This is being written in the new Cannabis College located just down the street from the Hemp Museum in the "Red light district" – the oldest part of Amsterdam.

Down stairs there is a city-approved indoor garden of cannabis plants, some in full bloom. Passers-by can look in a peep-hole in the window and see the plants. For a small donation they can stroll through the garden and smell the flowers. And upstairs they can learn about the other 24,999 other uses of the plant!

There is much to report from here.

1. The Dutch government has finally taken realistic steps to study medical marijuana. Because people here needing medical marijuana could get it at a discount from some coffee shops, there has been less pressure on the Dutch government than in prohibitionist countries to really look at the issue. Ironically, Dutch doctors do not seem to be very well informed about the medical uses of cannabis.

2. The most recent survey of Dutch public opinion found for the first time that a majority of the Dutch people actually approve of marijuana use. Remember that Dutch policy has been one of "toleration." "Tolerance" means acceptance of things we disapprove of – except in America where "tolerance" is interpreted to mean "recommended as completely safe for small children who are about to perform brain surgery."

3. While a large number of coffee shops were closed down during the last year, this did not reflect any real change in Dutch policy. The Dutch are convinced that their policies are working.

4. The bizarre behavior of Drug Czar Barry McCaffrey on his visit here finally convinced the Dutch government that the US government is not interested in the truth. For American readers of this page it might seem very odd that they had not figured this out before now, but they really just did not want to believe it -- until the Drug Bizarro convinced them. In this regard, his visit worked very much to the advantage of the anti-prohibitionist movement here and around the world.

5. It is unfair to compare cities on the basis of casual observations, but I am struck by the contrast between London and Amsterdam. While London is a truly magnificent city, it was sad to see young junkies sleeping in so many doorways and begging with English good manners for "any change." There are very few junkies in Amsterdam and they are mostly older.