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The difference between soft drugs and hard drugs is important in the Drug policy of the Netherlands, where soft drugs are dealt with much lighter, up to being for sale as such in clearly recognisable coffeeshops, than hard drugs.

Recently, a new definition for soft drug has come into use. This definition refers to a drug which undergoes predictable metabolism to inactive metabolites after exerting its therapeutic effect. The ophthalmic drug loteprednol ( Alrex , Lotemax ) is one example of this kind of 'soft drug', as it undergoes hydrolysis into inactive carboxylic acid metabolites .

Edit: LSD is NOT a soft drugThe term soft drug is given sometimes to a range of drugs that are supposed to be less harmful than other drugs, called hard drugs . The main difference is that soft drugs cause only psychological addiction if at all, while hard drugs also cause physical! Bad translation of http://www.kerkrade.nl/1044959309702 : An important difference between the Dutch policy and the policy in most other country's, is the difference between harddrugs and softdrugs. In the Opium law substances like heroine, cocaine, amfetamines, LSD and XTC are called harddrugs. Harddrugs have a high addiction risk and many of the users end up in the criminal circuit. Those drugs have an unacceptable risk. Alcohol and tobacco are drugs, accepted by society. They damage users and society and are - seen this way - best comparable to harddrugs. Hasj and marijuana, but also sleep- and relaxing agents like valium are called soft drugs. Softdrugs do not have a great risk attached when used sparingly and recreatively. However, use at work, study or traffic are disadvised with urge, as well as combined use with alcohol, for example. The government classifies the risks of softdrugs are 'acceptable'. The use of hasj and marijuana in a limited, controlled trade are tolerated ('gedoogd', 'gedoogbeleid')