BEMMEL, Netherlands — On Monday, the Netherlands further advanced an initiative aimed at reforming its cannabis policy by permitting legal sales of marijuana through specific channels. While the cultivation of cannabis remains prohibited, cannabis-selling coffee shops in 10 Dutch towns will be allowed to procure marijuana from 10 officially licensed producers.
For decades, the Netherlands has had an unusual paradox in its drug policy: cannabis sales in coffee shops have been tolerated, but its large-scale production has remained illegal. Rick Bakker, the commercial director at Hollandse Hoogtes—a licensed producer involved in this new initiative—remarked that it’s time to eliminate this inconsistency and treat marijuana like a legitimate, professional industry.
Around 80 coffee shops are engaged in this government-led trial, which hopes to resolve this longstanding paradox. Though selling and consuming small amounts of cannabis have been permitted without legal ramifications, the production side has stayed in the shadows. Bakker’s company, situated in Bemmel close to the German border, sits among greenhouses growing everyday produce like tomatoes and peppers. With a weekly output of 200 kilograms (440 pounds) of cannabis, it stands as one of the notable contributors to this initiative.
The Netherlands, once at the forefront of decriminalizing cannabis in the 1970s, has adopted a more cautious stance in recent years. Notably, Amsterdam—a hotspot for cannabis tourism—has reduced the number of coffee shops and imposed restrictions on public smoking in some historic areas.
Proponents of legal cannabis cultivation have emphasized the benefits of quality control and crime reduction. Benjamin Selma, chief grower at Hollandse Hoogtes with over a decade of experience in California’s cannabis industry, noted that the regulation of the cannabis in this experiment is meticulous. Extensive testing is conducted for microbes, cannabinoids, terpenes, yeast, anaerobic bacteria, heavy metals, and more, ensuring a high standard for the product.
Committed to environmental sustainability, Hollandse Hoogtes forgoes pesticides, rigorously manages its growth environment, employs solar energy, and uses biodegradable packaging for its cannabis products. Breda Mayor Paul Depla has highlighted the initiative’s value in fostering cooperation between legal growers, coffee shop operators, and relevant state bodies.
This entire experiment is a “political compromise,” as per Derrick Bergman, chairman of the Union for the Abolition of Cannabis Prohibition. This initiative traces its roots to a compromise struck in 2017, between political factions in favor of and against cannabis decriminalization, following an earlier legislative failure to legalize production.
The effectiveness of this experiment will undergo evaluation after four years. According to a statement from the government, a research team will monitor the implications of a regulated cannabis supply regarding criminal activity, public safety, and health.
Selma expressed satisfaction at being able to operate without the threat of legal backlash, recounting his past challenges with regulation. “I don’t think I ever imagined having this kind of freedom,” he said.
Participating coffee shops in this trial are distributed across the municipalities of Almere, Arnhem, Breda, Groningen, Heerlen, Hellevoetsluis, Maastricht, Nijmegen, Tilburg, and Zaanstad.