other controversial hot topic in the United States. And because these soft drugs are regulated, it means for healthier drug intaking if one chooses to do so since lacing would be nearly impossible/people wouldn't really have the desire to lace or stretch drugs. The US should decriminalize soft drugs in addition to the economy boost it could provide as well as creation of more hemp products--like hemp grocery bags--and then eliminating plastic bags, which in turn could provide a healthier and greener (no pun intended) USA. There are also plenty of health related benefits to the pronged green leaf--a stress reducer, a natural pain reliever from headaches to chemotherapy, and a natural anti-depressant/anxiety reliever among other things.  As you can tell I am not very liberal in my social policy beliefs. Just kidding.

**As of today, I learned that 'shrooms were replaced by truffles...I guess thats how the Dutch get around prohibition of certain things--by finding something identical and declaring it different?

In coffeeshops, people grab a cup of coffee and just sit, read the newspaper, chat with others in the shop and enjoy a smoke or whatever they choose to do and since tobacco isn't technically allowed. It is tolerable/enjoyable to sit and do the very things mentioned in a chilled out way without the threatening scent and effects of tobacco and cigarettes. Everyone is friendly and willing to share any information about the city, such as favorite places to hang out or go, see and do.  If one is just looking for coffee, snacks and food/more meal-y items one goes to a cafe, not a coffeeshop although in coffeeshops the employees definitely want you to buy a drink (non-alcoholic--no booze is served in coffeeshops for safety reasons) in addition to marijuana if not in place of.   





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