A short guide to everything you wanted to know about cannabis, and maybe some things you didn’t know!
WHAT IS THE LAW ABOUT CANNABIS IN AMSTERDAM?
In 1972, the Dutch government divided drugs into more- and less-dangerous categories, with cannabis being in the lesser category. Accordingly, possession of 30 grams or less was made a misdemeanor.
Cannabis has been available for recreational use in coffee shops in The Netherlands since 1976. Cannabis products are only sold openly in certain local “coffeeshops” and possession of up to 5 grams for personal use is decriminalized, however, the police may still confiscate it, which often happens in car checks near the border or at events. Other types of sales and transportation are not permitted, although the general approach toward cannabis is lenient. Note: You’ll see the Amsterdam logo and our registration number on the front door
WHY IS CANNABIS TOLERATED IN AMSTERDAM?
Though retail sales are tolerated, production, transportation, and bulk possession of cannabis outside of retail stores is illegal, preventing testing for contaminants and dosing. After legalization and regulation of the entire supply chain in other countries, some cities in the Netherlands are participating in a pilot project using officially approved growers and testers, and labeling of the amount of THC.
The Dutch Ministry of Justice applies a gedoogbeleid (tolerance policy) with regard to the category of soft drugs: an official set of guidelines telling public prosecutors under which circumstances offenders should not be prosecuted. This is a more official version of a common practice in other European countries wherein law enforcement sets priorities regarding offenses on which it is important enough to spend limited resources.
According to current gedoogbeleid the possession of a maximum amount of five grams cannabis for personal use is not prosecuted. Cultivation is treated in a similar way. Cultivation of 5 plants or less is usually not prosecuted when they are renounced by the cultivator
