{"id":91701,"date":"2018-11-08T10:56:03","date_gmt":"2018-11-08T09:56:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/?p=91701"},"modified":"2025-12-19T11:23:08","modified_gmt":"2025-12-19T10:23:08","slug":"should-xtc-be-legalised-good-idea-says-this-professor","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/2018\/11\/08\/should-xtc-be-legalised-good-idea-says-this-professor\/","title":{"rendered":"Should XTC be legalised? Good idea, says this professor"},"content":{"rendered":"<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1600\" height=\"1171\" src=\"https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2018\/11\/08095005\/De-kwestie-xtc-bas-van-der-schot-1600x1171.jpg?image-crop-positioner-ts=1766139158\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-91714\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2018\/11\/08095005\/De-kwestie-xtc-bas-van-der-schot-1600x1171.jpg?image-crop-positioner-ts=1766139158 1600w, https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2018\/11\/08095005\/De-kwestie-xtc-bas-van-der-schot-300x220.jpg?image-crop-positioner-ts=1766139158 300w, https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2018\/11\/08095005\/De-kwestie-xtc-bas-van-der-schot-875x641.jpg?image-crop-positioner-ts=1766139158 875w, https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2018\/11\/08095005\/De-kwestie-xtc-bas-van-der-schot-1280x937.jpg?image-crop-positioner-ts=1766139158 1280w, https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2018\/11\/08095005\/De-kwestie-xtc-bas-van-der-schot-150x110.jpg?image-crop-positioner-ts=1766139158 150w, https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2018\/11\/08095005\/De-kwestie-xtc-bas-van-der-schot-225x165.jpg?image-crop-positioner-ts=1766139158 225w, https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2018\/11\/08095005\/De-kwestie-xtc-bas-van-der-schot.jpg?image-crop-positioner-ts=1766139158 2000w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1600px) 100vw, 1600px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><p data-component=\"image-credits\" class=\"flex flex-wrap gap-2 items-center text-base\">\n\t<span aria-hidden=\"true\"><svg width=\"24\" height=\"24\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\">\n<path d=\"M19.5 5.25H16.9012L15.6234 3.33375C15.555 3.23114 15.4623 3.147 15.3535 3.08879C15.2448 3.03057 15.1233 3.00007 15 3H9C8.87665 3.00007 8.75522 3.03057 8.64648 3.08879C8.53773 3.147 8.44502 3.23114 8.37656 3.33375L7.09781 5.25H4.5C3.90326 5.25 3.33097 5.48705 2.90901 5.90901C2.48705 6.33097 2.25 6.90326 2.25 7.5V18C2.25 18.5967 2.48705 19.169 2.90901 19.591C3.33097 20.0129 3.90326 20.25 4.5 20.25H19.5C20.0967 20.25 20.669 20.0129 21.091 19.591C21.5129 19.169 21.75 18.5967 21.75 18V7.5C21.75 6.90326 21.5129 6.33097 21.091 5.90901C20.669 5.48705 20.0967 5.25 19.5 5.25ZM15.375 12.375C15.375 13.0425 15.1771 13.695 14.8062 14.25C14.4354 14.8051 13.9083 15.2376 13.2916 15.4931C12.6749 15.7485 11.9963 15.8154 11.3416 15.6852C10.6869 15.5549 10.0855 15.2335 9.61351 14.7615C9.14151 14.2895 8.82007 13.6881 8.68985 13.0334C8.55962 12.3787 8.62646 11.7001 8.88191 11.0834C9.13735 10.4667 9.56993 9.93964 10.125 9.56879C10.68 9.19794 11.3325 9 12 9C12.8951 9 13.7535 9.35558 14.3865 9.98851C15.0194 10.6214 15.375 11.4799 15.375 12.375Z\" fill=\"currentColor\"\/>\n<\/svg>\n<\/span>\n\t<span class=\"sr-only\">Image by:<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t<span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/persons\/bas-van-der-schot\/\" class=\"underline hocus:no-underline decoration-1 underline-offset-2\">Bas van der Schot<\/a>\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure><p>Now that the illegal production of XTC is resulting in uncontrollable problems, many people are saying the drug should be legalised. Would that be a sensible idea? Ingmar Franken, Professor of Clinical Psychology and an expert on addiction, believes it would be: \u201cI\u2019m convinced that adults can deal with this in an adult manner.\u201d<\/p>\n\t<div data-name=\"acf\/featured-text\" class=\"md:mt-6 p-4 md:p-6 lg:p-8 bg-sand-300 theme-sand:bg-white theme-violet:bg-white theme-mocha:bg-white wysiwyg *:last:mb-0!\" >\n\t\t<p>Ingmar Franken is a Professor of Clinical Psychology at the Erasmus School of Social and Behavioural Sciences. He specialises in the psychology and neuropsychology of addiction and substance use.<\/p>\n\n\t<\/div>\n\n\t<div data-name=\"acf\/posts-list\" >\n\t\t\n\t\t<div class=\"space-y-6 md:space-y-8\">\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"text-lg md:text-xl\">Read more<\/h2>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<ul class=\"grid items-strecth grid-cols-1 gap-2 md:gap-4 lg:gap-8\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"@container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n<div data-component=\"teaser-post-small\" class=\"block-theme-sand  relative flex h-full bg-sand-300\n\tblock-theme-violet:bg-white block-theme-violet:text-purple block-theme-mocha:bg-sand-500 block-theme-mocha:text-brown\n\tblock-theme-sand:bg-sand-300 block-theme-sand:text-neutral-900\n\tblock-theme-violet:outline-purple-100 block-theme-violet:outline-1 block-theme-violet:outline-t-0\n\ttheme-mocha:bg-white! theme-violet:bg-white! theme-sand:bg-white!\n\tflex-row gap-4 @md:gap-8 p-4 @md:p-6\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"image:w-full image:aspect-square image:object-cover shrink-0 size-17.5 @sm:size-21.25 @md:size-30 @lg:size-40\">\n\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"460\" height=\"341\" src=\"https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2018\/10\/24162701\/em-drugs-tong.jpg?image-crop-positioner-ts=1766139157\" class=\"attachment-square_lg size-square_lg\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2018\/10\/24162701\/em-drugs-tong.jpg?image-crop-positioner-ts=1766139157 2000w, https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2018\/10\/24162701\/em-drugs-tong-300x223.jpg?image-crop-positioner-ts=1766139157 300w, https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2018\/10\/24162701\/em-drugs-tong-875x649.jpg?image-crop-positioner-ts=1766139157 875w, https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2018\/10\/24162701\/em-drugs-tong-1280x950.jpg?image-crop-positioner-ts=1766139157 1280w, https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2018\/10\/24162701\/em-drugs-tong-1600x1187.jpg?image-crop-positioner-ts=1766139157 1600w, https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2018\/10\/24162701\/em-drugs-tong-150x111.jpg?image-crop-positioner-ts=1766139157 