Is Weed Legal in Netherlands?

Recreational marijuana in the Netherlands is technically illegal but tolerated under the gedoogbeleid policy applied to soft drugs. The Opium Act of 1976 separates List I (hard drugs) from List II (cannabis and related substances), and the Public Prosecution Service's guidelines tell prosecutors not to pursue adult users for small personal quantities. Adults 18 and over may carry up to 5 grams and possess up to 5 grams in private without facing prosecution.

Licensed coffeeshops, roughly 570 in number, may sell up to 5 grams per customer per transaction and maintain a maximum stock of 500 grams on the premises, under criteria known as the AHOJG/I rules: no advertising, no hard drugs, no nuisance, no minors, no large quantities, and in many municipalities only to residents. Public consumption is permitted outside coffeeshops in most cities but restricted in designated zones such as parts of Amsterdam's red-light district under a 2023 city ordinance. Cultivation above five plants and any commercial supply outside the tolerated retail channel remain criminal under the Opium Act.

The Closed Coffeeshop Chain Experiment (Wietexperiment), launched in 2024 and active through 2026 in ten participating municipalities, tests a fully regulated supply chain from licensed cultivator to coffeeshop. Results will inform national reform discussions.

This page is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Verify current law with qualified counsel before making compliance decisions.