Strong cannabis will be regarded as hard drug

Strong marijuana and hashish must be regarded hard drugs. This will concern cannabis with more than 15 percent of the active ingredient THC. The consequence will be that this strong cannabis may not be sold anymore by the Dutch coffee shops.

The proposal for this rescheduling is on the agenda of the Dutch government this Friday, and is based on recommendations of a committee. The average THC-content of the cannabis sold in Dutch coffee shops is between 15 and 18 percent. This cannabis accounts for nearly three-quarters of all sales. The Garretsen committee, named after its president professor Henk Garretsen, found the risks of addiction and psychotic disorders with this high THC-content too high.