150w, https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2018\/10\/24162701\/em-drugs-tong-225x167.jpg?image-crop-positioner-ts=1766139157 225w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 460px) 100vw, 460px\" \/>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\n\t<div class=\"flex flex-col gap-2 md:gap-4 \">\n\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"text-md @lg:text-lg\">\n\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/2018\/10\/25\/drug-use-has-increased-among-eur-students-international-students-are-greatest-users\/\" class=\"absolute-link text-current hocus:underline inline-block\">\n\t\t\t\tDrug use has increased among EUR students; international students are greatest users\n\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t<\/h3>\n\n\t\t<div class=\"flex flex-wrap gap-4 items-center\">\n\t\t\t<span class=\"sr-only\">Gepubliceerd op:<\/span>\n\t\t\t<time class=\"text-sm font-soehne text-neutral-900\" datetime=\"2018-10-25\">25 October 2018<\/time>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t<ul data-component=\"list-badges\" class=\"flex items-center gap-2 flex-wrap\" aria-label=\"Geplaatst in categorie\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<li>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div data-component=\"badge\" class=\"block-theme-violet:bg-purple font-soehne font-bold text-sm bg-brown-600 block-theme-violet:bg-purple text-white py-[2px] px-2\">\n\t\t\t\t\tStudent life\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t<\/ul>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/ul>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<p><strong>A recent survey of 1,584 students conducted by Erasmus Magazine showed that more than half of EUR students used drugs in the past twelve months. Were you shocked by that number?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>\u201cFirst and foremost, that sample probably wasn\u2019t entirely representative. When you ask people about substance use, most of your respondents will be people with a greater-than-average interest in substance use. Having said that, I do think it\u2019s obvious that the percentages are considerably higher now than they were a few years ago, when I conducted a similar student survey myself. As far as I\u2019m concerned, there are no grounds for major worry. It seems most drugs are used recreationally and in small quantities.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><strong>The most commonly used drugs are nitrous oxide, MDMA and cocaine. XTC tops the list. Is there a reason why this drug is so popular?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>\u201cIts popularity waxes and wanes. XTC, like cocaine, wasn\u2019t cool for a while, but in the last few years we\u2019ve seen a spike in its use. Among other reasons, this is due to the popularity of festivals and electronic dance music raves, where the drug is often used.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><strong>An increase in the XTC use rate has been observed in the rest of the country, as well. Figures released by the Netherlands Institute of Mental Health and Addiction show that 7.7 per cent of Dutch people over the age of 18 have taken XTC at some point in their lives. That\u2019s a million people. Is this damaging our public health?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>\u201cI always distinguish between absolute and relative damage. In absolute terms, every substance you don\u2019t need to keep your body healthy poses a risk, regardless of whether it\u2019s legal or illegal. So it\u2019s better not to use XTC. The next question, then, is how unhealthy XTC is in relation to other substances. Here we may list about three harmful effects. The pill may be impure. You may be hypersensitive to the active ingredient, which may also happen with a harmless substance such as paracetamol. And perhaps you don\u2019t look after yourself properly while on the drug. As a result, you may take too much, or perhaps you\u2019re not drinking enough water, causing you to become overheated or dehydrated.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe know that people die [after taking XTC] every once in a while. But it has been estimated that only eight people die of XTC annually, which is nothing compared to the number of people who die due to the consumption of alcohol or tobacco. The British pharmacologist David Nutt drew up a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/science\/2009\/nov\/02\/david-nutt-dangerous-drug-list\">ranking<\/a> of the top-20 most dangerous substances. XTC was ranked 18th.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\t<p><strong>And on top of that, the risk of addiction is negligible.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>\u201cThat\u2019s right. Both alcohol and cigarettes are very addictive. Addiction is largely characterised by an increasingly frequent consumption of the substance. For instance, alcoholics will start drinking alcohol every day. There is no such dependency when you take XTC, due to the drug\u2019s mechanism of action. What happens [when you take XTC] is that all the serotonin in your body will be released at once. And the problem with serotonin \u2013 although perhaps it\u2019s actually more of an advantage as far as this is concerned \u2013 is that it takes a while for one\u2019s serotonin levels to be replenished. In other words, you can take a second pill soon after the first, but it won\u2019t work.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><strong>So, to sum up, XTC poses less of a health risk than legal substances such as alcohol, and compared with other drugs, it is hardly addictive, or not addictive at all. It sounds like this drug has nothing but benefits.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>\u201cWell, it does give some users considerable hangovers, the so-called \u2018Tuesday dip\u2019\u00a0 experienced by many users because their serotonin has been depleted. If you regularly use XTC, or if you take too much of it, you may suffer depression, memory problems and loss of concentration.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><strong>But these effects are temporary, right?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>\u201cYes, but they may interfere with your work or studies if you don\u2019t feel fit enough to do any work until Wednesday. This means you\u2019re basically taking half a week to recover from your weekend. And we\u2019re not quite sure about its long-term effects.