It was announced on Friday that the much-discussed experiment with legal cannabis will start in mid-December. As part of the trial, two legal growers will supply cannabis to coffee shops in Tilburg and Breda. The project has been postponed again and again for years. This is what preceded the cannabis experiment.
The trial is taking place because coffee shops are now allowed to sell weed, but not to purchase it. Part of the cannabis test is to see whether purchasing can also become legal.
The government calls this the closed coffee shop chain. This should ensure that the quality of the cannabis is controlled. The plans for this appear for the first time in coalition agreement from October 2017.
Tolerance policy for soft drugs and coffee shops
The Netherlands has approximately 573 coffee shops. These shops are spread across 103 municipalities. Adults with a valid ID or residence permit can buy cannabis for their own use, provided that these coffee shops adhere to the (national and local rules). Allowing the sale of cannabis even though it is actually prohibited is called toleration.
Ten municipalities nominated for the cannabis experiment
What such a closed cannabis chain should look like is subject to an advisory committee. That committee will present it in mid-2018 rapport. In its own words, the committee relies heavily on experiences with medicinal cannabis. “The Netherlands already has a strong example of a closed cannabis chain: that for medicinal cannabis. Production, distribution and sales appear to be possible here in a coherent manner,” the report states. Much of the committee’s advice is adopted by the cabinet and a bill will be submitted to the House of Representatives in July.
The so-called internet consultation will start in November, so that municipalities, coffee shop owners and growers can respond to the plans. After the bill passed the House in January 2019, ten municipalities were nominated for the cannabis experiment in August of that year. These are Arnhem, Almere, Breda, Groningen, Heerlen, Hellevoetsluis, Maastricht, Nijmegen, Tilburg and Zaanstad.
Starting up cultivation causes delays
Almost a year later, in July 2020, the first steps put to the cannabis test. An independent guidance and evaluation committee is appointed. In addition, the first growers are selected. A draw will be held in December to determine who can definitively participate. This happens after research and a final check. The first growers will receive the green light in May 2021. They can then prepare their location and start growing cannabis.
The cannabis experiment is delayed around that period. This is partly due to difficulties in starting up cultivation. Moreover, the coffee shop owners want to be sure of sufficient continuity. In March 2022 it is stated in a Letter to Parliament that the trial is expected to start in the second quarter of 2023. That date was therefore not met.
As mentioned, coffee shops in Tilburg and Breda will receive weed from legal growers in December. If everything goes well, the eight other municipalities will follow at the end of the first quarter of 2024.
2023-09-16 14:56:57
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