Startup cannabis grower Fyta Company is allowed, after a judge intervened, to grow cannabis in the Netherlands. The Ministry of Health, Welfare, and Sport threatened to decline a request for opium dispensation, but according to the judge, this was done on incorrect grounds. The case is about the production of cannabis floss with the intent of selling it as an active ingredient to a German medicinal drug company.
The startup requested the dispensation in May of 2019. In April 2020, the Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport disclosed that they wanted to decline the request because the direct sales of cannabis on the market place is not allowed (The Netherlands is working on a legal cannabis experiment with a closed coffeeshop chain).
No opium dispensation needed
However, the startup could no longer wait to start producing since many investments had already been made, but there was no income yet. The plan is to grow cannabis indoors at a grower in the Dutch town of Waalwijk, supply THC extracts, as well as a yearly delivery of 3000 kilograms worth of cannabis to Dermapharm/Remedix AG in Germany.
The grower is allowed to start his operation now. Waiting for confirmation of the requested opium dispensation is not needed according to the judge given the nature of the companies activities.