\u201d<\/p>\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{&quot;imageId&quot;:&quot;69e772f65dbda&quot;}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"69e772f65dbda\" class=\"wp-block-image size-full wp-lightbox-container\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1527\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2018\/11\/08094956\/de-kwestie-xtc-dinsdagdip-EN-bas-van-der-schot.jpg?image-crop-positioner-ts=1766139158\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-91710\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2018\/11\/08094956\/de-kwestie-xtc-dinsdagdip-EN-bas-van-der-schot.jpg?image-crop-positioner-ts=1766139158 2000w, https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2018\/11\/08094956\/de-kwestie-xtc-dinsdagdip-EN-bas-van-der-schot-300x229.jpg?image-crop-positioner-ts=1766139158 300w, https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2018\/11\/08094956\/de-kwestie-xtc-dinsdagdip-EN-bas-van-der-schot-875x668.jpg?image-crop-positioner-ts=1766139158 875w, https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2018\/11\/08094956\/de-kwestie-xtc-dinsdagdip-EN-bas-van-der-schot-1280x977.jpg?image-crop-positioner-ts=1766139158 1280w, https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2018\/11\/08094956\/de-kwestie-xtc-dinsdagdip-EN-bas-van-der-schot-1600x1222.jpg?image-crop-positioner-ts=1766139158 1600w, 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5.48705 20.0967 5.25 19.5 5.25ZM15.375 12.375C15.375 13.0425 15.1771 13.695 14.8062 14.25C14.4354 14.8051 13.9083 15.2376 13.2916 15.4931C12.6749 15.7485 11.9963 15.8154 11.3416 15.6852C10.6869 15.5549 10.0855 15.2335 9.61351 14.7615C9.14151 14.2895 8.82007 13.6881 8.68985 13.0334C8.55962 12.3787 8.62646 11.7001 8.88191 11.0834C9.13735 10.4667 9.56993 9.93964 10.125 9.56879C10.68 9.19794 11.3325 9 12 9C12.8951 9 13.7535 9.35558 14.3865 9.98851C15.0194 10.6214 15.375 11.4799 15.375 12.375Z\" fill=\"currentColor\"\/>\n<\/svg>\n<\/span>\n\t<span class=\"sr-only\">Image by:<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t<span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/persons\/bas-van-der-schot\/\" class=\"underline hocus:no-underline decoration-1 underline-offset-2\">Bas van der Schot<\/a>\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\t<div data-name=\"acf\/quote\" class=\"align\" >\n\t\t<div class=\"\">\n\t\t\t<figure data-component=\"quote-with-author\" class=\"@container\">\n\t<blockquote class=\"text-md italic @2xl:text-xl @4xl:text-2xl text-purple\">\n\t\t\u2018Just because our supermarkets sell alcohol doesn\u2019t mean we are all wasted every weekend\u2019\n\t<\/blockquote>\n\n\t<\/figure>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<p><strong>Have you ever taken XTC yourself?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>\u201cWell\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n<p><strong>Why are you hesitating to answer the question?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>\u201cI don\u2019t wish to set the wrong example, being a professor and an addiction expert and all that. But yes, I did take some, many years ago.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><strong>I assume that you used the drug recreationally and that you knew what you were doing. Don\u2019t you think that\u2019s true for most people?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>\u201cI\u2019m convinced that adults can deal with this in an adult manner, as they do with many substances. Just because our supermarkets sell alcohol doesn\u2019t mean we are all wasted every weekend. Just because cannabis is semi-legal here doesn\u2019t mean we spend all day in coffee shops. Although many foreigners are surprised to hear the latter.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><strong>So why is XTC a banned substance?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>\u201cMost scientists are aware that whether or not a substance is banned has little to do with the health risks it poses. Some substances are accepted because they have been used for a long time, are part of our culture and are hard to eradicate, such as alcohol and tobacco. Other substances are declared dangerous pretty much as soon as they appear on the market. And then there are substances that are somewhere in between: substances that are legal, but must be prescribed by a doctor. Ritalin is basically some kind of amphetamine, and we are currently seeing huge problems with painkillers that are rather like heroin. In terms of their mechanism of action and the risks associated with them, these substances aren\u2019t all that different from \u2018drugs\u2019, only the pharmaceutical industry makes an absolute fortune producing them. It\u2019s almost random, the way some substances are banned while others aren\u2019t.\u201d<\/p>\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{&quot;imageId&quot;:&quot;69e772f661458&quot;}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"69e772f661458\" class=\"wp-block-image size-full wp-lightbox-container\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1817\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2018\/11\/08095001\/de-kwestie-xtc-politiek-EN-bas-van-der-schot.jpg?image-crop-positioner-ts=1766139158\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-91712\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2018\/11\/08095001\/de-kwestie-xtc-politiek-EN-bas-van-der-schot.jpg?image-crop-positioner-ts=1766139158 2000w, https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2018\/11\/08095001\/de-kwestie-xtc-politiek-EN-bas-van-der-schot-300x273.jpg?image-crop-positioner-ts=1766139158 300w, https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2018\/11\/08095001\/de-kwestie-xtc-politiek-EN-bas-van-der-schot-875x795.jpg?image-crop-positioner-ts=1766139158 875w, https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2018\/11\/08095001\/de-kwestie-xtc-politiek-EN-bas-van-der-schot-1280x1163.jpg?image-crop-positioner-ts=1766139158 1280w, https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2018\/11\/08095001\/de-kwestie-xtc-politiek-EN-bas-van-der-schot-1600x1454.jpg?image-crop-positioner-ts=1766139158 1600w, https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2018\/11\/08095001\/de-kwestie-xtc-politiek-EN-bas-van-der-schot-150x136.jpg?image-crop-positioner-ts=1766139158 150w, https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2018\/11\/08095001\/de-kwestie-xtc-politiek-EN-bas-van-der-schot-225x204.jpg?image-crop-positioner-ts=1766139158 