In 3 days, the Netherlands opens its experiment in legal cannabis cultivation and distribution, marking an important step in ending the “backdoor” policy that allows coffeeshops to sell cannabis but not to supply it , but also more broadly for the European cannabis industry.
Originally scheduled to launch several years ago, the legal cannabis experiment will begin on Friday, December 15, 2023, after suffering numerous delays.
The Dutch cabinet has given the green light to the start-up phase of the experiment, involving only three authorized legal growers – Fyta Group, Canadelaar and Aardachtig – to deliver to coffee shops in the municipalities of Breda and Tilburg. The original plan called for ten growers to supply many stores, but checks on the liabilities of some applicants and financing problems for selected growers contributed to the delays.
The Dutch government has set out a phased approach for the experiment. As a first step, starting this week, around 19 coffee shops in Breda and Tilburg will be allowed to offer both legally grown cannabis and unregulated products. This unique approach departs from the system in place for decades, in which the sale of cannabis was tolerated, but cultivation remained prohibited.
However, not all coffeeshops in Breda and Tilburg will be able to offer legal cannabis immediately and the offer will certainly be limited “both in terms of diversity and quantity”, as Cnnbs.nl reports. Last weekend, the Brabants Dagblad reported that Fyta, the only grower to have already produced multiple harvests, had 42 cannabis strains “ready.”
According to MJBizDaily which uses government sources, two other growers, who have not yet been identified, should start supplying coffee shops in Breda and Tilburg in early 2024.
A key aspect of this experiment is the introduction of a track and trace system aimed at ensuring unparalleled transparency in the cannabis supply chain. Legally produced cannabis products will be packaged with QR codes, allowing consumers to access detailed information about the crop, including where and when it was produced, as well as the company responsible.
An industry executive, speaking to MJBizDaily on condition of anonymity, underlined the importance of this experience for the European cannabis landscape: “It is one of the first times in Europe that we can show that a closed value chain, from cultivation to retail, can work.”
The executive stressed that the new system not only guarantees transparency, but also establishes a model in which the entire supply chain is accountable.
The experiment is planned to last four years, at the end of which a decision will be taken on its extension. During this period, participating coffee shops will undergo a transition period of approximately six weeks, after which they will exclusively sell legal cannabis products. This transition is expected to result in a paradigm shift in the Dutch cannabis industry and could serve as a model for other European countries considering similar reforms.
