Netherlands Expands Legal Cannabis Cultivation: A New Era Begins

The Netherlands’ famous marijuana-selling “coffee shops” can now acquire regulated cannabis from licensed growers in eight additional cities as the ongoing experiment with legal production expands.

80 Coffee Shops Join the “Wietexperiment”

As of Monday, up to 80 coffee shops in 10 cities across Holland can source cannabis from three licensed suppliers currently participating in the country’s “wietexperiment,” a historic trial with a licensed supply chain, DutchNews reported.

Historic Context of Dutch Cannabis Culture

For generations, the Netherlands has been a destination for cannabis users worldwide, thanks to the famous marijuana coffee shops, which thrived due to a combination of lax enforcement and permissive attitudes. However, cultivation remained illegal, creating risks for producers and uncertainty for consumers.

Launch of the Licensed Supply Chain Experiment

The ongoing experiment with a licensed and regulated supply chain began last December after several delays, marking the first time cannabis cultivators could operate legally. Coffee shop customers can now use a QR code to access information about the legally grown product, including details such as which company grew it and when it was harvested.

Expansion to Additional Cities

Until Monday, three cultivators were delivering cannabis to coffee shops in the cities of Breda and Tilburg. Now, coffee shops in eight additional cities are eligible for the pilot program:

• Almere
• Arnhem
• Groningen
• Heerlen
• Maastricht
• Nijmegen
• Voorne aan Zee (formerly named Hellevoetsluis)
• Zaanstad

The pilot program is set to run until 2028.

Exclusion of Amsterdam

Amsterdam, the country’s largest city, was notably denied participation in the experiment.

Addressing Early Program Challenges

Early stages of the program addressed issues such as the 500-gram limit on how much product coffee shops were allowed to maintain on hand. Now, these limits are set by each city’s mayor.

This expansion marks a significant step forward in the Netherlands’ approach to cannabis regulation, aiming to reduce the risks associated with illegal cultivation and provide a safer, more transparent experience for consumers.