I talked with a very knowledgeable friend in Holland today to try to get some insight into the latest twist in Dutch "drugs policy." As usual, it is not quite what it seems.

For a long time there has been a loophole in Dutch laws allowing the growing of marijuana for seeds, but not for smoking. The seed business is more profitable than the marijuana business, if you have the marketing organization, so this became a very big business.

Now that loophole has been closed in response to foreign pressure – and some quasi-prohibitionists in the Dutch government.

Does this mean that there will be no more Dutch seed? No, it just means that the seed growing business will fragment and go underground.

Most of the seed growers, with the (partial?) exception of the huge Sensi Seed operation were already underground. Everyone will be allowed to continue to sell from their existing inventory -- which will probably never run out. Amazing plant!

Nonetheless, this move presents other countries with an opportunity to take advantage of this mistake by the Dutch. Canada and Switzerland may be the biggest beneficiaries. On the other hand, it may not make any difference at all.

As readers may have noticed I am an admirer of most things Dutch, but Dutch politics can sometimes be very opaque. Only time will tell how much real difference this will make.

Other items:

There will be no change in Dutch policies regarding the separation of marijuana from the hard drugs. The coffeeshops are there to stay.
See
An Official Statement On The Netherlands’ Drug
Policy; Published In The Most Improbable Place

We should however expect a crackdown on Ecstasy production. This is not just a result of foreign pressure. There is growing concern about the deleterious effects of MDMA amongst Dutch drugs experts, and as my friend told me, "If we say it, the kids may believe it, but they won’t believe anything that the prohibitionists tell them."

Also, the Dutch government is progressing well on its research on medical marijuana, and we may see it officially recognized in a few months. There is not much pressure for them to do so, inasmuch as anyone who needs it can get it from a coffeeshop, or grow their own. Nonetheless, the research on its benefits for people with MS and AIDS can not be ignored – outside of Washington, D.C.