Word Study. Exercise 19. Study the meaning of the following words and word combinations:

Exercise 19. Study the meaning of the following words and word combinations:

zero tolerance – the policy of punishing someone, even for a minor offence;

to decriminalize – to make something legal;

to eradicate – to get rid of something;

recreational use – using drugs occasionally, to relax, not an addict;

addicted to – when you cannot give something up;

intravenous – injecting drugs into a vein;

to educate – to inform;

high – under the effect of drug;

a ‘coffeeshop’ – in the Netherlands the term ‘coffeeshop’ has come to mean a place where hashish and marijuana are available.

Exercise 20. Read the title and introduction to the text and answer the questions:

1. What problem is discussed in the text?

2. What is a ‘coffeeshop’?

3. Is the crime rate in Holland increasing?

4. What steps does Holland take to combat smuggling?

5. What can you order in a ‘coffeeshop’?

6. Is there any drug ‘menu’?

7. What “services” are there in a ‘coffeeshop’?

‘Coffeeshop’ Situation

Amsterdam’s relaxed policy towards the legal availability of high quality weed and hash is common knowledge all over the world but the word coffee shop in Amsterdam means something totally different to what coffee shop means in any other country around the world. The Dutch join the two words together (coffeeshop) and it takes on an entire new meaning. A ‘coffeeshop’ in Amsterdam is not just your average coffee shop.

These places vary in size and style but not all sell coffee even though most have coffee for sale as their primary purpose is the selling of cannabis and hash.

All of them are licensed by the Amsterdam city council and subject to numerous regulations. Meanwhile, the rest of the world continues its unending ‘war on drugs’.

So the government reduced the amount of soft drugs an individual can possess, from thirty grams to five. But maybe Holland should go further. If they decriminalize drugs, maybe they can wipe them out altogether, just like France and America.

No matter what happens in the long run, every person can still go into any ‘coffeeshop’, proudly march up to the bartender, and announce in a loud voice: “I want to buy some hashish, and then I’m going to smoke it”. Most places will even have rolling papers and filter tips on the bar.

There are several types of hash and pot, which have been bred to produce different highs. Each ‘coffeeshop’ has its own name for its weed, even if it comes from the same place. Just don’t let the big menu scare you. (Yes, they have a menu.). Hash comes in two basic varieties: blond and black. The black hash hits a little harder and knocks you out a little more. Locals smoke the lighter stuff.

Any place that calls itself a ‘coffeeshop’ is saying three things: 1) I have pot and hash for you to buy. 2) For the price of a coffee or beer, you may sit here and smoke your own as well. 3) You may also smoke on my outdoor terrace even in front of the police.

There are at present around some 300 licensed ‘coffeeshops’ in Amsterdam but the number is half what it was 10 years ago and the 70 odd bar/‘coffeeshops’ which sold alcohol and cannabis known as cannabis cafés are almost all gone with one or two only left and very soon they must also decide if they are a bar or a ‘coffeeshop’, new law says they cannot be both.

Exercise 21. Translate the paragraph which describesa ‘coffeeshop’.

Exercise 22. Find the paragraphs which describe best the struggle of other countries with drug abuse.

Exercise 23. Summarize the text by listing:

a) the ways to stop crimes

b) the arguments against selling drugs in coffee shops

c) the steps the countries should take to solve the problem.

Exercise 24. Fill in the gaps using the words from the box.

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