DutchNews.nl - DutchNews.nl brings daily news from The Netherlands in English

22 May 2025
Newsletter Donate Advertise
  • News
  • Life in the Netherlands
  • Jobs
  • Podcast
  • About us
  • Search
  • Home
  • Economy
  • Art and culture
  • Sport
  • Europe
  • Society
  • Environment
  • Health
  • Housing
  • Education
  • News
    • Home
    • Economy
    • Art and culture
    • Sport
    • Europe
    • Society
    • Environment
    • Health
    • Housing
    • Education
  • Life in the Netherlands
    • Latest
    • Opinion
    • Books
    • Travel
    • 10 Questions
    • Learning Dutch
    • Inburgering with DN
    • Food & Drink
    • Ask us anything
  • Jobs
  • Podcast
  • About us
    • Team
    • Donate
    • Advertise
    • Writing for Dutch News
    • Contact us
    • Privacy
    • Newsletter
  • Search

Dutch regulated marijuana growing trial is delayed as problems mount

March 30, 2022
Photo: Depositphotos.com
Photo: Depositphotos.com

Government plans to experiment with regulated marijuana production have run into several problems, and in any case will not start until 2023, justice minister Dilan Yesilgöz has told MPs.

The aim of the project, launched five years ago, was to remove the grey area between licenced cannabis cafes or coffee shops and illegal growing. Coalition party D66 was particularly keen on the plan, which MPs thought would reduce the role of organised crime in the soft drugs circuit.

Since then, however, the experiment has been beset by problems, not least of which was the refusal of any of the big five cities to take part in the four year trial.

‘Unfortunately, it has now emerged that starting in 2022 is no longer realistic,’ Yesilgöz and health minister Ernst Kuipers told MPs in a briefing. The second quarter of 2023 is the earliest possible date, the ministers said.

In addition, officials have failed so far to identify enough growers to take part. Eight have been found, but 10 are needed for the trial. More than that, the growers who have agreed to participate have run into problems with finding a location and opening a bank account.

Banks in particular are reluctant to support the growers because of ‘their responsibilities in legislation to combat money laundering and the financing of terrorism,’ the ministers said.

Local authorities which have signed up to participate are also disappointed in the delays. ‘It is clear that everyone who supports the weed experiment is disappointed,’ Breda mayor Paul Depla said.

‘We need to make progress,’ Depla told the AD. ‘How much time are we going to lose. Perhaps we should just move directly to legalization given the number of countries which do now have experience of legalized marijuana cultivation.’

Share this article
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • LinkedIn
  • Reddit
  • Copy URL
Economy Society
Thank you for donating to DutchNews.nl.

We could not provide the Dutch News service, and keep it free of charge, without the generous support of our readers. Your donations allow us to report on issues you tell us matter, and provide you with a summary of the most important Dutch news each day.

Make a donation
Latest
Show more
Fewer international students starting bachelor degrees in NL
MPs urge cabinet to join banned Pride march in Budapest
Dutch house prices up 10% on a year ago, latest figures show
Foundations and the future: what you need to think about
Highway to hell: confessions of a would-be Ring reveller
NewsHomeEconomyArt and cultureSportEuropeSocietyEnvironmentHealthHousingEducation
Life in the NetherlandsLatestOpinionBooksTravel10 QuestionsLearning DutchInburgering with DNFood & DrinkAsk us anything
About usTeamDonateAdvertiseWriting for Dutch NewsContact usPrivacyNewsletter
© 2025 DutchNews | Cookie settings

Help us to keep providing you information about coronavirus in the Netherlands.

Many thanks to everyone who has donated to DutchNews.nl in recent days!

We could not provide this service without you. If you have not yet made a contribution, you can do so here.

The DutchNews.nl team

Donate now

Dutchnews Survey

Please help us making DutchNews.nl a better read by taking part in a short survey.

Take part now