225w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" \/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\taria-label=\"Enlarge\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.imageButtonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.imageButtonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><p data-component=\"image-credits\" class=\"flex flex-wrap gap-2 items-center text-base\">\n\t<span aria-hidden=\"true\"><svg width=\"24\" height=\"24\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\">\n<path d=\"M19.5 5.25H16.9012L15.6234 3.33375C15.555 3.23114 15.4623 3.147 15.3535 3.08879C15.2448 3.03057 15.1233 3.00007 15 3H9C8.87665 3.00007 8.75522 3.03057 8.64648 3.08879C8.53773 3.147 8.44502 3.23114 8.37656 3.33375L7.09781 5.25H4.5C3.90326 5.25 3.33097 5.48705 2.90901 5.90901C2.48705 6.33097 2.25 6.90326 2.25 7.5V18C2.25 18.5967 2.48705 19.169 2.90901 19.591C3.33097 20.0129 3.90326 20.25 4.5 20.25H19.5C20.0967 20.25 20.669 20.0129 21.091 19.591C21.5129 19.169 21.75 18.5967 21.75 18V7.5C21.75 6.90326 21.5129 6.33097 21.091 5.90901C20.669 5.48705 20.0967 5.25 19.5 5.25ZM15.375 12.375C15.375 13.0425 15.1771 13.695 14.8062 14.25C14.4354 14.8051 13.9083 15.2376 13.2916 15.4931C12.6749 15.7485 11.9963 15.8154 11.3416 15.6852C10.6869 15.5549 10.0855 15.2335 9.61351 14.7615C9.14151 14.2895 8.82007 13.6881 8.68985 13.0334C8.55962 12.3787 8.62646 11.7001 8.88191 11.0834C9.13735 10.4667 9.56993 9.93964 10.125 9.56879C10.68 9.19794 11.3325 9 12 9C12.8951 9 13.7535 9.35558 14.3865 9.98851C15.0194 10.6214 15.375 11.4799 15.375 12.375Z\" fill=\"currentColor\"\/>\n<\/svg>\n<\/span>\n\t<span class=\"sr-only\">Image by:<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t<span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/persons\/bas-van-der-schot\/\" class=\"underline hocus:no-underline decoration-1 underline-offset-2\">Bas van der Schot<\/a>\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure><p><strong>By now the costs of the fight against illegal drugs are spiralling out of control. A few weeks ago, Dutch comedian\u00a0Arjen Lubach presented some calculations demonstrating that the War on Drugs, which was initiated by Richard Nixon in 1971, has cost the American government 20 billion dollars annually since that time, even though the number of drug addicts has not decreased in those forty years.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>\u201cOn the contrary, the number of drug addicts is actually rising in the USA. The country is currently suffering an opioid epidemic, with entire villages being addicted to prescription drugs<em>.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n<p><strong>At any rate, the War on Drugs is not having the right effect. The Netherlands, too, is having difficulty keeping the production of and trade in drugs in check. Wouldn\u2019t society be better off if popular and relatively harmless substances such as XTC were legal?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>\u201cI\u2019d support such a policy. It would allow us to control the whole thing, rather than finding jerry cans leaking chemical waste left over from the production of drugs all over the place. We\u2019ve reached the point where we must weigh the costs of banning substances against the benefits.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><strong>If we were to legalise XTC, how should we go about it?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>\u201cThere should be a lower age limit. You can use substances sensibly when you\u2019re thirty, but you can\u2019t when you\u2019re eighteen. Studies have shown that if people start using substances at a young age, there is a certain level of abandon. And the earlier people start using XTC, the sooner they move on to other drugs, as well. We know that the human brain keeps developing until age twenty-five, so perhaps that would be the right age. But politicians aren\u2019t sure what to do with the subject, so they keep putting off the decision. In the meantime, our drug policy is being overtaken left, right and centre by other countries. Even in certain American states, cannabis is no longer illegal.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\t<div data-name=\"acf\/persons\" class=\"mt-6 md:mt-8 lg:mt-10\" >\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"sr-only\">De redactie<\/h2>\n\t\t\n\t\t<div class=\"space-y-6\">\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<ul class=\"grid grid-cols-1 md:grid-cols-2 gap-4 md:gap-8 md:items-center\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div data-component=\"teaser-person\" class=\"relative flex gap-4 items-center md:gap-8\">\n\n\t\t\t<span class=\"image:rounded-full image:size-20 image:aspect-square image:object-cover md:image:size-36 shrink-0\">\n\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"567\" height=\"567\" src=\"https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2015\/12\/19102430\/Geert-Maarse2.jpg?image-crop-positioner-ts=1766139265\" class=\"attachment-large size-large\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2015\/12\/19102430\/Geert-Maarse2.jpg?image-crop-positioner-ts=1766139265 567w, https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2015\/12\/19102430\/Geert-Maarse2-300x300.jpg?image-crop-positioner-ts=1766139265 300w, https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2015\/12\/19102430\/Geert-Maarse2-150x150.jpg?image-crop-positioner-ts=1766139265 150w, https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2015\/12\/19102430\/Geert-Maarse2-100x100.jpg?image-crop-positioner-ts=1766139265 100w, https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2015\/12\/19102430\/Geert-Maarse2-225x225.jpg?image-crop-positioner-ts=1766139265 225w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 567px) 100vw, 567px\" \/>\n\t\t<\/span>\n\t\n\t<div>\n\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/persons\/geert-maarse\/\" class=\"absolute-link font-tiempos-headline underline hocus:no-underline decoration-1 underline-offset-2 text-lg text-current\">Geert Maarse<\/a>\n\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/ul>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n\n\t<div data-name=\"acf\/posts\" class=\"alignfull py-6 md:py-8 lg:py-10 bg-white\" >\n\t\t<div class=\"container-fixed\">\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<div class=\"space-y-6 md:space-y-8\">\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"text-xl md:text-2xl\">Latest