Part of: Closed coffeeshop chain experiment
The experiment in one sentence
The closed coffeeshop chain experiment (formally: Closed Coffeeshop Chain Experiment Act, in force 1 July 2020) investigates whether, in ten designated municipalities, coffeeshops can sell high-quality, regulated cannabis through a closed chain from cultivation to point of sale.
Purpose
The aim is twofold: to assess whether a closed chain is workable in practice, and to measure its effects on crime, safety, nuisance and public health. The experiment is therefore a learning exercise, not a predetermined end goal: an evaluation will follow that the legislator can act on.
The central research question is: what are the effects of a closed cannabis chain on public health, crime and safety?
Legal basis
The Act creates a temporary exemption from the Opium Act for designated growers and participating coffeeshops in selected municipalities. Outside this group the regular tolerance policy remains in force. The full legal set consists of:
- Closed Coffeeshop Chain Experiment Act
- Closed Coffeeshop Chain Experiment Decree
- Closed Coffeeshop Chain Experiment Regulation
What changes in a participating coffeeshop?
During the experimental phase, coffeeshops in the ten municipalities may sell only cannabis from the designated growers. Products carry a mandatory label (THC/CBD content, health warning), are track & trace traceable from grower to point of sale, and are tested for contaminants such as pesticides, heavy metals and moulds.