The Netherlands launched a new phase in its cannabis regulation initiative this week, requiring participating coffee shops in various cities to sell only marijuana products sourced from government-authorized growers.
First announced in 2022 the expansion aims at eliminating a legal loophole that has existed in Dutch law for a very long time. Selling cannabis had been tolerated, but producing it was illegal.
“Weed has been sold in this country legally for over 50 years. But the production never was.” It’s time to put an end to this crazy and unexplainable situation. The Associated Press.
Around 80 authorized coffee shops across 10 municipalities – with notably Amsterdam not part of the list – must now source cannabis exclusively from 10 government-licensed producers, ending their reliance on unregulated suppliers.
According to StratCann, there are 565 coffee shops that sell cannabis in the United States. Most of them still operate under the old tolerance system and not the new regulated one.
These 10 growers are legal:
- Almere
- Arnhem
- Breda
- Groningen
- Heerlen
- Hellevoetsluis
- Maastricht
- Nijmegen
- Tilburg
- Zaanstad
As per StratCannThe transition is mandatory in participating stores as of today, even though some operators expressed concerns about readiness back in March.
This program regulates cannabis flowers, edibles products and hash. StratCann By the end of 2016, 70 of the participating 75 coffee shops were already selling cannabis flower and hash that was regulated, however, the unregulated products could still be sold alongside until April 7, 2016.
Hollandse Hoogtes produces 200 kg of cannabis per week with strict quality control. Benjamin Selma told the AP: “We test everything, including microbial, cannabinoid and terpene levels, yeasts, anaerobic bacterial strains and heavy metals.” It’s controlled.
Village Farms International, operating via its Leli Holland affiliate is one of the cultivators licensed. According to the company’s news release, it completed its harvest in December. Deliveries began in January 2025.
Dutch government officials announced that after four years, the Dutch experiment would be evaluated to determine its effects on crime, public health and safety.
Breda mayor Paul Depla, told the AP: “It’s also a wonderful opportunity to witness how well the chain of cooperation works between the legal coffeeshop owners as well as the other parties involved.”
In recent years the Netherlands, even though it pioneered decriminalization of cannabis in the 1970s has been more conservative, in comparison to federally-legal Canadian markets and different U.S. states, that are now more liberal hemp operators. Amsterdam is closing down coffee shops, and limiting cannabis usage in certain historic districts.
Grand View Research estimates that it will grow to $337.5 by 2030. That’s a growth of 26,8% per year from 2024 until 2030.