news<\/h2>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t<ul data-component=\"post-grid\" class=\"grid items-stretch grid-cols-1 gap-2 md:gap-4 lg:gap-8 text-zoom-lg:grid-cols-1\n\t\t\n\t\tlg:grid-cols-3\n\t\t\">\n\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<li class=\"@container\">\n\t\t\t\t\n<div data-component=\"teaser-post\" class=\"block-theme-sand hidden lg:flex h-full relative flex bg-sand-300\n\tblock-theme-violet:bg-white block-theme-violet:text-purple block-theme-mocha:bg-sand-500 block-theme-mocha:text-brown\n\tblock-theme-sand:bg-sand-300 block-theme-sand:text-neutral-900\n\tblock-theme-violet:outline-purple-100 block-theme-violet:outline-1 block-theme-violet:outline-t-0\n\tflex-col @xl:flex-row\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"relative image:w-full image:aspect-video image:object-cover shrink-0 w-full @xl:w-1\/2\">\n\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1018\" height=\"720\" src=\"https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2022\/05\/23145741\/Studentenhuisvesting-huur-tekort-studentenwoningen-renting-studentenhuis-woningnood-Stock-illustratie-Migle-Alonderyte-scaled.jpg?image-crop-positioner-ts=1766139286\" class=\"attachment-video_xl size-video_xl\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2022\/05\/23145741\/Studentenhuisvesting-huur-tekort-studentenwoningen-renting-studentenhuis-woningnood-Stock-illustratie-Migle-Alonderyte-scaled.jpg?image-crop-positioner-ts=1766139286 2560w, https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2022\/05\/23145741\/Studentenhuisvesting-huur-tekort-studentenwoningen-renting-studentenhuis-woningnood-Stock-illustratie-Migle-Alonderyte-875x618.jpg?image-crop-positioner-ts=1766139286 875w, https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2022\/05\/23145741\/Studentenhuisvesting-huur-tekort-studentenwoningen-renting-studentenhuis-woningnood-Stock-illustratie-Migle-Alonderyte-1600x1131.jpg?image-crop-positioner-ts=1766139286 1600w, https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2022\/05\/23145741\/Studentenhuisvesting-huur-tekort-studentenwoningen-renting-studentenhuis-woningnood-Stock-illustratie-Migle-Alonderyte-300x212.jpg?image-crop-positioner-ts=1766139286 300w, https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2022\/05\/23145741\/Studentenhuisvesting-huur-tekort-studentenwoningen-renting-studentenhuis-woningnood-Stock-illustratie-Migle-Alonderyte-1280x905.jpg?image-crop-positioner-ts=1766139286 1280w, https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2022\/05\/23145741\/Studentenhuisvesting-huur-tekort-studentenwoningen-renting-studentenhuis-woningnood-Stock-illustratie-Migle-Alonderyte-1536x1086.jpg?image-crop-positioner-ts=1766139286 1536w, https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2022\/05\/23145741\/Studentenhuisvesting-huur-tekort-studentenwoningen-renting-studentenhuis-woningnood-Stock-illustratie-Migle-Alonderyte-2048x1448.jpg?image-crop-positioner-ts=1766139286 2048w, https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2022\/05\/23145741\/Studentenhuisvesting-huur-tekort-studentenwoningen-renting-studentenhuis-woningnood-Stock-illustratie-Migle-Alonderyte-150x106.jpg?image-crop-positioner-ts=1766139286 150w, https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2022\/05\/23145741\/Studentenhuisvesting-huur-tekort-studentenwoningen-renting-studentenhuis-woningnood-Stock-illustratie-Migle-Alonderyte-225x159.jpg?image-crop-positioner-ts=1766139286 225w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1018px) 100vw, 1018px\" \/>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\n\t<div class=\"flex flex-col gap-2 md:gap-4 p-4 @md:p-8 @xl:p-8 \">\n\n\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"text-md @sm:text-xl @md:text-2xl @xl:text-2xl\">\n\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/2026\/04\/20\/kabinet-wil-meer-tijdelijke-huurcontracten-voor-studenten\/\" class=\"absolute-link text-current underline-offset-2 decoration-2 hocus:underline @md:decoration-3 @xl:decoration-4 inline-block\">\n\t\t\t\tCabinet wants more temporary rental contracts for students\n\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t<\/h3>\n\n\t\t<div class=\"flex flex-wrap gap-4 items-center\">\n\t\t\t<span class=\"sr-only\">Gepubliceerd op:<\/span>\n\t\t\t<time class=\"text-sm font-soehne text-neutral-900\" datetime=\"2026-04-20\">20 April 2026<\/time>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t<ul data-component=\"list-badges\" class=\"flex items-center gap-2 flex-wrap\" aria-label=\"Geplaatst in categorie\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<li>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div data-component=\"badge\" class=\"block-theme-violet:bg-purple font-soehne font-bold text-sm bg-brown-600 block-theme-violet:bg-purple text-white py-[2px] px-2\">\n\t\t\t\t\tHousing\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t<\/ul>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n<div data-component=\"teaser-post-small\" class=\"block-theme-sand lg:hidden relative flex h-full bg-sand-300\n\tblock-theme-violet:bg-white block-theme-violet:text-purple block-theme-mocha:bg-sand-500 block-theme-mocha:text-brown\n\tblock-theme-sand:bg-sand-300 block-theme-sand:text-neutral-900\n\tblock-theme-violet:outline-purple-100 block-theme-violet:outline-1 block-theme-violet:outline-t-0\n\ttheme-mocha:bg-white! theme-violet:bg-white! theme-sand:bg-white!\n\tflex-row gap-4 @md:gap-8 p-4 @md:p-6\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"image:w-full image:aspect-square image:object-cover shrink-0 size-17.5 @sm:size-21.25 @md:size-30 @lg:size-40\">\n\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"460\" height=\"325\" src=\"https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2022\/05\/23145741\/Studentenhuisvesting-huur-tekort-studentenwoningen-renting-studentenhuis-woningnood-Stock-illustratie-Migle-Alonderyte-scaled.jpg?image-crop-positioner-ts=1766139286\" class=\"attachment-square_lg size-square_lg\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2022\/05\/23145741\/Studentenhuisvesting-huur-tekort-studentenwoningen-renting-studentenhuis-woningnood-Stock-illustratie-Migle-Alonderyte-scaled.jpg?image-crop-positioner-ts=1766139286 2560w, https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2022\/05\/23145741\/Studentenhuisvesting-huur-tekort-studentenwoningen-renting-studentenhuis-woningnood-Stock-illustratie-Migle-Alonderyte-875x618.jpg?image-crop-positioner-ts=1766139286 