Background information and experiment design

The experiment aims to establish whether it is possible to regulate the production, distribution and sale of cannabis. A research team, advised by an independent guidance and evaluation committee, is examining the effects of a controlled cannabis supply chain on crime, safety and public health. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority (NVWA) is responsible for monitoring the quality of the products.

Background

There are approximately 570 ‘coffee shops’ (the local term for cannabis cafés) in the Netherlands spread across 102 municipalities. The government tolerates the sale of cannabis by coffee shops to consumers under strict conditions. This means that coffee shops are not prosecuted under criminal law for selling weed and hash.

The production and supply of cannabis is not tolerated and is illegal. In the 1970s, the Netherlands introduced its policy of tolerance for the sale of cannabis in coffee shops to separate the markets for hard and soft drugs. But this policy has brought its own set of problems with regard to public order, public health and crime that undermines society, and there is growing public pressure to address these problems.

In the 2017-2021 coalition agreement the government undertook to conduct a small-scale experiment in up to 10 municipalities.

Design

During the experiment, coffee shops in participating municipalities will sell regulated, quality-controlled cannabis. The cannabis will be produced by a maximum of 10 designated growers chosen by means of a selection procedure.

All requirements for coffee shops taking part in the experiment are set out in the Controlled Cannabis Supply Chain Experiment Decree (in Dutch).

Monitoring and enforcement

Throughout the experiment, enforcement officers from the municipalities and the Justice and Security Inspectorate will monitor whether all parties within the controlled supply chain are complying with the rules. For example:

No cannabis from illegal sources may enter the experiment’s supply chain,
No cannabis from the experiment’s supply chain may be processed or sold outside this context.

The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority is responsible for monitoring the quality of the cannabis grown and compliance with packaging requirements.

Five phases

The experiment consists of five phases, which ensure a gradual progression away from and back to the current situation. For more information about these phases, see the Rules for the experiment with a controlled supply of cannabis to coffee shops.

New legislation drawn up for the purposes of the experiment will apply for the duration of the experiment. Read more about the legislation on which the experiment is based.

The preparatory phase started on 1 July 2020. During this phase growers were selected and designated. Once designated, growers could start making preparations for their cultivation operation and the production of cannabis. When doing so they had to comply with the rules of the experiment.

Coffee shop owners could inform the designated growers of their preferences.

Participating municipalities amended local ordinances and administrative rules to ensure consistency with the rules of the experiment. They also took steps to prepare for monitoring the coffee shops.

The start-up phase began on 15 December 2023. From this date coffee shops in Tilburg and Breda were permitted to sell regulated products alongside tolerated products.

All the systems and processes involved in the experiment were tried out on a small scale during this phase. This enabled growers, coffee shop owners, transporters and supervisory authorities to gain insight into what could be done better. The lessons learned were used to improve the systems and processes.

More information about the lessons learned during the start-up phase of the experiment is available in this letter to parliament.

The transitional phase, which runs from 17 June 2024 to 7 April 2025, gives coffee shops time to gradually replace their stock before the experimental phase begins. It also gives customers time to get used to the new range of products.

During the transitional phase coffee shop owners may stock and sell both tolerated and regulated cannabis products. They must comply with a whole range of requirements laid down in existing legislation and in the new rules.

The experimental phase will start on 7 April 2025 and last for a period of four years, which can be extended by up to 18 months. During this phase, coffee shops in the participating municipalities are permitted to sell only regulated products. At the start of this phase, the quantity, quality and diversity of the cannabis produced must be sufficient to provide an adequate supply to the participating coffee shops.

During the experiment:

growers that are ready will produce regulated cannabis;
these growers will supply the regulated cannabis to coffee shops in the 10 participating municipalities;
these coffee shops will sell regulated cannabis only.

Researchers will monitor the effects of the closed cannabis supply chain and record their findings each year in a report. And the experiment will be evaluated before the end of the experimental phase. The guidance and evaluation committee will present the evaluation to the ministers.

Can the experiment be stopped early?

The legislation provides that the experimental phase will last four years. Ending it prematurely is only possible with an act repealing the legislation. In exceptional circumstances, the ministers could decide to stop the experiment in a specific municipality, for instance, to protect public health or in the interest of public order and safety. This would not put an end to the experiment as a whole.

Questions about the experiment

If you have any questions about the experiment, email the programme team at experimentgeslotencoffeeshopketen@minjenv.nl. If you have any general questions, you can also contact your municipality.

Background information and experiment design

Background

Design

Five phases

Preparatory phase

Start-up phase

Transitional phase

Experimental phase

Completion phase

Can the experiment be stopped early?

Questions about the experiment