1. Dutch society views drugs like marijuana with an attitude of gedogen - which refers to the concept of tolerance by law-enforcement authorities (page 172). In the U.S., this is not so, as law enforcement authorities have generally, if varying state by state, taken a rather zero-tolerance approach to drugs like marijuana: it is totally illegal. In states where it isn't, the only legal form is often via medical prescription. American legal opposition to marijuana has a long legacy. Part of this is reflected in our Anglo Protestant cultural heritage, which is often heavily opposed to drug use. In history, this can be seen in the Prohibition of the early 20th century, the War on Drugs, and modern opposition to vaping and cigarettes. Our historical prohibitionist attitudes mirror those of other Protestant countries like Sweden, developing temperance movements and the like.
2.
Many countries and U.S. states have used legal technicalities to circumvent laws against marijuana use. Rather than legalizing, many jurisdictions will instead "decriminalize", keeping prohibitionists laws de jure but choosing not to enforce them (page 183). One of the biggest obstacles for many countries wishing to legalize is the U.S.. This is because our government can use its massive world presence to threaten prospective legalization with cuts to trade or foreign aid (page 183). America using its power to bully other countries into compliance is a common theme in post WW2 world history.
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