A New Phase For Cannabis Pilot Trials In The Netherlands

Retail adult-use cannabis outlets participating in pilot trial research projects in the Netherlands entered into a new era today, with sales of recreational pilot trial cannabis flower products being limited to flowers originating from regulated sources. Previously, pilot trial participants could sell cannabis flower products produced by unregulated sources.

“From today, all coffeeshops in the ten participating municipalities are only allowed to sell cannabis grown by regulated cultivators.” reported NL Times in its local coverage. “This involves almost 80 coffeeshops in Almere, Arnhem, Breda, Groningen, Heerlen, Hellevoetsluis, Maastricht, Nijmegen, Tilburg, and Zaanstad.”

“This is a big step because it puts an end to the tolerance policy – in which coffeeshops were allowed to sell cannabis, but authorities turned a blind eye to where they got their supply because cultivation was illegal – in these municipalities.” the outlet also reported.

Some participants of the pilot trials had previously expressed concern about potential supply issues. Many regulated cannabis producers have indicated that they have experienced various setbacks in their operations.

Hash products were also originally slated to be part of the April 7th deadline; however, Minister of Justice David van Weel and State Secretary for Prevention Vincent Karremans previously announced that the deadline for requiring hash pilot trial products to come from regulated sources will be delayed until June 10th, 2025.