| The Netherlands realised back in the 70s that | | | | programmes. Holland's climate is not particularly |
| fighting the "war on drugs" was also fighting a | | | | well suited to cannabis cultivation, so most of the |
| losing battle. Although almost all other countries in | | | | high quality weed is grown indoors under artificial |
| the world continue the struggle, the Dutch sought | | | | lighting. In the same way that Scotland and France |
| to minimise the impact of drugs on their society, | | | | have their whiskey and wine connoisseurs, much |
| using more forward thinking tactics. They decided | | | | expertise and excellence surrounds Holland's |
| to make a clear distinction between soft drugs | | | | cannabis growing industry. |
| (cannabis, magic mushrooms etc) and addictive | | | | Coffee-shops must be granted a license before |
| hard drugs (heroin and cocaine). This division | | | | they are permitted to sell cannabis and the |
| allowed the authorities to regulate and tax the | | | | market is closely regulated. They are not |
| cannabis trade, and put far more resources into | | | | permitted to advertise their greenery so you |
| the cracking down on drugs which did the real | | | | won't find flashing neon signs saying "buy cannabis |
| damage to society. | | | | here!" - instead, buy a guidebook to find out which |
| Strictly speaking, cannabis is still not legal in | | | | cafes are coffee-shops and then when you enter, |
| Amsterdam; instead it is "decriminalised" - adults | | | | approach the bar and ask for the "menu". You will |
| without a license to grow or sell can possess a | | | | then be presented with a list of many different |
| maximum of 5 grams without reprimand, although | | | | varieties of marijuana and hash, which are sold by |
| in practice, possession of up to 30 grams is | | | | weight. |
| permitted. When this policy first came into effect, | | | | Businesses that rely on tourism, such as hostels |
| pioneering coffee-shops exploited the situation by | | | | and hotels in Amsterdam have benefited greatly |
| openly selling cannabis. At first, they were | | | | from cannabis tourism and despite continuing |
| frequently raided by the police, but by 1980, a | | | | pressure from less liberal governments such as |
| level of tolerance was reached; as long as there | | | | the UK, France and the US, the trade remains |
| were never any hard drugs on site and the | | | | alive and well. |
| owners were discreet, the police would let them | | | | However, the current Dutch government is more |
| be. | | | | conservative and has inspired local councils to |
| In the early days, most coffee-shops imported | | | | enforce all coffee-shop regulations very strictly; |
| hash to sell, which obviously created legal | | | | any that fall foul of the rules are permanently |
| problems, as they were purchasing and trafficking | | | | shut down and not replaced. This means that the |
| goods that were illegal outside of Holland. This lead | | | | overall number of coffee-shops in Holland |
| to the growth in Dutch cultivated cannabis plants | | | | continues to diminish, so if you want to enjoy the |
| (known as Nederwiet), which has now become a | | | | hash bar high of Amsterdam, do it sooner rather |
| science with hundreds of different strains available | | | | than later, because who knows how long Holland's |
| which are the result of cross breeding | | | | period of enlightenment will last. |