Netherlands: cannabis is a €2bn a year biz, 50% want it legalized

[RainDog]

...yet the party in power is trying to close down coffee shops...representing only 25% of the population's wishes?

http://www.dutchnews.nl/news/archives/2010/02/public_split_on_cannabis_legal.php

Some 50% of the population think cannabis should be fully legalised while 25% want a complete ban, according to the latest Maurice de Hond opinion poll.

On Wednesday the Telegraaf reported that the CDA will publish plans on Thursday to further crack down on cannabis cafes and illegal production, said to be worth €2bn a year.


okay, cannabis cafes have not resulted in increased use. it generates a lot of money and would generate more if it were legal and grown outright. A near-majority of the population wants to do this... what am I missing?

[rcrush]

1. Some American influence?

[thunder rising]

2. They must be impressed with the success of the "War on Drugs" ..killing people, bankrupt nation ...

all that good stuff.

[daninthemoon]

3. Al Capone thinks we're a bunch of assholes. We should know better

[mdmc]

4. can't deny the cold hard facts of a successful drug war

[defendandprotect]

5. k

[RainDog]

6. reuters: int'l drug policy experts say laws against cannabis ineffective,

http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE60P01420100126?rpc=64

what's interesting, tho, is to look at the article...because the article inserts information that is not part of the drug policy report on a UK study that doesn't establish causation, from what I read.

from one of five authors of a book published by Oxford U. Press:

Reuter said authorities should acknowledge "growing evidence that criminalization of use is a minor deterrent" and recognize the importance of developing "responsible ways of managing supply, rather than creating large illegal markets."

..."Prohibitionist policies not only fail to meet their objectives but have inflicted significant social harms in the process," said Amanda Feilding of the Beckley Foundation.

Despite laws against its use, up to 190 million people around the world use cannabis, according to U.N. estimates, which equates to about 4 percent of the global adult population.

The authors said vast numbers of arrests for possession of cannabis in countries such as Britain, Switzerland and the United States had had little deterrent effect but caused social division and pointless government expense.