Netherlands: State approves trial of legal cannabis cultivation

Experimenting with culture legal cannabis in certain municipalities in the country has just been approved by the Dutch government: «The cabinet has decided (...) to start the cannabis cultivation experiment so that its effects on crime, security, public disorder and health can be measured».»

This project is not new but it was initially rejected by the previous Minister of Justice, Ivo Opstelten, in 2014. The initiative came from the municipalities themselves, and in particular the mayors of Amsterdam, Rotterdam and Utrecht, who had issued a manifesto, co-signed by a total of 35 municipalities, requesting authorization to establish legal cannabis cultivation in their municipalities, who would themselves supervise production. Against a backdrop of increasing international competition, the project was reconsidered by Mark Rutte's new Liberal government.

The project in question

One of the justifications put forward for this project is the current state of Dutch cannabis laws, which are considered ambiguous. Indeed, in accordance with tolerance policy Under the current law, 5 grams and 5 plants may be possessed for personal use, and it is legal to buy from coffee shops, but cultivation and wholesale are prohibited, forcing coffee shop owners to buy on the black market, thus fuelling organized crime.

This experiment would enable a transparent and controllable production and distribution chain to be set up, and prevent recourse to the illegal circuit for supply. The government intends to select licensed growers and «ensure that there is a sufficient number of cannabis varieties» to satisfy the diversity and intensity of demand.

The police, public prosecutors and other institutions, in coordination with Justice Minister Ferdinand Grapperhaus and Health Minister Bruno Bruins, are responsible for finalizing the project before its implementation. Following a recent study casting doubt on the scientific relevance of an experiment based on just 6 to 10 municipalities, the ministers will also be tasked with considering the potential participation of a larger number of municipalities, and plan to present a law on the subject to parliament.

What impact will this have on coffee shops?

Marijke, manager of a coffee shop in The Hague, explains that a state-run business with controlled cultivation and supply is likely to result in lower THC levels, encouraging consumers to turn back to the black market. She is also concerned about the reputation of coffee shops among Dutch politicians, who consider them to be a source of nuisance. Ahmed Boutaleb, the mayor of Rotterdam, is calling for their disappearance, and wants to replace them with vending machines, specialized websites or pharmacy sales.

In short, state control of supply could well lead to state-controlled distribution.