Even small-scale is illegal. We are not as liberal as our reputation. The conservative and christian parties have been in power for several decades now, and drug policies have only become less liberal under their governance.

Ironically, some of the US states are now among the most liberal and forward-thinking in the West - the Dutch are becoming more and more backwards (I live there).

Indeed. I should have said illegal _and actively prosecuted_, unlike small-scale trade at the Amsterdam coffeeshops that most foreigners are familiar with.

That sounds like the worst of both worlds: allow a massive market to develop and then funnel the money into the criminal sector…