The policy on soft drugs in the Netherlands has become a famous – or infamous - aspect of the international image of a free and liberated country with relaxed views on delicate issues. But that may come to an end, now that a government commission has admitted the current drugs policy has gone too far and it should be changed.

A strictly monitored supply of soft drugs to coffeeshops, sold to local customers only, should help in controlling the use of soft drugs in the Netherlands, says the commission in a report published on Thursday. The Netherlands’ relaxed policy on cannabis and other soft drugs should become much stricter to contain the policy’s negative side effects such as drugs tourism and organised crime.
 

Smaller coffeeshops
The easy going policy on drugs and coffeeshops has grown over the past thirty years, but according to Wim van de Donk, who presided over the commission, the policy doesn’t work anymore. “It has gone too far”, the report says. “We need to return to smaller coffeeshops that only serve local customers”. This would mean an end to drug tourism, where clients come from far to buy soft drugs.
 

Supply
One of the main problems the Dutch coffeeshops have to deal with is the supply of their goods. While the sale of soft drugs is allowed, growing and supplying them remain illegal. The report acknowledges that this is an almost impossible situation, saying the supply should be allowed under strict rules. The commission also sees possibilities for a regulated way of growing cannabis and other soft drugs. This would sideline organised crime, which currently plays a major role in the growing of (illegal) cannabis.

Only regulated, Dutch grown soft drugs should be allowed to be on sale in coffeeshops, the commission says.

Closing coffeeshops is not an option, Mr Van de Donk says: “We need action, not boarding up”.
 

Negative effects
The report was commissioned by the Dutch government  after city councils in the south of the Netherlands expressed their growing doubts over the current relaxed drugs policy. Cities like Maastricht, Bergen op Zoom and Terneuzen – all very close to the Belgian border – have endured the negative effects of heavy drug tourism, attracting people from Belgium, France and Germany where the sale of soft drugs is prohibited.

The commission also calls for an independent drugs authority to control the soft drugs market and that can monitor any future changes in drug policies. Also, police should work in a more coherent manner to combat drugs related organised crime.