This is an English translation. The original Dutch article is authoritative.
Report of the Advisory Committee on the Closed Cannabis Chain Experiment
The report by the Advisory Committee on the Closed Cannabis Chain Experiment provides the cabinet with concrete tools for the elaboration of the experiment with cannabis cultivation for recreational use in the closed coffeeshop supply chain. On the proposal of Minister Bruins for Medical Care and Sport and Minister Grapperhaus of Justice and Security, the Council of Ministers has decided to set up the cannabis cultivation experiment in such a way that the effect on crime, safety, public nuisance, and public health can be properly measured.
“The advice can help to take a new step in the complex Dutch soft drugs policy,” according to Ministers Bruins and Grapperhaus. The cabinet is therefore adopting much of the advice presented to both ministers on 20 June 2018 by the committee chaired by Professor Knottnerus.
For instance, the advice of the Knottnerus committee to pay special attention to prevention, particularly aimed at young people, is embraced. The use of cannabis, often smoked in combination with tobacco, is not healthy. Government regulation must not create the impression that it is healthy.
Within the experiment, coffeeshops must provide information to customers and – as in the current tolerance policy – no advertising of any kind is permitted. Growers and coffeeshop owners are responsible for the products they produce or sell and for the distribution. The cabinet also adopts the advice to appoint five to ten growers, including sufficient variation in cannabis strains. Furthermore, a closed chain is an important condition. No cannabis must leak into the unregulated market.
The cabinet is committed to sticking to an experiment in six to ten municipalities, as agreed in the coalition agreement. In order to achieve a meaningful impact measurement, the cabinet is adopting the suggestion of the Knottnerus committee to include control municipalities in the experiment, alongside the participating municipalities. The Knottnerus committee will make recommendations regarding the municipalities to be selected in its second advisory report in the autumn of 2018.
Minister Bruins and Minister Grapperhaus are now first further elaborating the experiment and the impact measurement. In consultation with relevant executive organisations – Association of Netherlands Municipalities (VNG), the Public Prosecution Service (OM), the police, the NVWA, and the Health and Youth Care Inspectorate (IGJ) – work is meanwhile underway on an Order in Council (AMvB). Together with the proposed Bill for the closed coffeeshop supply chain experiment, this Order in Council will form the legal basis for the experiment.
In the elaboration, Minister Bruins and Minister Grapperhaus will also utilise the expertise of specialists and entrepreneurs to ensure that realistic and feasible conditions are set for the experiment. The cabinet's starting point is to ensure an experiment that is scientifically relevant and provides sufficient information on which to base political decision-making. The legislative proposal will be submitted to the House of Representatives as soon as possible. In the autumn, the draft Order in Council will be presented to the involved parties for advice, and an internet consultation will take place.
Source: rijksoverheid.nl
Photo: NOS