1. Trimbos-instituut Netherlands Institute of Mental Health and Addiction Dutch cannabis policy and it’s effects Harald Wychgel Drugs Infoline

2. Trimbos-instituut THE DUTCH DRUG POLICY Integrated approach Prevention and care (Drug Demand Reduction) Fight against organised crime (Drug Supply Reduction) Maintaining public order (Nuisance Reduction)

3. Trimbos-instituut KEY ELEMENTS OF THE DUTCH DRUG POLICY Realism Pragmatism Personal freedom Health protection Harm reduction Separation markets for hard and soft drugs

4. Trimbos-instituut Expediency principle Part of the Penal Code This empowers the Public Prosecutor: "to refrain from prosecution of criminal offences if this is in the public interest" Guidelines: -recommendations regarding the penalties to be imposed -priorities to be observed in investigating and prosecuting offences

5. Trimbos-instituut Priorities according to these guidelines Punishable offences involving hard drugs other than for individual use take the highest priority Punishable offences involving soft drugs other than for individual use No investigation and prosecution of possession of hard drugs for individual consumption (generally 0.5 gram) and soft drugs to a maximum of 30 grams

6. Trimbos-instituut CANNABIS POLICY Separation markets hard and soft drugs Toleration of sale of cannabis in coffee shops Guidelines 1996 of the Public Prosecution Department Local policy: three kinds of licensing policy 1. Zero-policy (coffee shops not permitted) 2. Tolerance policy with additional conditions (next to AHOJ- G) 3. Tolerance policy without additional conditions (only AHOJ- G)

7. Trimbos-instituut COFFEE SHOPS AHOJ-G criteria: No Advertising No selling of Hard drugs No causing of Nuisance (Overlast) No selling of soft drugs to Young persons under 18 (Jongeren) No great quantities (more than 5 Grams) per transaction

8. Trimbos-instituut PREVENTION POLICY Realistic and non-moralistic Personal responsibility for own health Primary prevention Secondary prevention (harm reduction)

9. Trimbos-instituut RESULTS OF THE DUTCH DRUG POLICY (1) Cannabis use: Same trends as in countries with a more repressive cannabis policy Prevention of marginalisation of cannabis users

10. Trimbos-instituut RESULTS OF THE DUTCH DRUG POLICY (2) Opiate use: Number of opiate addicts relatively low Almost no young people get addicted Average age opiate addicts is 37 Very low number of drug related deaths Low number of addicts infected with HIV

11. Trimbos-instituut PREVENTION PHILOSOPHY Realistic and non-moralistic Increasing knowledge and changing attitude: credible information and education, no exaggeration of risks Behaviour change: improving of skills, like dealing with peer pressure and decision making

12. Trimbos-instituut PREVENTION PROGRAMS Local/regional community approach, on the spot (Safe Rave) National mass media campaigns, Drugs Infoline Combined Healthy School and Drugs, Going Out and Drugs

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14. Cannabis use in Europe

15. Trimbos-instituut Cannabis consumption amongst Dutch youngsters

16. Trimbos-instituut Short term risks Unexpected (unwelcome) effects Concentration ↓ Reaction time ↓ Blow away your problems

17. Trimbos-instituut Long term risks Cannabis dependency (Mental / Physical) Head -neck cancer Lung cancer Cannabis more harmful than tobacco???

18. Trimbos-instituut Long term risks Schizophrenia (Chances increasing x 2) Depression Fear The younger you start the higher the risk The more you take the higher the risk Risks are small but real

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