Until now, 7 growers have been appointed to legally produce hemp and hashish for sale in coffee shops in 10 participating municipalities within the closed coffee shop chain – also known as the dutch cannabis experiment.

The designated growers are now setting up their farms, after which they will start producing hemp and hashish. The time that the cultivation companies and the municipalities involved need for this determines the moment that they can start supplying coffee shops.

Ministers Grapperhaus (Justice and Security) and De Jonge (Public Health, Welfare and Sport) reported this in a letter to the House of Representatives today. The ministers, in consultation with the mayors and the growers involved, determine the starting moment that can be delivered to the coffee shops during the so-called transition phase for the experiment. It is now up to the municipalities, together with the growers and the immediate environment where the companies establish themselves, to shape the layout and communication about this that is appropriate to the local situation.

Important for planning

Various matters are important for the planning in the coming period, such as the time needed to prepare the cultivation locations and to obtain local environmental permits for this. The supply of hemp and hashish must be sufficient to supply the coffee shops. The quality and diversity of the products must also be in order.
transition phase.

During the transition phase, the participating coffee shops will be able to sell the legally grown Cannabis products in addition to the tolerated sale. After the transition phase, the cannabis experiment will start, which will take four years to complete. Once the experimentation phase has started, the participating coffee shops are only allowed to sell Cannabis and hashish from the designated growers. In short, they have to work within the closed coffee shop chain.

The aim is for the designated growers to meet the necessary conditions in the course of the second half of 2022 and the transition phase can start. Once the start date has been set, continuous monitoring will be carried out to determine whether the planning is realistic and options for acceleration will also be monitored.

Aspiring Growers

In the coming period, in addition to the 7 already designated growers, a maximum of 3 cultivation companies can be designated for the weed experiment. Procedures for this are still ongoing with prospective growers. When setting up the cannabis experiment, the cabinet has decided that a maximum of 10 cultivation companies can participate in order to ensure sufficient supply.