Research in 60 seconds: Dutch Drug Policy

Explaining your research can seem daunting, difficult and perhaps even downright impossible! How about explaining it in only 60 seconds?

This is exactly what Michelle Bruijn does with her research on Dutch drug policy and its contradictory elements. Michelle is a PhD researcher at the Faculty of Law at the University of Groningen. She entered this video as part of the University of Groningen's Sustainable Society Impact Award 2016. Watch her video below to find out more about her PhD research:

Michelle Bruijn's research: The Netherlands established a drug policy with some contradictory elements. On the one hand, coffee shops are allowed to sell small quantities of cannabis. But on the other hand, it’s still prohibited to professionally grow cannabis and to distribute it to coffee shops. In other words: the front door of the coffee shop is regulated, but the backdoor stays outlawed. Moreover, mayors are entitled to close public and private premises, including private housing, when drug-related activities occur; doors and windows are sealed and entire families are evicted. My research analyses both aspects of the drug policy to develop a strategy based on reducing drug-related crime but also on strengthening human rights.