The Netherlands expands the list of banned substances
The Netherlands is taking a decisive step in the fight against drug trafficking. The Tweed Chamber (lower house of Parliament) voted to amend the Opium Law. This decision is aimed at ending the constant game of “cat and mouse” between law enforcement agencies and drug manufacturers.
The innovations will automatically ban substances similar to already known drugs, such as ecstasy.
Until now, it took a long time to ban new types of drugs, as each time it required a new study and the introduction of special regulations. Drug manufacturers have used this for their own purposes, modifying already known drugs in such a way that they do not fall under existing laws. Thus, the new drug had almost the same effect as its banned counterpart, but was legally considered a different substance and was not subject to prohibition.
According to the new bill, drug manufacturers will no longer be able to use the slowness of legislation to their advantage. The changes in the law provide that not only specific types of drugs are now prohibited, but also entire groups of substances similar to already known narcotic drugs. This innovation has been in demand by the police for a long time.
However, not everyone took these changes positively. Some parties, including D66, believe that the new law is too repressive and may lead to drug users in other countries switching to heavier substances. Nevertheless, after the adoption of the changes in the Tweed Chamber, they will be considered in the Erste Chamber (upper house of Parliament), which will determine the further fate of this proposal.
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