While the Netherlands has always been a pioneer in cannabis legislation, it seems that a number of U.S. states are now far ahead of us. In these places, it is already possible to buy state-grown cannabis: cannabis that is legally grown and sold by the government.
Legally grown cannabis
Many believe the Netherlands should follow suit, and it appears the first steps have been taken. Ten municipalities will soon be participating in an experiment involving the cultivation and sale of legal state-grown cannabis. So there’s a good chance that you’ll soon be able to simply walk into a coffee shop to buy legally grown cannabis and then enjoy it in your favorite bong or hookah.
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A total of 26 municipalities were interested in the experiment, but notably absent was interest from major cities such as Amsterdam, Rotterdam, and The Hague. They did not agree with the structure of the plans. The municipalities ultimately selected to participate are Groningen, Tilburg, Almere, Breda, Maastricht, Nijmegen, Arnhem, Zaanstad, Heerlen, and Hellevoetsluis.
Utrecht was also among the interested municipalities, but it would only participate in the experiment if the conditions were adjusted. The municipality’s main objection was that all coffee shops in the municipality would be required to participate. Utrecht—and the other major cities—did not want that.
Border municipalities
Breda, Maastricht, and Heerlen are designated as “border municipalities” due to their location. Coffee shops in these municipalities are not allowed to sell cannabis to foreigners to prevent a sharp increase in drug tourism in these areas.
The goal of the experiment is to investigate whether cannabis cultivation can be removed from the criminal circuit and what the effects of this would be on public nuisance and safety. In that case, coffee shops would be able to purchase their cannabis directly from the government, without any intermediaries. Prices and quality must also be guaranteed in this way.
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Dutch coffee shops have been legally selling cannabis since 1976, with a maximum of five grams per customer. However, the fact that growing the plant is prohibited has led coffee shop owners to obtain the green stuff illegally and then sell it legally (under certain conditions). Cannabis sales are viewed as a gray area in the Netherlands, but this experiment could potentially make the sale a fully legalized process.
The trial will last about four years, and after evaluation, it may be extended. Would you like to try state-grown cannabis? Then you’ll need to be in Groningen, Tilburg, Almere, Breda, Maastricht, Nijmegen, Arnhem, Zaanstad, Heerlen, or Hellevoetsluis in the coming months!
