Ralph Mennes
Ralph Mennes is senior researcher and consultant at Breuer&Intraval, an independent research and advisory firm with over 30 years of experience on coffeeshop policy. With more than a decade of experience, Ralph has significantly contributed to various projects, particularly in the field of public policy and social research. Notably, Ralph has conducted extensive research on coffeeshops, providing valuable insights into their social and environmental impacts. He is also one of the lead researchers on the Closed Cannabis Supply Chain Experiment in the Netherlands, an initiative of the Dutch government aimed at regulating and studying the cannabis market.
Session
Background: In the Netherlands, local authorities permit the sale of cannabis for personal use through establishments known as coffeeshops. The Dutch Coffeeshop Policy aims to mitigate health risks, curb organized crime, and minimize public disturbances. Despite receiving both praise and criticism, there is a lack of comprehensive understanding regarding the policy’s objectives. This gap hinders the ability to refine the policy to better achieve its goals. Therefore, this study aims to develop a framework that assists local policymakers in enhancing their coffeeshop policies by identifying and improving various aspects.
Methods: A PRISMA-guided systematic review was conducted to identify publications related to the objectives of the Dutch Coffeeshop Policy. A total of 24 publications were included and categorized into three groups: policy development, policy effects and outcomes, and local contextual factors.
Results: The Dutch Coffeeshop Policy appears to be effective in protecting public health and maintaining the quality of public spaces, but its impact on combating organized crime is relatively limited. The policy’s effectiveness is influenced by various factors, including political institutions, cultural support, and local circumstances.
Conclusions: Based on the findings, a theoretical framework was developed to organize the links between policy development, effects, outcomes, and local contextual factors. This framework can guide the design of evidence-based soft drug policies and highlight effective regulatory components. The study encourages researchers and policymakers to utilize this framework in future studies.