Will coffeeshops soon be able to legally hold 1,000 grams of cannabis?

The owners of coffeeshops in the Dutch town of Leiden are asking the municipality to allow them to keep 1,000 grams of cannabis in stock, double the current legal limit of 500 grams.

According to the’Leiden Cannabis Retailers Association (LVCD), which represents the city's 11 coffeeshops, the current rules create operational difficulties and expose businesses to unnecessary risks.

«With thousands of customers a week, replenishment is inevitable,» LVCD president Jack Stikvoort told the. NL Times, who presented the proposal at a recent City Council committee meeting.

For years, local authorities and the police have been aware of the problems associated with stockpiles, Stikvoort explained, but the issue has become more pressing with the implementation of stricter policies. «It's unfair,» he repeated to board members, insisting that informal agreements previously reached on the issue are no longer being taken into consideration.

The limits of the «back door»

Knowing how to meet consumer demand without breaking the rules has always been a complex issue for manufacturers. Dutch coffeeshops. The latter are in fact authorized to distribute cannabis but not to stock more than 500 grams at the counter.

City Councillor Emma van Bree (GroenLinks) suggested that instead of increasing stock limits, the city could simply allow more coffeeshops. Mr. Stikvoort, however, dismissed the idea: «It's not necessary and certainly not desirable.»

He pointed out that the existing 11 coffeeshops are sufficient to serve customers, especially with the recent opening of new outlets in neighboring towns. When city councillor Dave de Jong (Fractie De Groot) asked whether the pressure on Leiden's stores had eased since the opening of new outlets in places such as Smooth, Mr. Stikvoort confirmed: «There has been a significant drop since we opened four stores in the region.»

To resolve the inventory issue, the LVCD proposes what it calls a «safety statement». This system would require a notary to certify the request to increase the maximum authorized quantity of cannabis, giving store owners legal protection against penalties for possession of more than 500 grams.

Mr. Stikvoort described the measure as «a simple, transparent, controllable and fair solution», which could reduce the risks associated with constant replenishment, improve safety and guarantee a more stable supply for consumers.

The municipality has yet to make a decision on this request. If it is accepted, Leiden could become a pilot test, until all coffeeshops in the Netherlands can be supplied legally, as is the case for those participating in the’experimentation with legal cannabis distribution.