Fuente: Prohibición Partners Lugar: General Market Overview



The Netherlands’ legal adult-use cannabis experiment, officially known as the “Weed Experiment” (Wietexperiment), represents one of the most significant regulatory shifts in European cannabis policy. The multi-year trial is designed to create a fully legal and domestically regulated supply chain for adult-use cannabis — from licensed cultivation through to sale in coffeeshops.



For decades, the Netherlands has tolerated retail cannabis sales in coffeeshops under a de facto policy of “gedoogbeleid” (non-enforcement), while cultivation and wholesale supply remained illegal. This long-standing contradiction — often referred to as the “backdoor problem” — has now been partially addressed by the Wietexperiment, which seeks to replace black-market supply with licensed, Dutch-produced cannabis.



After an extended planning and testing period, the main experimental phase officially launched on 7 April 2025, marking the first time in Dutch history that adult-use cannabis coffeeshops are being supplied exclusively by legal domestic producers.



However, the political environment remains uncertain. The government elected in 2024 has adopted a more cautious stance towards the trial, and while the legal framework prevents premature termination, stakeholders warn that political resistance could influence its longevity or scope if challenges emerge during the full rollout.



Regulatory Framework



The Wietexperiment is established under the Controlled Cannabis Supply Chain Act, which provides the legal foundation for licensed cultivation, wholesale distribution, and retail supply to coffeeshops within selected municipalities.



Key Regulatory Parameters:




10 participating municipalities selected for inclusion.



10 licensed cultivators, each authorised to supply all coffeeshops within the participating municipalities.



All coffeeshops in those municipalities must source exclusively from licensed cultivators during the main experimental phase.



Cultivators and coffeeshops operate under strict traceability, quality control, and reporting requirements, supervised by the Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport and the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority (NVWA).




Participating Municipalities:




Tilburg (11 coffeeshops)



Breda (8 coffeeshops)



Almere (2 coffeeshops)



Arnhem (12 coffeeshops)



Groningen (12 coffeeshops)



Heerlen (1 coffeeshop)



Maastricht (16 coffeeshops)



Nijmegen (12 coffeeshops)



Zaanstad (2 coffeeshops)



Voorne aan Zee (2 coffeeshops)




Licensed Cultivators:



CultivatorStatusWebsiteFYTA GroupCommercially Operatingfyta.groupAardachtigCommercially Operatingaardachtig.nlCanAdelaarCommercially Operatingcanadelaar.atLeli Holland (Village Farms)Commercially Operatingleliholland.nlHollandse Hoogtes (formerly Cannamax)Commercially Operatinghollandsehoogtes.nlQ-Farms (QATI)Commercially Operatingq-farms.comHoligram (Grassmeijers / Join Us Foundation)Commercially Operatingholigram.nlLinsboer B.V. (The Plug)Pendinglinsboer.comCookiesPendingN/AThe Growery (Aurora)PendingN/A



Experiment Timeline



PhasePeriodDescriptionStartup Phase15 Dec 2023 – 17 Jun 2024Pilot testing in Breda and Tilburg. Coffeeshops could source from both legal and illicit suppliers while system logistics and traceability mechanisms were trialled.Transitional Phase17 Jun 2024 – 7 Apr 2025Expanded participation to all ten municipalities. Coffeeshops transitioned gradually to sourcing from approved cultivators while still allowed to supplement from illicit suppliers.Experimental Phase (Current)7 Apr 2025 – Apr 2029Full operational phase: all participating coffeeshops must source exclusively from the ten licensed Dutch cultivators. This period will last at least four years.Completion PhaseFrom Apr 2029Evaluation and decision period. The system may revert to pre-experiment status or evolve into a permanent legal model depending on results and political direction.



Products & Prices



During the initial rollout of the experimental phase (April 2025), coffeeshops across participating municipalities began offering legal, domestically cultivated cannabis products.



Example Retail Prices (April 2025):



Product NameProducerPrice per gram (€)Original ZHollandse Hoogtes16.00Rainbow ZIZIHollandse Hoogtes14.00ZIZIHollandse Hoogtes13.50Headbanger (NEW)Hollandse Hoogtes13.00Gelato #41 (NEW)Hollandse Hoogtes13.00Gary PaytonHollandse Hoogtes12.50Guava GelatoHollandse Hoogtes12.00Tha Melon (NEW)Hollandse Hoogtes12.00Georgia PieHollandse Hoogtes12.00ZowahhHollandse Hoogtes11.00



Prices in the legal market are comparable to those of existing coffeeshops outside the trial, reflecting a deliberate policy choice to avoid incentivising black-market purchasing. Product quality, packaging, and cannabinoid composition are regulated, with mandatory THC/CBD labelling and pesticide testing.







Stay Informed with the Insights Hub



The Netherlands’ adult-use framework continues to evolve, creating both challenges and opportunities for patients, policymakers, and businesses. To access deeper analysis, data, and market forecasts, join our Insights Hub — your gateway to industry intelligence across global cannabis markets.




Sign Up Now For Free








Market Outlook



The Netherlands’ adult-use experiment marks the first comprehensive national trial of regulated cannabis supply chains in Europe. Its outcome will have major implications for policy development across the continent, particularly in Germany, Switzerland, and the Czech Republic, which are observing the programme closely.



Key Opportunities:




First legal framework bridging cultivation and retail in the EU.



Comprehensive data collection on consumption, quality, and safety.



Potential model for future EU regulatory harmonisation.




Key Challenges:




Political uncertainty under the current government (elected 2024).



Possible logistical issues in scaling supply and distribution.



Persistent competition from the existing grey market.




If the trial proceeds as planned, the Netherlands could transition from its long-standing tolerance model to a fully regulated adult-use cannabis market post-2029, potentially serving as the European benchmark for safe and traceable legal supply.





















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