According to a recent report by vanguardia, the Netherlands has launched a new initiative to control cannabis transactions, and cafes in some Dutch cities have begun to try to sell legally grown cannabis. This is a significant departure from the traditional model in which the Netherlands has historically tolerated the purchase and sale of small amounts of cannabis, but prohibited commercial cultivation.
Derrick Bergman, president of the Coalition to End Marijuana Prohibition, is positive, calling it "an important step in the right direction." The experiment essentially provides "quality control" for cafes selling legal cannabis, discouraging the activities of illegal growers.
The initiative, which began in 2017, also aims to provide accurate information about the origin and quality of cannabis, as well as inform consumers about the effects and health risks of cannabis use.
Dutch Health Minister Ernst Kuipers visited the city of Breda to draw up the experiment himself. The initial phase of the experiment will be conducted in two cities, and after six months, it is expected to be launched in 11 counties and cities across the country.
The number of cafes nationwide has dropped significantly in recent years, from a peak of about 2,000 to 565, Bergman said. The proposed regulations not only aim to address the quality and origin of cannabis products, but also limit the activities of illegal growers.
While the Netherlands was the first to decriminalize cannabis use in the 1970s, the country has taken a more conservative approach in recent years, closing Amsterdam's cafes and banning cannabis smoking in the city's historic center.
This trial is an important step in the evolution of cannabis policy in the Netherlands and is expected to provide valuable information on the feasibility and effectiveness of cannabis trade regulation.
