Coffee shops and drugs, Amsterdam

Because there are coffee shops in Amsterdam a lot of people sit and smoke Hashish or Marijuana , there are also places where you can buy Ecstasy or Mushrooms.
If you decide to try those drugs , don't buy on the streets !
Some people will offer you those drugs , you don't know the quality or if it something "fishy" .

The Netherlands police is tolerant to small amount of soft drugs - this is why you have coffee shops !

I Don't Smoke at all.
In Amsterdam there are coffee shops that sell soft drugs - marijuana and Hashish.
You can smoke inside the coffee shop but not outside.
Although you will find people that smoke outside that it is still illegal.

Oh, and if you are tempted to visit any of the world famous "Coffee Shops" to sample some of their delights,(hash etc), a word to the wise, purchase your items there but do not partake until you return to the safety of your Hotel room, just in case of any drowsy side effects after you leave the coffee shop! It's much safer to fall back onto a "marshmallow bed" in your room, than try to find your way back to your Hotel, drowsy & disorientated. I believe, it can be some potent stuff!!! You have been advised (warned)

C

Oh, and if you are tempted to visit any of the world famous "Coffee Shops" to sample some of their delights,(hash etc), a word to the wise, purchase your items there but do not partake until you return to the safety of your Hotel room, just in case of any drowsy side effects after you leave the coffee shop! It's much safer to fall back onto a "marshmallow bed" in your room, than try to find your way back to your Hotel, drowsy & disorientated. I believe, it can be some potent stuff!!! You have been advised (warned)

C

If you never smoked marihuana in your life don't get disapointed with results. You might not like it or feel bad in the stomach. All of them are high quality, so take my advise, if you are not used to smoke ask the the mild type. It's very good and enough for two people to get a nice chill for an hour. And don't get anything from someone on the street, just go to any coffeeshop.

The best way to say it is, know your limit in everything when you're visiting another country. Smart drugs are legal and very strong in some cases, so know what you are taking and who you will be with that day/night....Waking up in a Dutch jail the next day is not a fun thought for anyone. Try to have a designated friend who stays fairly sober, and LISTEN to them....
Hot teas and cola drinks have always been good ways (for me!) to wind down if too crazy, so stop by a coffeeshop and relax if you feel like you are fixing to explode.....
peace out.

If you are going to buy mushrooms make sure you dont get really expensive/good ones if you dont eat shrooms regularly... a friend i met traveling who said he had done them before ate about half a package and they were cheap ones, he said he was so glad he didnt eat a big pack or expensive ones. He said he woudlnt be able to function if he did.

In Amsterdam you can buy "vitamin"-pills, smoke hash, go into the RLD, get drunk and more.....

It's up to you; I rather stay healthy.

For your information: the next list indicaties the likelyhood of trouble vs. cause:

1 - Spacecake (Many tourist confuse this with "normal" cake)
2 - Mushrooms (The strong [negative] effects are not well-known to many)
3 - Cannabis/Soft drugs (Overdosis is a likely cause of trouble)
4 - GHB/XTC (Pills are related to dance parties, but sometimes they are used to seduce victims. Keep an eye on your drink in an unfamiliar place!)
5 - Cocaine/Heroine (only in the illegal circuit and always good for trouble)
6 - Alcohol (Dutch beers contain more alcohol than US ones and drinking too much ...)

If you are wearing a hat or sunglasses when you enter a coffeeshop, don't be surprised if you are asked to remove the offending clothing item. Many coffeeshops require all hats and sunglasses to be removed when inside the shop. I have been told it is for security reasons...as the shops have video cameras running to record all activity.

Everyone may of course freely decide what to do with him- or herself in this free world, but for those who don't and do not want to start to use drugs:

If you are looking for coffee/tea or corresponding, please do not enter places called Coffee Shops. They are mainly for offering and selling all kinds of drugs. Pass by one and smell; take a deep breath inside - you can smell it yourself.

Look for places with no smell, and logos like everywhere else in the world: Café, Cafeteria etc. They are the right places for just pure normal coffee.