Amsterdam: new soft drugs policy is counterproductive

Press release, 19 November 2010

The Mayor of Amsterdam will soon consult with the Dutch government regarding new measures envisioned for coffeeshops. Amsterdam supports the ambition of the government to reduce both soft drug use among young people and the nuisance associated with it around coffeeshops. The ‘Amsterdam Triangle’ consisting of the police, the Public Prosecution Service and the City of Amsterdam will also tackle criminal activity associated with organised marijuana cultivation.

Solutions to existing problems

However, Amsterdam has serious doubts about the impact and effectiveness of the measures presented by the new cabinet. The City of Amsterdam fears that closing the vast majority of coffeeshops in the city would be counterproductive. Initial analysis shows that closing large numbers of coffeeshops would result in increased nuisance around the remaining coffeeshops, greater health risks and a thriving street trade.

The current system is more manageable. Mayor Eberhard van der Laan wants to work with the government to find solutions to existing problems without creating new ones.

The Amsterdam coffeeshop system

Amsterdam wants a smaller scale, more manageable and transparent coffeeshop industry. There are currently 223 coffeeshops in the capital, 138 of which are located in the centre of the city. Amsterdam's soft drug policy is aimed at preventing use by young people, reducing nuisance on the streets and protecting the health of users.

The City recognises the problems associated with coffeeshops and the health risks of soft drug use, but also points out the advantages of the current system. Coffeeshops are not allowed to serve underage youths; this regulation is strictly enforced with the result that hardly any youths frequent coffeeshops. Making soft drugs available through coffeeshops curtails the dealing of drugs on the street.

In addition, coffeeshops are obliged to provide customers with accurate information about the quality of the soft drugs being sold and the source of the drugs is also checked. In order to effectively implement the soft drugs policy in the capital, the City of Amsterdam regularly consults with businesses in the sector, healthcare institutions (including the Municipal Health Service) and educational institutions.

Combatting crime

The ‘Amsterdam Triangle’ will do everything in its power to combat the risks associated with the non-sanctioned supply of soft drugs to coffeeshops. In the next few years, 26 coffeeshops in the Red Light District will be phased out as part of Project 1012’s crackdown on criminal infrastructure. In addition, they will deal firmly with crime associated with organised cannabis cultivation.

Distance criteria

Amsterdam has mapped out the consequences of the government’s proposed new soft drugs policy. The government policy proposes that a distance of at least 350 metres be established between secondary schools and coffeeshops. A calculation shows that at a distance criteria of 350 metres, more than half (116) of the 223 coffeeshops would have to close.

If primary schools are also subjected to distance criteria, only 36 coffeeshops would remain in Amsterdam. The concern is that this will lead to an increase in street sales of soft drugs, hard drugs and fake drugs ('nepdope'), health problems, nuisance and crime.

The City of Amsterdam believes that there are more effective measures available to combat soft drug usage among young people. Previous research has shown that few young people frequent coffeeshops. This is because it is strictly controlled. Preventive measures, such as providing information about the health risks of soft drug usage and involving parents and schools, are better at preventing young people from using soft drugs.

Identity card system

The Dutch government proposes to only allow adult residents of the Netherlands access to coffeeshops by introducing an identity system. The idea behind this measure is to try and reduce the nuisance factor in towns located along the Dutch border.

Amsterdam supports the government proposal to improve the management of problems in border towns but is keen to point out that Amsterdam coffeeshops located in the city centre, while indeed serving tourists, do not cause the same problems experienced in the border region.

Tourists come to Amsterdam not purely to visit coffeeshops, but do so as part of a two or three-day stay. This was confirmed by the report entitled ‘Geen deuren maar daden’ (‘No doors but deeds’), drafted by Van der Donk’s Drug Policy Advisory Board under the previous government.

If tourists are denied access to coffeeshops, illegal sales and drug dealing on the streets of Amsterdam will increase. The City of Amsterdam does not want to facilitate soft drug use by tourists, but to help those who wish to use drugs to do so as responsibly as possible.

Room for negotiation

Amsterdam proposes that city councils determine for themselves whether or not to adopt an identity card system. Amsterdam, together with the Association of Netherlands Municipalities and cities such as Utrecht and Eindhoven, will take the lead in organising a Cannabis Summit which will support the government in drafting a new policy.

City of Amsterdam Press Office, 19 November 2010.