Part of: Residents criterion (I-criterion)
What research shows
Various studies — including by the WODC and local evaluations — point to a mixed picture. On the one hand the I-criterion can curb drug tourism at specific locations. On the other hand strict enforcement in border cities leads to a shift toward street dealing and illegal sales points, with negative effects on safety and public health.
The tipping point
Several municipalities have scaled back strict enforcement on this basis. The trade-off centres on whether the gain in nuisance reduction outweighs the shift toward an unregulated alternative.