Can we get high without feeling guilty? Known as one of the drug capitals of the world, Amsterdam has got all the drugs you can dream of. And we like to share, exporting most of the drugs produced here around the world.
Party, pills, policy
Don't miss WorldTalks Amsterdam | Dope City. Here's what you'll hear about at the event:
Amsterdam is known as the ultimate city to get high and the epicentre of the Dutch "narco-state". But the more we know about the drug industry - think of the war on drugs and polluted drug waste - the more we might wonder: can we get sky high without a guilt trip?
With popular series like Gomorra and Narcos showing the social downside of our thriving drug system, recreative users are increasingly ashamed of the criminal system they sustain. What is the impact of our drug use and are there any alternatives?
In 2018, 4,6 percent of adults had smoked a joint in the past month, making cannabis by far the most popular drug. The use of other substances, such as coke and GHB, was 1,9 percent. How could better, innovative laws change the core of the industry? This edition looks into alternative scenarios for a more healthy drug system and the quest for legalisation.
WorldTalks Amsterdam Dope City programme
Here are the speakers at WorldTalks Amsterdam | Dope City:
Thijs Roes
The world of drugs has no secrets for Thijs Roes, journalist, documentary maker and writer. He has been investigating the developments within the field of drugs for years, focusing on the quest for legalisation and new, innovative laws. What is the current state of the drug policy? And would legalising drugs influence the guilt some people feel about recreational drug use?
Justin Samgar
There will be Spoken word by Justin Samgar, founder of Spoken Agency. Expect to hear about the gentle buzz of being high.
Janneke Nijmeijer
As the founder of Fair Trade Coke, Janneke Nijmeijer looks for constructive, sustainable and humane alternatives for the War on Drugs. Our lifestyles and consumption influence the social conditions elsewhere, should we worry? And are fair trade drugs an actual option or still hopes for the future?
Nadia Shah
In the new NPO documentary series The Cocaine Trail, director Nadia Shah dives into the world of cocaine. The drug enters Europe in record quantities and the use of a line of coke - for a little fun in the weekend or an energy boost after a day of shining in the workplace - seems to be quite normal nowadays. In the series, six millennials undertake a journey to the place where their coke originally comes from, Colombia.
WorldTalks at International Theatre Amsterdam
Here's what to expect:
- What: WorldTalks Amsterdam | Dope City
- Date: Thursday, February 6, 2020
- Time: 6pm-7pm (Doors open from 5.30pm)
- Bites & music after. Find out more on the ITA website.
Register for free tickets and a free drink on the ITA website. This event is in English.
Get inspired
WorldTalks Amsterdam, an urban talk show by ITA & Pakhuis de Zwijger, brings together drinks and food for thought. Every two weeks, they connect worldwide urban trends and challenges to urban daily life, from greener cities to future love scenarios and digital innovation. Discover what’s next, check out inspiring speakers & meet new folks.
WorldTalks believes that there is a globally-minded audience in Amsterdam hungry for insights, connections and experiences beyond national borders. This is a free event for both recently relocated expats and long-term residents. The doors are open to everyone interested in a global perspective.
Whether you are an expat, a Dutch local who's internationally oriented, or simply a traveller passing through, you're all welcome to join the free events. WorldTalks Amsterdam is powered by Rabobank Amsterdam.