The Opium Act sets out the rules pertaining to drugs. The Act distinguishes between hard and soft drugs. It forbids the possession, sale and production of drugs, but the Netherlands tolerates the sale of soft drugs in coffee shops under certain strict conditions. A coffee shop is an establishment where cannabis is sold but no alcoholic drinks are sold or consumed.
Opium Act
The Opium Act sets out the rules pertaining to drugs. Two lists are appended to this Act. These define the distinction between soft and hard drugs.
- Schedule I lists the substances classified as hard drugs, for example heroin, cocaine, amphetamine, ecstasy and GHB.
- Schedule II lists the substances classified as soft drugs: cannabis products (hash and marijuana) and sleeping pills and sedatives such as Valium and Seresta. According to the government, these drugs carry less serious health risks than the hard drugs listed in Schedule I.
Toleration policy regarding soft drugs in coffee shops
Soft drugs, such as marijuana and hash, are less damaging to health than hard drugs, such as ecstasy and cocaine. But soft drugs are also illegal in the Netherlands. This means that those found selling, producing, dealing or in possession of these drugs are liable to prosecution.
However, the Netherlands applies a policy of toleration in relation to the sale of soft drugs in coffee shops. This means that the sale of soft drugs in coffee shops is a criminal offence but the Public Prosecution Service does not prosecute coffee shops for this offence.
Neither does the Public Prosecution Service prosecute members of the public for possession of small quantities of soft drugs. These quantities are defined as follows:
- no more than 5 grams of cannabis (marijuana or hash);
- no more than 5 cannabis plants.
Reasons for toleration policy
The Netherlands tolerates the sale of soft drugs in coffee shops and takes rigorous action to suppress the sale of hard drugs.Cannabis users are not obliged to buy their soft drugs from criminal dealers who might easily bring them into contact with hard drugs.
FAQs
Soft drugs are less hazardous to health than hard drugs. Soft drugs are not harmless substances, but the risks are less serious than the risks associated with using hard drugs. Soft drugs include, for example, hash, marijuana, sleeping pills and sedatives.
What is a hard drug? ›
Hard drugs are drugs that lead to physical addiction and potentially death. Making, selling, or using these drugs other than for approved medical purposes is illegal in most countries. Hard drugs include opioids like heroin, hydrocodone, oxycodone (Oxycontin) and morphine.
What are soft and hard drug terms? ›
Soft drugs, such as marijuana and hash, are less damaging to health than hard drugs, such as ecstasy and cocaine.
What is a soft drug structure? ›
Soft drugs are the active isosteric or isoelectronic analogs of a lead compound, a structure specifically designed to allow a predictable metabolic route after exerting the desired therapeutic effect (Bodor, 1982).
What are hard drugs vs soft drugs Wikipedia? ›
More objectively harmful drugs may be colloquially referred to as "hard drugs", and less harmful drugs as "soft drugs". The term "soft drug" is considered controversial by critics as it may imply the false belief that soft drugs cause lesser or insignificant harm.
What are the solid drugs? ›
Oral solid dosage (OSD) products come in different forms, including tablets, buccal and sublingual tablets, chewable tablets, and capsules. Tablets are the most common form of OSD and are made by compressing a mixture of active pharmaceutical ingredients (API) and excipients.
What does "soft" mean in slang? ›
Informal. foolish or stupid: soft in the head.
What is the soft drug approach? ›
Soft drugs are new therapeutic agents that undergo predictable metabolism to inactive metabolites after exerting their therapeutic effect. Hence, they are obtained by building into the molecule, in addition to the activity, the most desired way in which the molecule is to be deactivated and detoxified.
What is a pro drug vs soft drug? ›
Soft drugs are still often confused with prodrugs because they both require metabolic transformations; however, they are conceptual opposites: whereas, prodrugs are pharmacologically inactive and are converted by a predictable mechanism to the active drug, soft drugs are active therapeutic agents as such and are ...
What is a soft pill? ›
Softgels are a type of pill with ingredients hermetically sealed in a soft outer shell. A softgel capsule is made from animal-sourced or vegetarian gelatin and antioxidants and is more like a soft outer shell than a rigid container.
Drug-like effects
The research scientists claim that sugar alters mood and can induce reward and pleasure, in the same way drugs such as cocaine affect the brain. They cite studies in rats where sugar was preferred to cocaine, and studies in mice where the mice experienced sugar withdrawal symptoms.
What is an example of a complex drug? ›
Examples include inhalers, injectables, ophthalmic solutions and suspensions and transdermal patches. Patients rely on complex generic drug products for many indications, including chronic conditions such as diabetes and asthma.
What is another name for a soft drug? ›
Soft Drug Definition
The term “soft drug” is often used interchangeably with the phrase “gateway drug.” The drugs in this category are either there because they are legal to use or more socially acceptable than hard drugs. Soft drugs include: Alcohol. Nicotine.
What drugs are legal in the Netherlands? ›
As in the rest of the world, drugs are officially illegal in the Netherlands. Amsterdam's lenient drug policy allows for the sale and consumption of certain soft drugs, such as cannabis, in designated coffeeshops. However, the use and distribution of hard drugs like cocaine, heroin, and ecstasy remain strictly illegal.
What are drugs for primary 3? ›
Meaning of drugs and common drugs
Drug was defined as a substance that is taken into the body or applied on the body to cure diseases and illness. Some of the drugs that many of us usually take are paracetamol, multivitamins, asprin, chloroquine, cough syrups, iodine and methylated spirit.
What are drug dealers called? ›
Person Who Sells Drugs Illegally
Cooker, dealer, dope peddler, dummy man, hookup, mad hatter, middleman, mule, pill lady, plug, potrepreneur, pump, pusher, source.
What are abuse drugs? ›
Drug abuse is when a drug is used for a different purpose than intended, or in excessive amounts. Drug abuse can involve illegal drugs, as well as medicines. There are many problems associated with drug abuse, such as drug tolerance, dependence and addiction.
