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Next Phase of Dutch Cannabis Experiment To Launch April 2025 Sarah Sinclair Cannabis Health News Tuesday 17 Dec 2024 From April 2025, Dutch coffee shops will only be permitted to sell regulated cannabis products, as the next phase of the country’s adult-use pilot gets underway. One year on from the launch of the Netherlands’ Closed Coffee Shop Chain Experiment, regulators have set a fixed date for the transition to what is referred to as its ‘experimental phase’. On 10 December 2024, Minister Van Weel (J&V) and State Secretary Karremans (VWS), informed the House of Representatives that from 7 April 2025, coffee shops in the 10 municipalities participating in the pilot will only be allowed to sell regulated cannabis products. The experiment launched on 15 December 2023, with the sale of regulated cannabis products permitted in coffee shops in Tilburg and Breda. In June 2024 it was expanded to the regions of Groningen, Zaanstad, Almere, Arnhem, Nijmegen, Voorne aan Zee, Heerlen, and Maastricht, with coffee shops in all participating municipalities now allowed to sell regulated products, in addition to tolerated products. After almost a year of regulated supply, 70 of the 75 participating coffee shops are now said to have adopted a regulated supply. Tackling the ‘backdoor policy’ The Netherlands is renowned for its cannabis coffee shops, but previously the sale and cultivation of cannabis for recreational purposes was illegal outside of these establishments. Suppliers were prohibited from selling any cannabis to the businesses, creating what was known as a ‘backdoor policy’. The Closed Coffee Shop Chain Experiment aims to evaluate the possibility of implementing a regulated chain of production, distribution and sale of cannabis in the Netherlands. A team of researchers, under the supervision of an independent Guidance and Evaluation Committee, will also investigate the effects of this on public health, crime, safety and nuisance. The results of this research will help inform future decisions on cannabis policy in the Netherlands. A ‘definitive date’ for the next phase The transition phase was initially due to end in September 2024, but the timeline was extended due to insufficient production from growers, according to local media reports. Coffee shop owners are said to have criticized the limited supply and variety, citing quality concerns. Regulators say the new date is final to ensure a “clear perspective for municipalities, coffee shop owners and growers”. The deadline also coincides with the addition of three more growers to the experiment, bringing the total number of licensed suppliers to seven. “With a definitive date in sight, growers will have clarity about when they can start producing in full. This way, the supply of regulated weed and hash can be further tailored to the demand of coffee shop owners,” ministers Van Weel and Karremans said. “In addition, the 5th, 6th and 7th growers are also expected to be ready to deliver in April. This will benefit both the choice of coffee shops and the stability of the supply.” The experimental phase is expected to last four years. https://cannabishealthnews.co.uk/2024/12/17/next-phase-of-dutch-cannabis-experiment-to-launch-april-2025/
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