Some interesting facts. Netherladns vs USA

[Inmediusre]

This is from an icredible drug policy site, www.drugwarfacts.org



1. The Netherlands follows a policy of separating the market
for illicit drugs. Cannabis is primarily purchased through coffee
shops. Coffee shops offer no or few possibilities for purchasing
illicit drugs other than cannabis. Thus The Netherlands achieve
a separation of the soft drug market from the hard drugs market
- and separation of the 'acceptable risk' drug user from the
'unacceptable risk' drug user.

Source: #4: Abraham, Manja D., University of Amsterdam, Centre
for Drug Research, Places of Drug Purchase in The Netherlands
(Amsterdam: University of Amsterdam, September 1999), pp. 1-5.

2. Comparing Important Drug and Violence Indicators

Social Indicator Comparison Year U.S. Netherlands
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Lifetime prevalence
of marijuana use
(ages 12+) 2001 36.9% #1 17.0% #2

Past month
prevalence of
marijuana use
(ages 12+) 2001 5.4% #1 3.0% #2

Lifetime prevalence
of heroin use
(ages 12+) 2001 1.4% #1 0.4% #2

Incarceration Rate
per 100,000
population 2002 701 #3 100 #4

Per capita spending
on criminal justice
system (in Euros) 1998 379 #5 223 #5

Homicide rate per
100,000 population average 1999-2001 5.56 #6 1.51 #6