Dutch Coffeeshops to Start Legal Weed Sales in April
Cannabis from government-approved growers will start to be sold in the Netherlands on April 7.
The next phase of the Dutch cannabis experiment program means going ahead with legal sales, and it will start on April 7 with no further delay. The experiment includes coffeeshops from 10 different municipalities, but their owners recently warned that the system is not fully ready for the big transition.
The Dutch Minister of Justice and Security, David van Weel said that municipalities will be sticking to the April 7th deadline, the day when the cannabis experiment program is expected to progress into a new stage.
What Does the New Stage Foresee for Cannabis?
The April 7 transition will effectually terminate the decades-long Dutch tolerance policy, under which coffeeshops were able to sell weed legally while sourcing it from illicit growers. Under the new system, all cannabis sold in the coffeeshops who participate in the experiment program, will be obliged to supply cannabis products from government-licensed growers. Mr. Van Weel said he expects “quantity, quality, and diversity” of legally-cultivated pot to be sufficient by the designated deadline.
What Were the Concerns of Dutch Coffeeshop Owners?
The concerns of the Dutch coffeeshop owners were exactly those - that there won’t be enough good-quality weed and diversity of product to meet consumer demand. Owners said that going ahead with the plan would be hasty, and that the risk of chaos and failed experiment is huge because no one was ready - referring to growers, managers of the Track and Trace system, and other actors involved.
“In our view, a complete switch to legal products can only take place if every individual coffeeshop participating in the weed experiment has access to a sufficient number of different types and of good quality,” they wrote in a letter to the mayors of the participating municipalities, NL Times reported.
However, Van Weel downplayed their concerns, saying that seven growers have already entered production, out of which six will supply the coffeeshops in the ten participating municipalities. He said that on April 7, seven growers will be able to supply Dutch coffeeshops, one of which will be solely focused on hashish distribution. The other growers will begin production and delivery later this year, he said.
There is, however, a shared sentiment that the start of the experiment new phase will not go hundred percent smooth. Authorities emphasize on the importance of starting in the first place. “Supply and demand can only fully align once the experimental phase has started,” Dutch officials said.
Mr. Van Weel confirmed his ministry will facilitate a new meeting on March 26 where government-approved growers and coffeeshop business owners will be able to meet together and discuss their experiences so far.
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Stephen Andrews
