Taking photos of the window prostitutes isn't tolerated. A person attempting it may get his camera thrown in the canal. It is permissible to take pictures of the empty windows.
Soft drugs--all types of cannibus--are legal under a condition called "personal use." The location of soft drug sales are strictly limited. Do not buy soft drugs on the street from a dealer. Instead, make purchases (the amount of purchases is also strictly limited) at one of the city's coffee shops.
The strength of the cannibis products will probably be much stronger than tourists are used to. Tourists shouldn't assume they can take the same amount of soft drug in Amsterdam and get the same effect that they do at home. Baked food with cannibus also has a strong effect, which might not be felt until an hour after ingestion.
Until 2008, hallucinogenic mushrooms were considered soft drugs and were available in coffee shops. They are now classified as hard drugs and are illegal, as are all hard drugs.
The Red Light District is basically safe, but there are many pickpockets. Keep on alert while moving through the crowds.
Keep in mind that families live in the Red Light District. Yelling or causing disturbances isn't respectful of their neighborhood.
