Cannabis Pilot Trials In The Netherlands And Switzerland
Europe is home to a unique form of cannabis public policy experimentation. Multiple jurisdictions, the Netherlands and Switzerland, permit regional adult-use cannabis commerce pilot trials.
The trials allow recreational cannabis commerce to occur at a local level for research purposes. The data and information collected via the trials, in theory, help policymakers and regulators when crafting national laws and regulations.
Updates from both jurisdictions have surfaced recently in media coverage, and by many measures the pilot trials are going well, particularly in Switzerland according to a new government report.
“Switzerland’s adult-use marijuana legalization pilot program is “running smoothly,” with “no indication of any disturbances to public order,” a government-commissioned report finds as lawmakers are considering legislation to broadly end cannabis prohibition across the country.” reported Marijuana Moment in its original coverage.
“About two years after the pilot program launched in seven municipalities across the country, the Federal Office of Public Health (FOPH) study—carried out by the University of Lausanne and the University of Applied Sciences Northwestern Switzerland—generally determined that the initiative has been a success.” the outlet also reported.
Things are a bit more mixed in the Netherlands. Not due to public safety or health concerns, but rather, due to concerns over an upcoming supply change to the nation’s program that participants are indicating could cause issues.
“The regulated cannabis cultivation experiment is supposed to enter its next phase on April 7. From then on, the coffeeshops in the participating municipalities are only allowed to sell cannabis from regulated growers. But the experiment is not ready to move on.” reported NL Times in its local coverage.
“There is too little supply from the regulated growers, and the quality is sometimes insufficient, coffeeshop owners said in a letter to the mayors of the participating municipalities. They worry that the experiment will fail if the deadline isn’t postponed.” NL Times also stated.
Another country that has given preliminary approval to regional adult-use cannabis commerce pilot trials is Germany, although the nation’s pilot program launch has experienced delays.
Current European Union agreements prohibit nationwide recreational cannabis commerce such as what is found in countries like Uruguay and Canada. However, EU agreements do permit local recreational cannabis commerce activity for research purposes, so for now, that is what EU-member nations have to work with in addition to permitting home cultivation and cultivation associations.