875w, https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2022\/05\/23145741\/Studentenhuisvesting-huur-tekort-studentenwoningen-renting-studentenhuis-woningnood-Stock-illustratie-Migle-Alonderyte-1600x1131.jpg?image-crop-positioner-ts=1766139286 1600w, https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2022\/05\/23145741\/Studentenhuisvesting-huur-tekort-studentenwoningen-renting-studentenhuis-woningnood-Stock-illustratie-Migle-Alonderyte-300x212.jpg?image-crop-positioner-ts=1766139286 300w, https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2022\/05\/23145741\/Studentenhuisvesting-huur-tekort-studentenwoningen-renting-studentenhuis-woningnood-Stock-illustratie-Migle-Alonderyte-1280x905.jpg?image-crop-positioner-ts=1766139286 1280w, https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2022\/05\/23145741\/Studentenhuisvesting-huur-tekort-studentenwoningen-renting-studentenhuis-woningnood-Stock-illustratie-Migle-Alonderyte-1536x1086.jpg?image-crop-positioner-ts=1766139286 1536w, https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2022\/05\/23145741\/Studentenhuisvesting-huur-tekort-studentenwoningen-renting-studentenhuis-woningnood-Stock-illustratie-Migle-Alonderyte-2048x1448.jpg?image-crop-positioner-ts=1766139286 2048w, https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2022\/05\/23145741\/Studentenhuisvesting-huur-tekort-studentenwoningen-renting-studentenhuis-woningnood-Stock-illustratie-Migle-Alonderyte-150x106.jpg?image-crop-positioner-ts=1766139286 150w, https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2022\/05\/23145741\/Studentenhuisvesting-huur-tekort-studentenwoningen-renting-studentenhuis-woningnood-Stock-illustratie-Migle-Alonderyte-225x159.jpg?image-crop-positioner-ts=1766139286 225w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 460px) 100vw, 460px\" \/>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\n\t<div class=\"flex flex-col gap-2 md:gap-4 \">\n\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"text-md @lg:text-lg\">\n\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/2026\/04\/20\/kabinet-wil-meer-tijdelijke-huurcontracten-voor-studenten\/\" class=\"absolute-link text-current hocus:underline inline-block\">\n\t\t\t\tCabinet wants more temporary rental contracts for students\n\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t<\/h3>\n\n\t\t<div class=\"flex flex-wrap gap-4 items-center\">\n\t\t\t<span class=\"sr-only\">Gepubliceerd op:<\/span>\n\t\t\t<time class=\"text-sm font-soehne text-neutral-900\" datetime=\"2026-04-20\">20 April 2026<\/time>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t<ul data-component=\"list-badges\" class=\"flex items-center gap-2 flex-wrap\" aria-label=\"Geplaatst in categorie\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<li>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div data-component=\"badge\" class=\"block-theme-violet:bg-purple font-soehne font-bold text-sm bg-brown-600 block-theme-violet:bg-purple text-white py-[2px] px-2\">\n\t\t\t\t\tHousing\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t<\/ul>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<li class=\"@container\">\n\t\t\t\t\n<div data-component=\"teaser-post\" class=\"block-theme-sand hidden lg:flex h-full relative flex bg-sand-300\n\tblock-theme-violet:bg-white block-theme-violet:text-purple block-theme-mocha:bg-sand-500 block-theme-mocha:text-brown\n\tblock-theme-sand:bg-sand-300 block-theme-sand:text-neutral-900\n\tblock-theme-violet:outline-purple-100 block-theme-violet:outline-1 block-theme-violet:outline-t-0\n\tflex-col @xl:flex-row\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"relative image:w-full image:aspect-video image:object-cover shrink-0 w-full @xl:w-1\/2\">\n\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1280\" height=\"720\" src=\"https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/metro_dicht_voorschoterlaan_april2026_2__esther-dijkstra-1280x720.jpg?image-crop-positioner-ts=1776684112\" class=\"attachment-video_xl size-video_xl\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/metro_dicht_voorschoterlaan_april2026_2__esther-dijkstra-1280x720.jpg?image-crop-positioner-ts=1776684112 1280w, https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/metro_dicht_voorschoterlaan_april2026_2__esther-dijkstra-500x282.jpg?image-crop-positioner-ts=1776684112 500w, https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/metro_dicht_voorschoterlaan_april2026_2__esther-dijkstra-832x468.jpg?image-crop-positioner-ts=1776684112 832w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1280px) 100vw, 1280px\" \/>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\n\t<div class=\"flex flex-col gap-2 md:gap-4 p-4 @md:p-8 @xl:p-8 \">\n\n\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"text-md @sm:text-xl @md:text-2xl @xl:text-2xl\">\n\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/2026\/04\/20\/langere-reistijden-naar-campus-woudestein-door-werkzaamheden-metrostations\/\" class=\"absolute-link text-current underline-offset-2 decoration-2 hocus:underline @md:decoration-3 @xl:decoration-4 inline-block\">\n\t\t\t\tLonger travel times to Woudestein campus due to metro maintenance work\n\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t<\/h3>\n\n\t\t<div class=\"flex flex-wrap gap-4 items-center\">\n\t\t\t<span class=\"sr-only\">Gepubliceerd op:<\/span>\n\t\t\t<time class=\"text-sm font-soehne text-neutral-900\" datetime=\"2026-04-20\">20 April 2026<\/time>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t<ul data-component=\"list-badges\" class=\"flex items-center gap-2 flex-wrap\" aria-label=\"Geplaatst in categorie\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<li>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div data-component=\"badge\" class=\"block-theme-violet:bg-purple font-soehne font-bold text-sm bg-brown-600 block-theme-violet:bg-purple text-white py-[2px] px-2\">\n\t\t\t\t\tStudent life\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t<\/ul>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n<div data-component=\"teaser-post-small\" class=\"block-theme-sand lg:hidden relative flex h-full bg-sand-300\n\tblock-theme-violet:bg-white block-theme-violet:text-purple block-theme-mocha:bg-sand-500 block-theme-mocha:text-brown\n\tblock-theme-sand:bg-sand-300 block-theme-sand:text-neutral-900\n\tblock-theme-violet:outline-purple-100 block-theme-violet:outline-1 block-theme-violet:outline-t-0\n\ttheme-mocha:bg-white! theme-violet:bg-white! theme-sand:bg-white!