European Vs American Culture Essay

Despite the close cultural and historical connection the United Sates has with its European counterparts, there are some distinct differences. Some of these differences may not even be known to many Americans unless they have traveled to Europe themselves. The way we speak, the names we use for certain foods, and especially our laws differ. First and foremost, every traveler should be well informed of the differences in laws of the country they are traveling to; no matter how similar the country may seem their home country. Probably the most well-known difference between life in America and Europe is the tolerance of hash use and other soft drugs. Specifically in Amsterdam, one is permitted to buy, own, carry, and smoke hash. Also known as the sex and drug capital of the world, Amsterdam is quite tolerate of the personal use of what they call “soft drugs”; hash and other forms of cannabis are under this category. While hard drugs such as cocaine are still illegal in the Netherlands, their tolerance policy allows individuals to purchase and use soft drugs such as hash for personal use. In contrast, most of the United States, excluding Alaska, Washington, …show more content…
Police officers do not have the right to suddenly search an individual simply because they look suspicious. As long as individuals do not cause a scene or make trouble for others, officers in Amsterdam will not go out of their way to stop and frisk someone for drugs. Police officers in the United States can however stop and frisk someone, especially if they suspect a person is carrying drugs or weapons. Having one of the highest incarceration rates in the world, the decriminalization of marijuana has been a hot topic in the United States. In both the U.S and Europe, marijuana is still considered a controlled substance. If it were not considered a controlled substance no restrictions on its use, distribution, or cultivation would be put into