DRUG CZAR GETS LESSON ON DUTCH 'DISASTER'

Policy differences

The U.S. official visits the Netherlands days after his harsh public
assessment.

THE HAGUE, Netherlands -- Just days after dubbing the lax Dutch drug policy
an "unmitigateted disaster," U.S.drug czar Barry McCaffrey took a closer
look Thursday. He came away unconvinced, but more diplomatic.

McCaffrey said he experienced "a strong feeling of partnership" with his
hosts. Still the retired four-star general said he frowned on the
laissez-faire Dutch attitude toward hashish and marijuana sales and a
government program that distributes free heroin to addicts.

After arriving Thursday, McCaffrey plunged into a packed day of meetings
with officials representing every facet of the Dutch drug policy.

Presentationsranged from the country's heroin handout experiment to
techniques used by customs authorities in the world's largest port,
Rotterdam, to prevent drug trafficking.

Describing his visit as "intensive and useful," McCaffrey said he respects
those involved in the fight against drugs.

"I walk away from this visit with some things that I think will assist us
in developing a more sensible American drug policy," McCaffrey said.

But he also expressed some concerns, warning of a production surge in the
Netherlands of amphetemines, the synthetic hallucinogen Ecstacy and
Nederwiet, a potent Dutch-grown marijuana.

He also disagreed with the Dutch's views on cannabis, saying he and other
U.S. officials are "adamantly opposed to the use of marijuana by our society."

Although still illegal, the sale and consumption of small amounts of soft
drugs like hashish and marijuana are tolerated by Dutch authorities. Hard
drugs like cocaine and heroin cannot be sold in coffee shops, but are also
cheap and easily available.

The Dutch publicized statistics disputing McCaffrey's claims and stood by
their often-criticized policy.

Checked-by: Mike Gogulski