Dutch mayor authorizes cannabis self-cultivation

While France tends to focus on the demonization of cannabis and the lunar reports on individual culture, the mayor of Tilburg, the country's sixth-largest city, has decided to authorize the self-cultivation of 5 feet of cannabis for residents of his city who treat themselves with medical cannabis, in a complete break with current policies in the Netherlands.

Today, the cultivation of 5 cannabis plants in the Netherlands for personal use is tolerated but punishable. If two technical cultivation aids are used (a lamp and a tent, for example), then the person can be prosecuted for professional cultivation. In all cases, the equipment and plants may be confiscated. With the new authorization, the mayor promises patients that they will not be worried.

There are restrictions, of course. Patients must be of legal age, have a doctor's prescription and a fireproof house, and be limited to 5 plants with a maximum height of 3 meters.

Still, it's a definite step forward for the Dutch therapeutic cannabis community. Some patients who treat themselves with therapeutic cannabis are prosecuted and treated as criminals.

Just last week, Jean-Paul ‘t Gilde, a Dutch patient suffering from multiple sclerosis and treating himself with cannabis, made headlines after the mayor ordered his eviction from his home. Police found 364 grams of dried cannabis, 3 cannabis plants in pots and 50 small pouches, enough to qualify him as a dealer.

The change made in Tilburg could protect patients in similar cases. Dutch law, however, is not yet ready to deal with this issue. The political party Democrats 66 has indeed proposed a law that would definitively regulate the current paradox of coffeeshops, This is a proposal for a new government in which the sale of small quantities of cannabis is tolerated, but cultivation and supply are illegal. The party hopes that this proposal will be adopted under the new government after the March 2017 elections.

The proposed law, on the other hand, makes no mention of self-cultivation, and is strictly limited to coffeeshops. The mayor of Tilburg shows how easy it is to change things when you want to. Perhaps he'll inspire others?