The problem is that we're going the other way in The Netherlands right now.
The red light district is being slowly dismantled [1], new draconian laws are being introduced to shut the coffee shops down (with a Think Of The Children argument) [2] and foreigners are being banned from using coffee shops [3].
I blame the ageing population: the "boomers" [4] have had their fun, but they're getting older now and young people getting high only "disturbs" the peace. They're the biggest voting block, so they get their way (yet again).
So yeah, I don't see the Western world changing any time soon.
The red light district is being slowly dismantled [1], new draconian laws are being introduced to shut the coffee shops down (with a Think Of The Children argument) [2] and foreigners are being banned from using coffee shops [3].
I blame the ageing population: the "boomers" [4] have had their fun, but they're getting older now and young people getting high only "disturbs" the peace. They're the biggest voting block, so they get their way (yet again).
So yeah, I don't see the Western world changing any time soon.
[1] http://www.businessweek.com/news/2011-12-15/netherlands-stop...
[2] (sorry I couldn't find an English language version) http://www.cbs.nl/nl-NL/menu/themas/onderwijs/publicaties/ar...
[3] http://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/travelnews/8961513/Amsterd...
[4] They've even got their own party: http://50pluspartij.nl/