soft drugs
Milder recreational substances
Soft drugs are substances considered less harmful or addictive than hard drugs like heroin or cocaine.
The category typically includes marijuana and sometimes hallucinogens.
The distinction is informal and contested—what counts as soft varies by speaker, culture, and legal framework: The Netherlands tolerates soft drugs but prosecutes hard drug trafficking.
Psychoactive hemp plant
- marijuanaPsychoactive hemp plant
- psilocybinHallucinogenic substance from fungi
- mushroomsSpore-bearing fruiting bodies
- hashishConcentrated cannabis preparation
MDMA · ecstasy · ketamine · kratom · kava · nitrous oxide · salvia · mescaline
Ending criminal status
- legalizationMaking something lawful
- regulationOfficial rules governing conduct
- prohibitionAuthoritative legal ban
- reformImprove by correcting faults
legislation · harm reduction · advocacy · criminal justice · black market · scheduling · medical exemption · licensing
State of being unwound
- euphoriaIntense emotional high
- calmnessPeaceful mental state
- mellownessSoft, relaxed quality
- sedationDrug-induced calm state
tranquility · anxiolytic · giggles · munchies · drowsiness · lethargy · peacefulness · altered perception
Causing repeated compulsive use
- toleranceWillingness to accept difference
- psychological dependenceNon-physical addiction to something
- cravingPowerful urge to have
- withdrawalAct of taking away
recreational use · self-medication · compulsion · abuse · moderation · dopamine · relapse · intervention
Systematic testing of ideas
- escalationProgressive increase in intensity
- progressionSequential forward movement
- stepping stoneIntermediate stage toward goal
- adolescenceTeenage developmental stage
peer pressure · curiosity · risk factors · prevention · awareness · vulnerability · initiation · youth programs
cannabis
Psychoactive hemp plant
- marijuanaPsychoactive hemp plant
- psilocybinHallucinogenic substance from fungi
- mushroomsSpore-bearing fruiting bodies
hashish · MDMA · ecstasy · ketamine · kratom · kava · nitrous oxide · salvia · mescaline · peyote
decriminalization
Ending criminal status
- legalizationMaking something lawful
- regulationOfficial rules governing conduct
- prohibitionAuthoritative legal ban
reform · legislation · harm reduction · advocacy · criminal justice · black market · scheduling · medical exemption · licensing · taxation
relaxation
State of being unwound
- euphoriaIntense emotional high
- calmnessPeaceful mental state
- mellownessSoft, relaxed quality
sedation · tranquility · anxiolytic · giggles · munchies · drowsiness · lethargy · peacefulness · altered perception · introspection
habit-forming
Causing repeated compulsive use
- toleranceWillingness to accept difference
- psychological dependenceNon-physical addiction to something
- cravingPowerful urge to have
withdrawal · recreational use · self-medication · compulsion · abuse · moderation · dopamine · relapse · intervention · rehabilitation
experimentation
Systematic testing of ideas
- escalationProgressive increase in intensity
- progressionSequential forward movement
- stepping stoneIntermediate stage toward goal
adolescence · peer pressure · curiosity · risk factors · prevention · awareness · vulnerability · initiation · youth programs · intervention
soft drugshard drugs
Potent, addictive illegal substances
heroin · cocaine · crack cocaine · methamphetamine · crystal meth
soft drugscontrolled substances
Legally regulated intoxicants
illicit drugs · banned substances · prescription drugs · sobriety · abstinence
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