\n\tflex-row gap-4 @md:gap-8 p-4 @md:p-6\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"image:w-full image:aspect-square image:object-cover shrink-0 size-17.5 @sm:size-21.25 @md:size-30 @lg:size-40\">\n\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"460\" height=\"460\" src=\"https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/metro_dicht_voorschoterlaan_april2026_2__esther-dijkstra-460x460.jpg?image-crop-positioner-ts=1776684112\" class=\"attachment-square_lg size-square_lg\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/metro_dicht_voorschoterlaan_april2026_2__esther-dijkstra-460x460.jpg?image-crop-positioner-ts=1776684112 460w, https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/metro_dicht_voorschoterlaan_april2026_2__esther-dijkstra-115x115.jpg?image-crop-positioner-ts=1776684112 115w, https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/metro_dicht_voorschoterlaan_april2026_2__esther-dijkstra-230x230.jpg?image-crop-positioner-ts=1776684112 230w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 460px) 100vw, 460px\" \/>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\n\t<div class=\"flex flex-col gap-2 md:gap-4 \">\n\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"text-md @lg:text-lg\">\n\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/2026\/04\/20\/langere-reistijden-naar-campus-woudestein-door-werkzaamheden-metrostations\/\" class=\"absolute-link text-current hocus:underline inline-block\">\n\t\t\t\tLonger travel times to Woudestein campus due to metro maintenance work\n\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t<\/h3>\n\n\t\t<div class=\"flex flex-wrap gap-4 items-center\">\n\t\t\t<span class=\"sr-only\">Gepubliceerd op:<\/span>\n\t\t\t<time class=\"text-sm font-soehne text-neutral-900\" datetime=\"2026-04-20\">20 April 2026<\/time>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t<ul data-component=\"list-badges\" class=\"flex items-center gap-2 flex-wrap\" aria-label=\"Geplaatst in categorie\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<li>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div data-component=\"badge\" class=\"block-theme-violet:bg-purple font-soehne font-bold text-sm bg-brown-600 block-theme-violet:bg-purple text-white py-[2px] px-2\">\n\t\t\t\t\tStudent life\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t<\/ul>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<li class=\"@container\">\n\t\t\t\t\n<div data-component=\"teaser-post\" class=\"block-theme-sand hidden lg:flex h-full relative flex bg-sand-300\n\tblock-theme-violet:bg-white block-theme-violet:text-purple block-theme-mocha:bg-sand-500 block-theme-mocha:text-brown\n\tblock-theme-sand:bg-sand-300 block-theme-sand:text-neutral-900\n\tblock-theme-violet:outline-purple-100 block-theme-violet:outline-1 block-theme-violet:outline-t-0\n\tflex-col @xl:flex-row\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"relative image:w-full image:aspect-video image:object-cover shrink-0 w-full @xl:w-1\/2\">\n\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1280\" height=\"720\" src=\"https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/lege-campus_empty_polak_avond-nacht_1_april2026_breadie_nhat-minh-bui-1280x720.jpg?image-crop-positioner-ts=1776685276\" class=\"attachment-video_xl size-video_xl\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/lege-campus_empty_polak_avond-nacht_1_april2026_breadie_nhat-minh-bui-1280x720.jpg?image-crop-positioner-ts=1776685276 1280w, https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/lege-campus_empty_polak_avond-nacht_1_april2026_breadie_nhat-minh-bui-500x282.jpg?image-crop-positioner-ts=1776685276 500w, https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/lege-campus_empty_polak_avond-nacht_1_april2026_breadie_nhat-minh-bui-832x468.jpg?image-crop-positioner-ts=1776685276 832w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1280px) 100vw, 1280px\" \/>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\n\t<div class=\"flex flex-col gap-2 md:gap-4 p-4 @md:p-8 @xl:p-8 \">\n\n\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"text-md @sm:text-xl @md:text-2xl @xl:text-2xl\">\n\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/2026\/04\/20\/universiteitsraad-wil-polak-langer-open-in-avond-en-weekend\/\" class=\"absolute-link text-current underline-offset-2 decoration-2 hocus:underline @md:decoration-3 @xl:decoration-4 inline-block\">\n\t\t\t\tUniversity Council wants to extend opening hours of Polak during evenings and weekends\n\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t<\/h3>\n\n\t\t<div class=\"flex flex-wrap gap-4 items-center\">\n\t\t\t<span class=\"sr-only\">Gepubliceerd op:<\/span>\n\t\t\t<time class=\"text-sm font-soehne text-neutral-900\" datetime=\"2026-04-20\">20 April 2026<\/time>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t<ul data-component=\"list-badges\" class=\"flex items-center gap-2 flex-wrap\" aria-label=\"Geplaatst in categorie\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<li>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div data-component=\"badge\" class=\"block-theme-violet:bg-purple font-soehne font-bold text-sm bg-brown-600 block-theme-violet:bg-purple text-white py-[2px] px-2\">\n\t\t\t\t\tCampus\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t<\/ul>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n<div data-component=\"teaser-post-small\" class=\"block-theme-sand lg:hidden relative flex h-full bg-sand-300\n\tblock-theme-violet:bg-white block-theme-violet:text-purple block-theme-mocha:bg-sand-500 block-theme-mocha:text-brown\n\tblock-theme-sand:bg-sand-300 block-theme-sand:text-neutral-900\n\tblock-theme-violet:outline-purple-100 block-theme-violet:outline-1 block-theme-violet:outline-t-0\n\ttheme-mocha:bg-white! theme-violet:bg-white! theme-sand:bg-white!