Re: MAPS: Re: The Dutch Lesson

["Bram Margry" <brammargry@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

> I realize that psychedelics are not associated with addiction and
> toxicity - like cocaine, methamphetamine, crack and heroin are, and
> therefore they are not addressed as harm reduction issues as such. I
> wonder how Dutch harm reduction allows psychedelics to be integrated
> into Dutch culture. I'm not so much interested in how psychedelics are
> distributed or which substances are available and to what extent.
>
> I'm more interested in how these substances are most often used in Dutch
> society (i.e. recreational, therapeutic or in spiritual pursuits) the
> conditions in which they are used (i.e. private living rooms, "trip
> clinics," the street, individually or in groups), and whether these uses
> are accepted as legitimate by Dutch society.

The only (widely used) psychedelic in Holland is the mushroom. Of course you
can decide himself how and were you want to use it. It think it is mostly
used by younger people. When buying 'magic mushrooms' (into a "smart-shop")
you'll get some advice and they'll tell you how to use then. They advice you
to use them with close friends only in a well know environment. I think most
of the users follow this advice and use them in a recreational way at
somebody's living room or maybe they will try to find a nice and silent
place somewhere into a natural environment. (It's not easy to find such a
place in the Netherlands!)

Of course there must be people who use them on a therapeutic or spiritual
bases, but I think this is a minority. I've never heard of "trip clinics" or
something like that, although I do think something like that must exist.

grtz,

Bram



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