Cannabis smokers can now buy cannabis grown legally in the Netherlands for the first time. The first phase of the so-called cannabis trial begins in Tilburg and Breda on Friday. Cafes in both cities may continue to sell permitted products in addition to cannabis from three currently legal growers.
In the coming period, we will look at what the concerned parties face before starting to experiment with cannabis at the national level. About ten municipalities participate in this. Tilburg Mayor Theo Witterings spoke of an “experiment within an experiment”, which should last a maximum of six months.
Cafes are still allowed to participate on a voluntary basis. According to Breda, all eight shops in that municipality participate equally. In Tilburg this concerns six of the eleven shops. According to a municipal spokesman, the rest will likely follow early next year.
The national trial, which will last at least four years, is expected to begin this summer, although there is still a transition phase in between. In addition to Tilburg and Breda, Arnhem, Almere, Groningen, Heerlen, Voorn aan Zee, Maastricht, Nijmegen and Zaanstad are also participating in the official cannabis trial. In addition, the intention is to participate in the Amsterdam East region.
Cannabis testing has already been postponed several times. During the real trial, only cafés in participating municipalities are allowed to sell controlled cannabis. They then have a choice of ten farmers.
Cannabis is now being purchased illegally through the back door by coffee shops, leading to crime, nuisance and health problems. Sales to customers are tolerated.
Gedoogbeleid softdrugs en coffeeshops
- Nederland telt zo’n 573 coffeeshops.
- Deze shops zijn verspreid over 103 gemeenten.
- Volwassenen met een geldig identiteitsbewijs of een verblijfsvergunning kunnen er voor eigen gebruik cannabis kopen, mits deze coffeeshops zich aan de (landelijke en lokale regels) houden.
- Het toelaten van de verkoop van cannabis terwijl het eigenlijk verboden is, wordt gedogen genoemd.
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