Since I'm from Holland, I'm pretty cool with the use of weed, pot, marijuana.
It's used to mellow out, not to pick you up. So what's the big deal, especially in the off season?
... oh right, it's illegal over there :')
It's illegal over there too, if I'm not mistaken, just not enforced.
EDIT: Wiki sez:
Cannabis remains a controlled substance in the Netherlands and both possession and production for personal use are still misdemeanors, punishable by fine. Coffee shops are also technically illegal according to the statutes but, as has been said, are flourishing nonetheless. However, a policy of non-enforcement has led to a situation where reliance upon non-enforcement has become common, and because of this the courts have ruled against the government when individual cases were prosecuted.
Yep, that's about true.
The main thing is though, they allow it nonetheless. And believe me; it's a good thing. Everyone in Holland knows what it does, and knows how and when to use it. More importantly; kids get educated in the hazards of drug use in a very real way. We've had a former addict talk at our school, we've had biology classes about what it does to your body and what it does is pretty much common knowledge.
Since smoking marijuana is something that makes you slow, mellow, etc., it doesn't really *help* you for anything other than relaxing. This means people know not to use it when driving, not to use it when you have to go to school, etc etc. It happens, but I doubt it happens more than in other countries.
The best thing (imo) is that it regulates itself, because of the public stigmata drug-users tend to be subject to. You don't want to be known as a pot-head, but it's okay if you smoke a joint every now and then.
