Pragmatism versus Ideology: Dutch Drug Policy Continued

Abstract

The Netherlands' policy on drugs is the plaything of reformers and prohibitionists in the ideological debate about drugs. The Dutch approach is either presented as a seductive and successful alternative to the American policy of zero tolerance or as an out-and-out disaster. In this article, we outline the principles and objectives on which the Netherlands' policy is based and then describe how they are implemented in practice. We conclude that the principles and objectives of Dutch drug policy are diametrically opposed to the ideologically and politically colored debate.