Netherlands: plans to legalize cannabis production take shape

Last week, we announced that the Netherlands would make up its mind by the summer. on testing legal cannabis cultivation, the contours of the project take shape a little more clearly, thanks to an article by De Volkskrant.

The bill was presented to the Upper House of the Dutch Parliament this week. If passed, the bill would trigger the implementation of a pilot program for the legalization of cannabis cultivation in up to 10 cities, for a period of 5 years and 2 months, with the program taking up to 1 year to set up.

Dutch cities will be able to apply for a place in the pilot program. Potential cannabis growers and dispensaries will then be subject to a public tender before being granted their license to start growing or selling cannabis legally.

Dutch coffeeshops are now part of a government tolerance system, which allows them to sell up to 5 grams of cannabis per person and to have a maximum of 500 grams of cannabis under the counter. Cannabis is still illegal in the Netherlands, and cultivation is prohibited on an industrial scale and tolerated on an individual basis for less than 5 plants.

The bill also provides for education and prevention campaigns on the risks associated with cannabis consumption and combustion in general. The products offered for sale will also be tested and sold in packaging with specific, standardized labels, in the manner of American dispensaries, with information on active substance levels, composition and health risks. However, the varieties offered and the price of legal weed are still unknown.

After 4 years of testing, 6 months will be allowed to return to the initial situation, and the grey market will be restored, while the conclusions of the experiment are drawn.

The program is not expected to begin until late 2019 or early 2020, while the Senate passes the bill, and participating cities and companies are designated.

Progress on the bill can be followed here.