Regulated drug market in Amsterdam: Mayor demands new beginning

Regulated drug market in Amsterdam: Mayor demands new beginning

The Mayor of Amsterdam, Femke Halsema, has spoken out for the introduction of a regulated market for drugs such as cocaine and ecstasy. She emphasized that this was the only way to fight the drug smuggling and the associated "disastrous" effects on the Dutch capital. In an interview with the AFP news agency, Halsema said that she could imagine that cocaine in pharmacies or a medical model would be available.

The mayor described the previous “war against drugs” as failed because he could not stop the violent and billion -dollar underworld. In Amsterdam, a well -known turnstile of drug trade, 80 percent of police activities are devoted to combating drug crime. In this context, Halsema expresses the opinion that certain drugs are dangerous and consumption should be reduced, but the previous measures are not expedient.

The mayor suggested that drug opportunities to regulate drugs and explicitly mentioned the presentation of a regulated market for cocaine and other illegal substances such as ecstasy. She asked the question in the room whether it was not absurd to leave the drug trade to criminal organizations instead of establishing a civilized market. Critics such as Bart de Wever, Mayor of Antwerp, expressed concerns about Halsemas suggestions.

In order to promote the debate, Femke Halsema invited city representatives and experts to a conference in Amsterdam at the end of January to discuss the way in which cities should regulate drugs. She emphasized that anyone who thought about possible solutions would come to the conclusion that there would be no alternatives to regulation. The discussion about the introduction of a regulated drug market should continue to be controversial.