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

23 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

Regulated marijuana trial should be ‘bigger, with 15 varieties + hashish’ says commission

June 21, 2018
Coffee shops are licenced to sell weed. Photo: Graham Dockery
Sorting flowers in a coffee shop. Photo: Graham Dockery

The government’s plans to experiment with regulated marijuana cultivation should be carried out far more widely than in just six to 10 local authority areas, the government  commission working on the plans has said.

The current plan is not wide enough to be properly representative and to allow methodological analysis, and would, therefore, be pretty pointless, the commission said on Tuesday afternoon.

The experiment with regulated growing is supposed to remove the gray area between the sale of marijuana in council-licenced coffee shops and the illegal cultivation and supply.

The commission also recommends that the state should decide who should grow the marijuana. They, in turn, should be capable of meeting high standards and growing a variety of different types of weed – at least 15 types of marijuana and 10 different varieties of hashish.

Users panel

The list of the different varieties would be drawn up together with coffee shop owners and a panel of users.

Coffee shops currently have a much wider selection on offer and some 20% of users prefer hashish from Moroccoa, Afghanistan and Nepal. Foreign hashish will not be allowed during the experiment and ‘it will be a challenge to produce this at home,’ commission chairman Andre Knotternerus said.

The commission also says action must be taken to ensure the marijuana is moved around as little as possible, to prevent drugs gangs getting involved.

Stock

The commission says cannabis cafes, known as coffee shops, should be able to have enough stock for a day’s sales in house. Currently they may not have more than 500 grammes on the premises.

RTL correspondent Frits Wester said it is notable that the recommendations go much further than the plans included in the coalition agreement. In particular, the commission’s belief that the experiments should not be stopped after four years if successful, is worthy of note, he said.

More details about the trials, including which authorities can take part, will be published later in the year.  Health minister Bruno Bruins and justice minister Ferd Grapperhaus say they will respond to the recommendations shortly.

Read the report (Dutch only)

Share this article
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • LinkedIn
  • Reddit
  • Copy URL
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
AEX falls as Trump threatens 50% import tariff on European goods
Dutch forensic experts develop deepfake video detector
Zaanstad says yes to tourist tickets for Zaanse Schans windmills
Fewer international child abductions by parents last year
Weekend brings showers and cooler weather, sun still possible
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