\n\tflex-row gap-4 @md:gap-8 p-4 @md:p-6\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"image:w-full image:aspect-square image:object-cover shrink-0 size-17.5 @sm:size-21.25 @md:size-30 @lg:size-40\">\n\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"460\" height=\"460\" src=\"https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/lege-campus_empty_polak_avond-nacht_1_april2026_breadie_nhat-minh-bui-460x460.jpg?image-crop-positioner-ts=1776685276\" class=\"attachment-square_lg size-square_lg\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/lege-campus_empty_polak_avond-nacht_1_april2026_breadie_nhat-minh-bui-460x460.jpg?image-crop-positioner-ts=1776685276 460w, https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/lege-campus_empty_polak_avond-nacht_1_april2026_breadie_nhat-minh-bui-115x115.jpg?image-crop-positioner-ts=1776685276 115w, https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/lege-campus_empty_polak_avond-nacht_1_april2026_breadie_nhat-minh-bui-230x230.jpg?image-crop-positioner-ts=1776685276 230w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 460px) 100vw, 460px\" \/>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\n\t<div class=\"flex flex-col gap-2 md:gap-4 \">\n\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"text-md @lg:text-lg\">\n\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/2026\/04\/20\/universiteitsraad-wil-polak-langer-open-in-avond-en-weekend\/\" class=\"absolute-link text-current hocus:underline inline-block\">\n\t\t\t\tUniversity Council wants to extend opening hours of Polak during evenings and weekends\n\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t<\/h3>\n\n\t\t<div class=\"flex flex-wrap gap-4 items-center\">\n\t\t\t<span class=\"sr-only\">Gepubliceerd op:<\/span>\n\t\t\t<time class=\"text-sm font-soehne text-neutral-900\" datetime=\"2026-04-20\">20 April 2026<\/time>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t<ul data-component=\"list-badges\" class=\"flex items-center gap-2 flex-wrap\" aria-label=\"Geplaatst in categorie\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<li>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div data-component=\"badge\" class=\"block-theme-violet:bg-purple font-soehne font-bold text-sm bg-brown-600 block-theme-violet:bg-purple text-white py-[2px] px-2\">\n\t\t\t\t\tCampus\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t<\/ul>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t<\/ul>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"text-right text-brown-600\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\n\n\n<a\n\tdata-variant=\"outline\"\n\tdata-size=\"default\"\n\tclass=\"group inline-flex justify-center items-center gap-2 cursor-pointer text-md font-soehne underline-offset-2 decoration-2 px-4 min-h-[3.75rem] border-2 border-current bg-transparent text-current font-bold hocus:underline w-full lg:w-auto\"\n\n\t\n\t\t\thref=\"\"\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t>\n\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<span data-button-text class=\"\">\n\t\t\tAll articles\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\" flex items-center justify-center w-[1em] h-[1em] icon  \" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n\t\t\t<svg aria-hidden=\"true\" width=\"20\" height=\"17\" viewBox=\"0 0 20 17\" fill=\"none\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\">\n<path d=\"M18.25 7.5C18.8023 7.5 19.25 7.94772 19.25 8.5C19.25 9.05228 18.8023 9.5 18.25 9.5H1.75C1.19772 9.5 0.75 9.05228 0.75 8.5C0.75 7.94772 1.19772 7.5 1.75 7.5H18.25Z\" fill=\"currentColor\"\/>\n<path d=\"M10.793 1.04295C11.1835 0.65243 11.8165 0.65243 12.207 1.04295L18.957 7.79295C19.3476 8.18348 19.3476 8.81649 18.957 9.20702L12.207 15.957C11.8165 16.3475 11.1835 16.3475 10.793 15.957C10.4024 15.5665 10.4024 14.9335 10.793 14.543L16.8359 8.49999L10.793 2.45702C10.4024 2.06649 10.4024 1.43348 10.793 1.04295Z\" fill=\"currentColor\"\/>\n<\/svg>\n\n\t\t<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\n\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Now that the illegal production of XTC is resulting in uncontrollable problems, many people are saying the drug should be legalised. Would that be a sensible idea? Ingmar Franken, Professor of Clinical Psychology and an expert on addiction, believes it would be: \u201cI\u2019m convinced that adults can deal with this in an adult manner.\u201d A [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":36,"featured_media":91714,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_trash_the_other_posts":false,"editor_notices":[],"footnotes":""},"categories":[134],"em_content_type":[],"class_list":["post-91701","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-de-kwestie-en"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.3 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Should XTC be legalised? Good idea, says this professor<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"XTC is hardly addictive, relatively harmless and is typically used recreationally and in small quantities. \u201cWe\u2019ve got to the point where we must weigh the costs of banning substances against the benefits,\u201d says addiction expert Ingmar Franken.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/2018\/11\/08\/should-xtc-be-legalised-good-idea-says-this-professor\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_GB\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Should XTC be legalised? Good idea, says this professor\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"XTC is hardly addictive, relatively harmless and is typically used recreationally and in small quantities. \u201cWe\u2019ve got to the point where we must weigh the costs of banning substances against the benefits,\u201d says addiction expert Ingmar Franken.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/2018\/11\/08\/should-xtc-be-legalised-good-idea-says-this-professor\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Erasmus Magazine\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/ErasmusMagazineInternational\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2018-11-08T09:56:03+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2025-12-19T10:23:08+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2018\/11\/08095005\/De-kwestie-xtc-bas-van-der-schot.jpg?image-crop-positioner-ts=1766139158\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"2000\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"1464\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Geert Maarse\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:creator\" content=\"@erasmusmag\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:site\" content=\"@erasmusmag\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Estimated reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"7 minutes\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"Geert Maarse\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\\\/en\\\/2018\\\/11\\\/08\\\/should-xtc-be-legalised-good-idea-says-this-professor\\\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\\\/en\\\/2018\\\/11\\\/08\\\/should-xtc-be-legalised-good-idea-says-this-professor\\\/\"},\"author\":\"Geert Maarse\",\"headline\":\"Should XTC be legalised? 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