Cannabis grow shops, distributors soon illegal

The Senate has accepted a legislative proposal of Minister Opstelten (Security and Justice) which makes all actions of persons and businesses who prepare and promote illegal cannabis growing punishable.

The maxim prison sentence for such an offence will be three years. The legislative amendment will take effect on March 1st, 2015.

Through this amendment all links in the preliminary phase of cannabis production can be addressed. This involves people and businesses who do not grow cannabis themselves, but earn money with the supply of goods or services and the financing of illegal cannabis growing.

Examples are grow shops, transport and distribution companies, landlords of sheds and barns, electricians who install illegal electrical equipment or those who trade in ready-made wardrobes for cannabis cultivation.