Drugs

No, Virginia, the smoking of hashish is not legal in the city of Amsterdam. It is, however, widely tolerated. Because of this, thousands of people come to this city at least partly to engage in this activity. Perhaps my opinions are biased, but I don’t think Amsterdam is currently made any nicer by the presence of decriminalized hashish. What started as a free-spirited Sixties-type scene has gotten a bit rough around the edges. Results include large numbers of burnt-out types hanging around the city, increased crime, as well as some seedy hostels that cater to those who come solely to smoke. Also, the presence of such large amounts of hashish inevitably brings a certain amount of harder drugs in its wake. If you have the desire to see someone shooting heroin into their arm, walk out of the back door of Amsterdam’s Centraal Station any time after dark and turn right. All those empty sugar packets were not left there by coffee drinkers.

Be that as it may, if you desperately want to smoke hash in Amsterdam, there is plenty available. It is sold in certain well-marked coffee houses. You should realize that even in Amsterdam, possession of large (in the opinion of the police, mind you) amounts of hashish, drug dealing, and the possession of any amount °t cocaine or other “hard” drug, is treated in the same way as in other countries - arrest and possible imprisonment. Also, resale of anything you buy may or may not put you in the drug-dealer category, depending on how the police see it.

In other parts of Europe, except for certain parts of certain major cities, drugs are much less available than in North America. In most countries the standard rule of thumb applies: if you are arrested for drugs overseas, you are in for the most miserable and dehumanizing experience of your life. Consider going into a prison system where you don’t speak the language, have no constitutional rights, would be a member of a tiny minority, and might be held for months without even seeing a judge. As far as getting help from the embassy in the event of arrest: not bloody likely, mate. They’re barely civil to non-criminals asking for assistance or information. Travelers arrested for drugs are seen as a waste of their time, and treated accordingly. They will check that you are not being abused (by local standards, which are probably hellish), and inform your family of the situation, but that’s about it. Anyone who thinks that they will work tirelessly on your behalf because you are a compatriot in need is kidding himself.