"It is good to hear that developments in Canada and the US lead to an increase in the use of the expertise of Dutch growers and horticulture suppliers", Minister Bruno Bruins of Medical Care and Sport replied to parliamentary questions by D66 representative Vera Bergkamp. He also told that the Netherlands will keep to European agreements with regard to the cultivation of medicinal cannabis, and that a scenario similar to Canada is not viable.
Bergkamp filed the questions after Prime Minister Rutte recently discussed growing of medicinal cannabis with the greenhouse horticulture entrepreneurs of the Westland. The D66 representative was curious afterwards to what was discussed. Bergkamp did not receive a real answer. Bruins informed that the prime minister has taken note of the entrepreneurs' thoughts and did not make any commitments.
Bergkamp also wanted to know which rules hamper or obstruct the large scale production of medicinal cannabis by multiple suppliers for export. Bruins told that internal policy rules have been drafted limiting the export of medicinal cannabis. "We maximally export 100 kilo per year per country. If a country wants to import more than 100 kilo, a formal request by the authorities has to be filed.
We will also only export more than 100 kilo per year for a limited period. We expect countries that need such a quantity to be self-supporting and set up their own cultivation location. The Bureau Medicinal Cannabis can, at request, advise countries and give information about the Dutch model and Dutch legislation and regulation. Countries such as Germany and Denmark have made use of this."
Finally, Bruins informed Bergkamp and parliament that there is a European tender procedure running with the intention to contract two parties for growing medicinal cannabis. The North American practices will not happen in the Netherlands any time soon.