Drug policy of the Netherlands
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While recreational use, possession and trade of non-medicinal drugs described by the Opium Law are all technically illegal under Dutch law, official policy since the late 20th century has been to openly tolerate all recreational use while tolerating the other two under certain circumstances. This pragmatic approach was motivated by the idea that a drug-free Dutch society is unrealistic and unattainable, and efforts would be better spent trying to minimize harm caused by recreational drug use. As a result of this gedoogbeleid (lit. "tolerance policy" or "policy of tolerance"), the Netherlands is typically seen as much more tolerant of drugs than most other countries.
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See also
- 2014 Amsterdam drug deaths
- Arguments for and against drug prohibition
- Designer drug
- Drug liberalization
- Legality of cannabis by country
- Minors and the legality of cannabis
- Portugal 2001 decriminalization of drug use
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