蜜芽传媒

The Netherlands is starting a trial to decriminalise the production and supply of cannabis. The four year experiment will start in two cities, Breda and Tilburg.

The consumption of cannabis has long been allowed in the Netherlands but the sale of the drug remains illegal, even though it is tolerated.

In the pilot, production will be limited to a handful of farms, whose cannabis will be closely monitored before it is supplied to coffee shops.

Ernst Kuipers, the minister for health, welfare and sport in the Netherlands, told Newshour's Tim Franks why the Dutch government is doing this.

(Photo shows packaging with legally grown weed are seen during the first sale of regulated cannabis in the coffee shop De Baron in Breda, The Netherlands on 15 December 2023. Credit: Rob Engelaar/EPA)