VIENNA – A new travelling exhibition comparing the divergent cannabis policies of France and the Netherlands will premiere in Vienna on March 12, coinciding with the annual meeting of the UN Commission on Narcotic Drugs (CND).
The year 2026 marks a dual 50th anniversary: the birth of the Dutch tolerance policy for cannabis, which paved the way for their world-famous coffeeshops, and the publication of ‘L’Appel du 18 Joint’, a plea by a group of prominent French citizens for decriminalization of cannabis.
The exhibition, ‘1976-2026 – The French/Dutch Paradox in the Global Drug War’, explores half a century of cannabis policy within these two founding members of the European Union, contrasting pragmatic regulation with rigid prohibition.
Visitors can trace the evolution of the Dutch model, up to the current experiment with regulated cannabis cultivation, supplying around 80 coffeeshops. The contrast with France is stark. The 1976 appeal has evolved into a French “420”, with demonstrations for legalization all over France on June 18. Yet the law remains strict and repression persists. Despite decades of criminalisation and mass arrests, France continues to see the highest cannabis consumption rates in Europe.
What’s on display? The heart of the exhibition is a narrative wall featuring photos, illustrations and English texts. A display case contains historical artefacts depicting Dutch and French cannabis culture. There’s a live cannabis plant in a cage and a section dedicated to the late Joep Oomen (1961-2016), drug reform activist extraordinaire and co-founder of NGOs Encod and stichting VOC.
The project is a collaboration between Encod (European coalition for just and effective policies), stichting VOC, Cannabis Sans Frontières, FAAAT and the Cannabis Embassy.
Nine cities in seven countries
Following its Vienna debut, the exhibition will travel to Bilbao, Berlin, Paris, Brussels, Prague, Amsterdam, The Hague and Eindhoven. The goal is to show it in nine cities in seven countries. Leaflets with translations of the exhibition texts in five languages are available, as well as a comprehensive 24-page guide featuring further information and imagery.
Vienna: March 12
The exhibition will be stationed in front of the Vienna International Centre (VIC) on Thursday March 12. Board members from Encod and stichting VOC will be on site to talk to visitors, international delegates and journalists.
Website: www.frenchdutchparadox.org
Gaby Kozar, Encod coordinator (Vienna): gaby@encod.org Phone: +43 699 123 790 86
More information: www.voc-nederland.org
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