Amsterdam and the Marijuana culture: an article about the legal marijuana in Amsterdam

Amsterdam is rightly regarded as one of the most liberal cities in not only Europe but the world too. Practices and lifestyles that in other parts of the world are considered not just criminal or illegal but taboo and unpalatable, in Amsterdam the same practices are part and parcel of everyday life. Probably nothing illustrates this more than the place of Marijuana in Amsterdam culture.

Depending on whether you are a user of the drug or not, your guide when you do visit Amsterdam will probably urge you to be wary of coffee shops or to be on the lookout for them. If you have not been to the city before, this might surprise you. Whereas, in any other part of the world, a coffee shop is something you would consider ideal for a family day out, the term takes on an entirely different meaning in Amsterdam. That is because in Amsterdam, coffee shops are where people buy and smoke weed. There are anywhere between 250-500 coffee shops across the city. Of course, the shops still sell coffee; but unless you are just going for the fun of being able to say ‘I was inside an Amsterdam coffee shop', if you do not take marijuana, you will most likely feel a little uncomfortable.

You might then ask ‘Is buying, marijuana in Amsterdam legal?' Going by the number of weed selling coffee shops in the city, it would appear obvious. However, this question cannot be answered absolutely in the negative or the affirmative and has been the source of robust debate among Dutch citizens. The legislation that sellers use and that brought about the proliferation of pot coffee shops dates back to 1976 when the Dutch Opium Act was passed. The legislation was the aimed at decriminalizing the sale and use of marijuana while not completely lifting the lid of control. In addition, the drug was classified into a hard and soft form with the soft form (in this case, weed) being legal.

What is perhaps the most startling statistic is that despite this seemingly endless bliss of liberalism, the Netherlands has a lower proportion of Marijuana smokers than any other country in Europe. This fact becomes clear when you notice that the coffee shops are mainly frequented by foreigners as opposed to locals. Travelers must be aware of what the laws of their own country say about the purchase of use of cannabis in foreign territory. For instance, America citizens can be charged with using marijuana even if they do it in a country outside the United States. The person selling, regardless of citizenship, can also be charged under US law too.

Going further with the liberal use of marijuana, Amsterdam is home to the world's only museum dedicated to the history of marijuana. It is known as the Hash, Marihuana and Hemp Museum. The museum takes visitors through a rather detailed insight of the history of the plant. Areas covered include health benefits and integration into different cultures across the world. Even the different media used to ingest or smoke the plant sourced from every part of the world can be viewed here. To crown it all, you will notice a hanging scent of genuine marijuana that pervades the museum, which is quite fitting in going with the museum's overall theme. The goal is to bring out the positive aspects of the plant that are so often overshadowed by the bad publicity that marijuana often attracts.

When it comes to marijuana use, visitors to Amsterdam are advised to adhere to a number of principles during their stay. The first is that you should not use your visit to experiment with marijuana as a way to look hip and cool. Do not compromise your health and safety more so in a foreign country! Secondly, the pot sold in the Netherlands is much more potent than even seasoned users of the drug are accustomed to. Therefore, even regular users are normally advised to take a conservative approach. Otherwise, you could find yourself experiencing a disconcerting high. Make sure you only buy from inside a coffee shop. Buying from the street is risky as there is very little reputation at stake for the street vendors.

As a visitor to Amsterdam, your stay would best be served by booking an Amsterdam holiday apartment online. That way you will be assured of stay in a serene environment as well as avoid the hassle of last minute arrangements. The apartments for rent in Amsterdam are always a good choice!