XTC Shop
Imagine the government regulates the production and sale of ecstasy. Can anyone buy it anywhere? Or will there be an age limit and we will have strict supervision? In the xtc-shop, you decide!
The xtc-shop in Amsterdam
After a successful edition in Utrecht in 2022, the renewed xtc-shop returns! From October 15, 2024, it will open its doors in the Meterhuisje at Westergas in Amsterdam. Here you can immerse yourself in a world where ecstasy is sold legally. What would it look like if you could buy ecstasy in a pharmacy, a smartshop, or even at a festival?
In the xtc-shop you will experience different sales settings that have been recreated in a creative way. Not only do you get a glimpse into this hypothetical future, but you also get to think along: under what conditions could ecstasy be sold in a responsible way? What do you think is important when it comes to safety, supervision and age limits? Through interactive tools, you can give your opinion and contribute to the public debate.
An ‘experiential’ public survey
The xtc-shop makes the social discussion about the regulation of drugs concrete and takes it to the extreme. As a result, we first sharpen the discussion, and then bring a deeper layer to the debate.
It’s all about the dialogue and the interaction with the audience. Visitors not only get a glimpse into a future where ecstasy is regulated, but can also actively think about the conditions under which that sale takes place. Through an interactive survey, your opinion is collected, analysed and later processed into a report that is shared with policymakers and politicians.
Regulating ecstasy – is that serious?
Yes, it is. The regulation of ecstasy has been a topic of discussion for years. Ecstasy is a popular substance in the Netherlands, but its illegal production and trade cause serious problems. Yet the debate often gets stuck in a polarised discussion between proponents and opponents. We don’t get much further than that, and it’s hard to imagine what a world in which ecstasy is legally available would look like.
Steps have been taken towards regulation:
- In 2019, prominent Dutch figures and experts advocated for evidence-based drug policies.
- A think tank of 18 experts in 2020 favoured regulated production and sale of ecstasy to protect health, safety and environmental interests.
- In 2022, the DenkWerk think tank spoke out in favour of regulating ecstasy.
- In January 2024, Mayor Halsema of Amsterdam organised the ‘Dealing with Drugs’ conference to take the conversation about responsible regulation to the next level.
- In 2024, the MDMA State Commission recommended that ecstasy be placed under Schedule II of the Opium Act due to its lower harmfulness compared to cannabis.
Regulating ecstasy is therefore serious business, and the xtc-shop makes this debate concrete and accessible to everyone.
Regulating ecstasy – how do you do that?
The xtc-shop is based on the report ‘How to regulate stimulants’ by Transform Drug Policy. It describes various models for regulating the production and sale of ecstasy. These include strict supervision of production and sales, health education and certification, and environmental requirements for production. But what does this look like in practice? In the XTC shop you can decide for yourself which conditions would be acceptable to you.
How can we prevent vulnerable groups in society from being put at risk? What role does the government play in supervision and information? By focusing on these questions, the XTC shop brings the debate about ecstasy regulation closer.
The xtc-shop on tour
The XTC store first opened its doors in 2022, in the heart of Utrecht. Visitors could experience what it would be like to buy ecstasy in different sales environments, such as a pharmacy or a club. The interactive set-up gave them the opportunity to give their opinion on the specific sales conditions. This experiment attracted a wide audience, from students to scientists and policymakers, and even Minister Kuipers of Public Health came by.
In collaboration with Utrecht University , an extensive report was drawn up based on the experiences of visitors, which was then shared with politicians. The previous editions form the basis for the renewed XTC store in Amsterdam, in which we want to test new ideas and insights.
In 2023, the store could also be visited in Enschede and at the Gogbot Festival. Poppi could also be found at the ‘Dealing with Drugs’ conference in Amsterdam in January 2024, and in Ghent, Belgium, in April and May. In addition, we have now developed a mobile version of the store, which is available for shorter events, conferences and festivals.
The Ecstasy Store at Your Event
Do you want to host the xtc-shop at your event or festival? The xtc-shop can also be booked in a mobile version. Do you have any questions about this project? Please contact us at info@poppi.amsterdam.
The xtc-shop was built in collaboration with creative makers Vincent Schoutsen and Corné van der Stelt.