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The Dutch Law allows the following
- A maximum buy of 5 grams
- You may possess a maximum of 30 grams
- The buyer must be at least 18 years of age
According to the World Health Organization a drug is:
Every substance which can be consumed by the human organism and can alter one or more organisms functions.
16th report World Health Organization, Expert Committee on Drug Dependence, Geneva, 1969.
Hard Drugs are, according to the Dutch Law:
All drugs, with the exception of cannabis and cannabis products.
Soft Drugs are, according to the Dutch Law:
Only Cannabis and Cannabis products.
Hard or soft?
In discussions about drugs, clarity is not improved by use of the terms "hard drugs" and "soft drugs", as most people don't have an
understanding of what the terms "hard" and "soft" refer to. "Hard drugs" are not somehow "harder" than "drugs" in general, and likewise "soft drugs" are not somehow "softer".
The definition offered by the WHO doesn't clarify this much because it defines drugs as any substance which influences the body.
These substances are:
- Opiates: Papaver - opium - morphine - heroin
- Barbiturates: Sleeping pills
- Alcohol: Beer, wine, gin etc.
- Tranquilizers: Librium, Valium, Xanax, etc.
- Natural stimulants: Caffeine in coffee and cola, theine in tea, theobromine in chocolate.
- Synthetic Pep pills: Amphetamine, XTC.
- Tobacco: Cigarettes, cigars
- Natural Hallucinogenics: Peyote cactus, bufotenine.
- Synthetic Hallucinogenics: LSD
- Leafs derivative: Cocaine - crack
- Qat sticks
- Cannabis: Marihuana - hash - hash oil
- Medicine: diverse
Therefore, if "drugs" in general are discussed, no indication is given by the speaker as to which of the above active substances is meant.
That's also true when people speak about a Drug-user. This is because according to the definition from the WHO, almost all of us are users of at least one drug. It's even worse than that- most of us are using several drugs at a time, so we are polydrug-users.
In the end, you can come to the conclusion out of the definition from the WHO, that every person knows at least one or more persons in his neighborhood who are drugs-users.
That's the reason why we divide the substances in the following three groups:
Addictive drugs
W.H.O. physical dependence
Addiction is a situation where the user has to increase the consumption of a substance to achieve the same result as he used it the last time.
When the user stops using the addicting drugs, the body reacts aggressive.We call these problems withdrawal symptoms.
- Addictive drugs are: Opiates, Barbiturates, Alcohol.
Habit forming drugs
W.H.O. psychological dependence
With habit forming drugs you achieve the same result by a similar dose as used the last time.
People using these drugs experience difficulties quitting using these, but after quitting they won't experience withdrawal symptoms.
- Habit forming drugs are: Tobacco, Tranquilizers, "pep" pills.
Non-Habit forming and non-addictive drugs
W.H.O. no dependence
When using this category of drugs, you achieve the same effects with a similar dose and could even give you the same effects with a smaller dose.
You can stop using these without any withdrawal symptoms.
With the exception of Hallucinogenics drugs, these drugs are active for a short period.
- Not-habit forming and non-addictive drugs are: Hallucinogenic drugs, Qat, Coca (only the leaves!), Cannabis and most of the medicines.
You can find more information at the Trimbos institute, click here to go there |
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La Canna - Nieuwendijk 121-123-125 - Amsterdam |
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