While a true cannabis revolution is taking place in North America at the moment, the opposite is happening in The Netherlands as we speak; the Dutch government is no longer that tolerant when it comes down to marijuana. Since yesterday, the retail of horticultural supplies to cannabis growers is no longer allowed in The Netherlands. This is a strange situation; not every retailer or manufacturer knows what his products are used for; so how will the Dutch control this new legislation?
Holland has about 50 'growshops' : legal outlets that are retailing growing supplies for cannabis cultivation specifically. While the sale of marijuana is legalized in Holland, the commercial cultivation of cannabis is illegal. Only home gardeners are allowed to cultivate up to 5 plants for their own use. They are not allowed to resell the harvest to coffee shops or dealers, a strange situation.
At a growshop however, homegrowers could buy complete supplies to construct high end facilities. This is no longer allowed.
The new legislation which came into effect yesterday, will also no longer allow suppliers and manufacturers of horticultural goods like fertilizers, growing media and supplemental lighting to sell their goods to growshops.
According to many growshop owners, the new legislation is controversial; they say that they can not determine whether there customers are dedicated cannabis growers, or growers of ornamental plants or vegetables; these growers require the same materials.