The potential intertwining of the tobacco and cannabis industries remains politically sensitive. On August 25, the Cabinet published answers to two sets of parliamentary questions regarding the tobacco industry's involvement in the closed coffeeshop chain experiment.
From Marlboro to Dutch cannabis
The reason for this was reports that Philip Morris had become a partial owner of a large grower participating in the Dutch experiment through an investment. CDA MPs Harmen Krul and Tijs van den Brink asked the cabinet questions about this in June.
ChristenUnie MP Mirjam Bikker also asked questions. The concerns go beyond mere ownership. MPs want to know whether commercial interests from the tobacco industry could ultimately gain influence over cannabis policy, product development, or the further structuring of the regulated market.
Growers are being checked
The Cabinet points out that participating growers must meet conditions and are subject to supervision by various authorities, including the NVWA and the Inspectorate of Justice and Security.
The Bibob Act also plays a role. A change in the shareholder structure may give rise to further investigation. Moreover, designated growers are periodically subjected to a Bibob investigation again.
Cannabis and tobacco remain separate policy areas.
The political discussion touches upon a larger issue. With tobacco, the government specifically tries to severely limit commercial influence on health policy. Members of Parliament want to prevent large tobacco companies from building a new market position through investments in cannabis and subsequently gaining influence on policy.
Ready to see how Snowflake works?
The Dutch cannabis experiment was intended to investigate whether a controlled chain from cultivation to coffeeshop is possible. The arrival of financially powerful players from the tobacco world unexpectedly adds a new debate to this: who will be allowed to profit from legal cannabis in the future, and how much influence should those companies be granted?
Source: tweedekamer.nl
