Changes

The Dutch policy regarding soft drugs (and previously prostitution) is called "gedoogbeleid" (condonement policy). This means that although certain behavior is officially prohibited by law, a condonement clause prevents law enforcement agencies from persecuting this behavior. This clause is, legally speaking, not a law and can be reverted much easier than a regular law.  

The Dutch policy regarding soft drugs (and previously prostitution) is called "gedoogbeleid" (condonement policy). This means that although certain behavior is officially prohibited by law, a condonement clause prevents law enforcement agencies from persecuting this behavior. This clause is, legally speaking, not a law and can be reverted much easier than a regular law.  

The main reason for this policy is to try to split the market for "soft drugs" from the one for "hard drugs", this to avoid that users "upgrade" from soft to "hard drugs" (the latter are still illegal). So in short it tries to avoid that canabis users get exposure to e.g. heroine in the place where they buy their drugs. The policy also lets the police focus on the war on the more harmful "hard drugs" and criminal trade, and not get swamped in all kinds of minor drug abuse cases. In fact most major cities in the world have similar non-persecution policies, but the Dutch one is the only nationwide one.

The main reason for this policy is to try to split the market for "soft drugs" from the one for "hard drugs", this to avoid that users "upgrade" from soft to "hard drugs" (the latter are still illegal). So in short it tries to avoid that canabis users get exposure to e.g. heroine in the place where they buy their drugs. The policy also lets the police focus on the war on the more harmful "hard drugs" and criminal trade, and not get swamped in all kinds of minor drug abuse cases. In fact most major cities in the world have similar non-prosecution policies, but the Dutch one is the only nationwide one.

Interestingly growing marijuana and hashish for commercial purposes is still officially illegal (it is legal to own up to four plants per household), causing coffee shop owners to rely on illegal homegrown products.  Only two state run companies are exempted from this rule in order to grow marijuana for medicinal purposes.

Interestingly growing marijuana and hashish for commercial purposes is still officially illegal (it is legal to own up to four plants per household), causing coffee shop owners to rely on illegal homegrown products.  Only two state run companies are exempted from this rule in order to grow marijuana for medicinal purposes.