The NetherlandsDrugs, Prostitutes

and Same-Sex Marriage

All photos taken from flickr.com under a Creative Commons license. All photos attributed with username.

Why these topics?• International image• Misunderstandings

• Proposition 8• Different perspective

Photo by hi-phi

DRUGS – Marijuana’s legal status

• Officially, it’s completely illegal;

• The justice system goes after smugglers, producers, organized crime;

• There are maximum amounts a person and coffeeshop can own or carry;

• Government ‘condones’ the current system (harm reduction).

Photo by purpletwinkie

DRUGS – Holland & the US

• In 2000 2.9% of Dutch children were using (legal) psychotropic drugs;

• In 2001 17% of Dutch population had used marijuana in their lifetime;

• In 2001 3% of Dutch population indicated they had used marijuana in the last month;

• Separation of hard & soft drug market.

Photo by almekinders

DRUGS – Holland & the US• In 2000 6.7% of US children

were using (legal) psychotropic drugs.

• In 2001 36.9% of US population had used marijuana in their lifetime;

• In 2001 5.4% of US population indicated they had used marijuana in the last month;

• 2004: 33,655 state inmates and 10,785 federal inmates for marijuana offenses.

Photo by thomashawk

DRUGS – Holland & the US• In 2000 6.7% of US children

were using (legal) psychotropic drugs.

• In 2001 36.9% of US population had used marijuana in their lifetime;

• In 2001 5.4% of US population indicated they had used marijuana in the last month;

• 2004: 33,655 state inmates and 10,785 federal inmates for marijuana offenses.

Photo by thomashawk

• In 2000 2.9% of Dutch children were using (legal) psychotropic drugs;

• In 2001 17% of Dutch population had used marijuana in their lifetime;

• In 2001 3% of Dutch population indicated they had used marijuana in the last month;

• Separation of hard & soft drug market.

YET HOLLAND HAS THE REPUTATION ;-)

Photo by tavallai

PROSTITUTION

Photo by etherhill

PROSTITUTION – The facts

• Legal profession since 1988;

• Income tax, social security, union rights;

• No mandatory health-checks;

• License needed to do ‘business’ – some municipalities refuse to give out licenses.

Photo by jodvova

PROSTITUTION – The facts

Criminal offenses• Prostitutes and clients must

be 18 years of age;• Pimping and trafficking is

illegal;• Operating without an

operating license is illegal;• Hiring foreigners without a

work permit is illegal.

Photo by stuckincustoms

Types of prostitution

SAME-SEX MARRIAGE

Photo by charlesfred

SAME-SEX MARRIAGE – The facts

• Registered partnership since ’98;

• Since 2000 the law says: “A marriage can be contracted by two people of different or the same sex”

• Between 1,000 – 2,000 same-sex marriages per year.

Photo by sfbart

SAME-SEX MARRIAGE – The facts

• Registrars can reject marrying homosexuals;

• Local governments obliged to perform same-sex marriages;

• Individual churches have the right to refuse same-sex marriage ceremonies, but many churches don’t refuse.

Photo by martacolpani

Holland, an anarchist orgy?

Photo by akabilk

Far from it…

• 99% literacy rate• “The country continues to be one

of the leading European nations for attracting foreign direct investment and is one of the five largest investors in the US.” (CIA)

• 9th highest GDP per capita (World Bank)

• Founding member of the European Union

Photo by fr3a.deviantart.com

THANKS FOR YOUR TIMEQuestions?

Email – bas@basbasbas.comSite – www.basbasbas.com

Sources

• http://drugwarfacts.org/cms/?q=node/67• http://www.emaxhealth.com/1/50/25010.html• http://leisureguy.wordpress.com/2007/02/22/1-

billion-per-year-to-jail-marijuana-users/• https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-

world-factbook/geos/nl.html• http://siteresources.worldbank.org/

DATASTATISTICS/Resources/GDP.pdf & POP.pdf