Coffee Shops in Only 10 Dutch Cities Will Sell Legal Cannabis from April 2025

The Netherlands, known for its liberal approach to cannabis, is entering a new era of regulation. Starting in April 2025, coffee shops in 10 Dutch cities will only be allowed to sell cannabis from licensed producers.

This is part of a large-scale experiment that will test the possibilities of creating a fully legal cannabis production and distribution chain. Will the Netherlands end the era of tolerance and open the door to full legalization? Let’s take a closer look at the details.

Context and objectives of the experiment

The Dutch policy of tolerance towards cannabis, known as “gedoogbeleid,” allows the sale of small amounts of cannabis in coffee shops, but production and wholesale distribution remain illegal. This is the so-called “front door, back door system” – legal sales at the entrance to the coffee shops, but illegal deliveries through the back door.

The experiment aims to end this unclear situation, reduce the impact of crime on the market and improve public safety. As the mayor of Breda, Paul Delpa, emphasized:”The current system is deviant. Sales are legal, but production is not. This fuels a criminal world that profits from the production and sale of cannabis. This needs to change.”

Stages of cannabis sales regulation: coffee shops to only sell legal cannabis

The experiment began in late 2023 in Breda and Tilburg , and expanded to Groningen, Zaanstad, Almere, Arnhem, Nijmegen, Voorne aan Zee, Heerlen, and Maastricht in June 2024. In the initial phase, coffee shops offered both regulated and “illegal” cannabis, which was intended to help assess the “quantity, quality, and variety” of products.

As of April 7th, 2025, 75 coffee shops in these 10 cities will be allowed to sell only products from licensed producers. There are currently four licensed companies, but three more will join them soon, increasing supply stability and consumer choice.

The policy of tolerance, although for decades a symbol of liberalism, has created serious problems. Illegal cannabis production fuels crime, including money laundering, violence and corruption. According to government reports, the current system also makes it difficult to effectively control the quality of products and combat the illegal market.

Reactions to the experiment

The introduction of the experiment has been met with mixed reactions. Supporters emphasize that regulating the cannabis market is necessary to ensure public safety and reduce the impact of crime. Critics fear that the project may not yield the expected results, especially without the participation of Amsterdam, a city that has been a symbol of Dutch cannabis policy for decades.

What’s more, a last-minute attempt to include the eastern district of Amsterdam in the experiment was rejected by parliament. However, a majority of MPs still support continuing the project, rejecting proposals to discontinue it, including from the far-right PVV.

Expected effects of the experiment

The experiment will last four years, and its results could become the foundation for future Dutch drug policy. Regulating the entire chain – from production to sale – is expected to improve public safety, reduce crime and provide consumers with access to high-quality cannabis.

With regulation, coffee shops will be able to offer products with predictable quality and composition, which is key for both recreational and medical users. Long-term effects also include the possibility of using the results of the experiment as a model for other countries considering legalizing cannabis.

One of the key challenges was to secure enough licensed cannabis producers. There are currently four, but three more will join by April 2025, which will allow for demand to be met in the 75 coffee shops participating in the project. Licensed producers will be able to fully adapt their crops to market demand.

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(Featured image by Adrien Olichon via Pexels)

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First published in FaktyKonopne. A third-party contributor translated and adapted the article from the original. In case of discrepancy, the original will prevail.

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