“The most important conclusion we can draw is that it is a mistake to think you can reduce the illegal cannabis world by legalization,” Tops, continuing on to express his somewhat dim view of the Canadian system, told Nieuwsuur. 
Canada’s federal legalization of cannabis has failed to eradicate the participation of organized crime, Pieter Tops, a Police Academy lecturer warned the Netherlands on popular news show Nieuwsuur.
Tops visited Canada as part of a police delegation in July, and appeared unimpressed despite the fact that the drug has been legal for less than a year in the Great White North.
“The most important conclusion we can draw is that it is a mistake to think you can reduce the illegal cannabis world by legalization,” Tops, continuing on to express his somewhat dim view of the Canadian system, told Nieuwsuur.
“You can have as much cannabis at home as you want, and that has all sorts of options for the illegal trade. And the legal shops are having a tough time because illegal cannabis is a third cheaper. That makes it hard to compete,” he was quoted saying in the news program.
Tops’ comments come in the wake of the country’s announcement this spring of its plans to court legal, regulated cannabis production. Although the legislation is currently pending the approval of the lower house of parliament.
The pilot project is aimed at eliminating the fog between illicit cultivation of cannabis in the country and its supply of government-approved coffeeshops. Enthusiasm for the plan has been muted at best, however, with larger metropolitan areas where most shops are located expressing wariness in participating in the four-year trial.
A particular sticking point is the project’s expiry date, which is firm regardless of how successful the project turns out to be. Coffee shops will have no choice but to revert back to purchasing illicit an illicit supply once the program has reached its conclusion.
North Americans tend to view Holland as a mecca of legal marijuana, and the country is well-known for its cannabis tourism, so many people are surprised to discover that the weed isn’t actually legal.
Cannabis laws in the Netherlands are confusing at best. Although the drug is technically illegal, coffee shops are issued government permits to keep up to 500 g in stock and sell up to 5 g of cannabis flower or hashish to each customer who is over the age of 18.
More confusingly, despite being allowed (kind of) to sell cannabis, it is illegal for coffeshops to purchase the drug, leaving many shop owners to buy their cannabis from a discrete, no-questions-asked third party.
In Amsterdam, tourists flock to “coffeeshops,” which is what the Dutch call cafes that sell marijuana. NATHALIE MAGNIEZ/AFP/Getty Images
The penalties for breaking the rules are not to be taken lightly. For possession of five to 30 g, individuals can receive a hefty fine (up to EUR2,250) and/or a month in prison.
Possession of an excess of 30 g can net users an even heftier fine — up to EUR11,250 — and years of incarceration, and large-scale dealing, exporting or importing cannabis can result in fines of up to EUR45,000 and four years in jail.
Even though the use of the drug is generally accepted, coffeeshops have been a point of contention in recent years, with particular objections from neighbouring countries who complain that the illicit cannabis is being smuggled across their borders.
While Tops is correct in his observation that Canada’s legal market has not eradicated the illicit one, his focus might be best placed on dealing with the illegal market closer to home.
It’s hard to see the forest from the trees.
Want to keep up to date on what’s happening in the world of cannabis? Subscribe to the Cannabis Post newsletter for weekly insights into the industry, what insiders will be talking about and content from across the Postmedia Network.
Canada’s federal legalization of cannabis has failed to eradicate the participation of organized crime, Pieter Tops, a Police Academy lecturer warned the Netherlands on popular news show Nieuwsuur.
Tops visited Canada as part of a police delegation in July, and appeared unimpressed despite the fact that the drug has been legal for less than a year in the Great White North.
“The most important conclusion we can draw is that it is a mistake to think you can reduce the illegal cannabis world by legalization,” Tops, continuing on to express his somewhat dim view of the Canadian system, told Nieuwsuur.
“You can have as much cannabis at home as you want, and that has all sorts of options for the illegal trade. And the legal shops are having a tough time because illegal cannabis is a third cheaper. That makes it hard to compete,” he was quoted saying in the news program.
Tops’ comments come in the wake of the country’s announcement this spring of its plans to court legal, regulated cannabis production. Although the legislation is currently pending the approval of the lower house of parliament.
The pilot project is aimed at eliminating the fog between illicit cultivation of cannabis in the country and its supply of government-approved coffeeshops. Enthusiasm for the plan has been muted at best, however, with larger metropolitan areas where most shops are located expressing wariness in participating in the four-year trial.
A particular sticking point is the project’s expiry date, which is firm regardless of how successful the project turns out to be. Coffee shops will have no choice but to revert back to purchasing illicit an illicit supply once the program has reached its conclusion.
North Americans tend to view Holland as a mecca of legal marijuana, and the country is well-known for its cannabis tourism, so many people are surprised to discover that the weed isn’t actually legal.
Cannabis laws in the Netherlands are confusing at best. Although the drug is technically illegal, coffee shops are issued government permits to keep up to 500 g in stock and sell up to 5 g of cannabis flower or hashish to each customer who is over the age of 18.
More confusingly, despite being allowed (kind of) to sell cannabis, it is illegal for coffeshops to purchase the drug, leaving many shop owners to buy their cannabis from a discrete, no-questions-asked third party.
In Amsterdam, tourists flock to “coffeeshops,” which is what the Dutch call cafes that sell marijuana. NATHALIE MAGNIEZ/AFP/Getty Images
The penalties for breaking the rules are not to be taken lightly. For possession of five to 30 g, individuals can receive a hefty fine (up to EUR2,250) and/or a month in prison.
Possession of an excess of 30 g can net users an even heftier fine — up to EUR11,250 — and years of incarceration, and large-scale dealing, exporting or importing cannabis can result in fines of up to EUR45,000 and four years in jail.
Even though the use of the drug is generally accepted, coffeeshops have been a point of contention in recent years, with particular objections from neighbouring countries who complain that the illicit cannabis is being smuggled across their borders.
While Tops is correct in his observation that Canada’s legal market has not eradicated the illicit one, his focus might be best placed on dealing with the illegal market closer to home.
It’s hard to see the forest from the trees.
Want to keep up to date on what’s happening in the world of cannabis? Subscribe to the Cannabis Post newsletter for weekly insights into the industry, what insiders will be talking about and content from across the Postmedia Network.
