One of the persistent myths about cannabis is that it’s legal in The Netherlands, mostly because of cannabis cafes that operated in Amsterdam for years. But in truth, laws in the Netherlands have been vague about cannabis or not enforced, with no uniform legalization law to govern the country. However, legal cannabis in The Netherlands may finally become a reality in the coming years.

Officials in the Netherlands are rolling out new programs in two cities that may convert the country’s tolerance of cannabis into full legality.

Health Minister Ernst Kuipers celebrated the momentous occasion as he scanned the first box of legal cannabis at the Baron coffee shop in the southern city of Breda, hailing it as a “historic moment,” according to The Guardian.

Even as the program rolls out, Amsterdam is stepping back from its role as a mecca for cannabis tourists. Amsterdam officials recently moved toward making cannabis illegal for use in public, looking to curb problems with tourists pushing the limits of the city’s tolerance, especially in the Red Light District.

Moving From Tolerance to Legal Cannabis in the Netherlands

Law enforcement in The Netherlands has chosen not to enforce cannabis laws under a “tolerance” policy in effect since the 1970s. In essence, the production of cannabis and its supply to coffee shops remains illegal but not actively persecuted, forcing producers and coffee shop owners to operate in a legal gray area even as the city became a magnet for cannabis tourists.

The four-year trial, starting in Breda and Tilburg, aims to address this ambiguity. The move is expected to curb gang involvement, reduce petty crime and mitigate antisocial behavior associated with the illegal cannabis market.

“The criminal organizations took over that criminal market, and therefore coffee shop owners were depending on the criminal market, and that had to stop,” Paul Depla, the mayor of Breda, told The Guardian.

Striving for Certainty in Cannabis Quality

The trial in The Netherlands will involve a limited number of carefully monitored farms responsible for cannabis production, ensuring a transparent supply chain for coffee shops. This shift is intended to eliminate uncertainties surrounding the origin and potential alterations of the cannabis sold.

Ashwin Matai, the cultivation director at Holland High farm, which will legally supply coffee shops, highlighted the improvements in product quality, stating, “The product will be clean, tested, pesticide-free.”

To provide consumers with greater information about the cannabis they consume, the levels of THC and CBD, the active ingredients in cannabis, will be measured, allowing users to determine the strength of their joint.

From a public health perspective, this move is significant, according to Kuipers: “We had no oversight of the process; we could not do any checks on any potential contamination of the products. Now we can do all that.”

Independent researchers will monitor the trial, exploring the possibility of eventual decriminalization. While there is caution about potential repercussions on drug addiction rates, especially in light of the far-right Party for Freedom’s push for a “drug-free Netherlands,” officials are optimistic about bidding farewell to what they deem a hypocritical and not logical policy.