Netherlands - Drug-Friendly Netherlands to Close 8 Prisons -- Not Enough Crime

[Richi]

By Bruce Mirken | Opposing Views

For years prohibitionists, including our own Drug Enforcement Administration, have claimed — falsely — that the tolerant marijuana policies of the Netherlands have made that nation a nest of crime and drug abuse. They may have trouble wrapping their little brains around this:

The Dutch government is getting ready to close eight prisons because they don’t have enough criminals to fill them. Officials attribute the shortage of prisoners to a declining crime rate.

Just for fun, let’s compare the Netherlands to California. With a population of 16.6 million, the Dutch prison population is about 12,000. With its population of 36.7 million, California should have a bit more than double the Dutch prison population. California’s actual prison population is 171,000.

So, whose drug policies are keeping the streets safer?

[Scrubbs]

This is just amazing. This is undeniable proof that lenient drug laws are GOOD for the community. USA and UK, when are you going to evolve?

[Richi]

Originally Posted by Scrubbs

This is just amazing. This is undeniable proof that lenient drug laws are GOOD for the community. USA and UK, when are you going to evolve?

Drug laws are good when the drug laws are good, ironically enough eh?