Key Takeaways
Policy in one glance
The Netherlands has not fully legalized cannabis; it operates a long-standing “toleration” system. Adults may possess up to five grams without prosecution, and licensed coffeeshops may sell small amounts under strict rules. [1][2]
What “weed” really means
The everyday word “weed” originally means an unwanted plant; in Spanish it is “mala hierba” (translated from Spanish). Over time it also became a shorthand for cannabis. [3]
Prices—then and now
That often-quoted €5 pre-rolled joint is mostly a memory. In the current government cannabis trial, the average retail price is just under €7 per gram; actual coffeeshop menus outside the trial vary by city and quality, and pre-rolls generally cost more than €5. [4][2]
Know your terms
“Joint,” “hashish,” “pollen/kief,” and “terpenes” describe different forms or features of cannabis. Each carries distinct characteristics explained below. [5][6][7]
Story & Details
How the system actually works
Dutch authorities tolerate, rather than outright legalize, limited cannabis possession and sale to reduce street dealing and keep trade in a semi-controlled environment. Possession of up to five grams is not prosecuted. Coffeeshops can sell small quantities to adults, but they must follow strict conditions: no sales to minors, no advertising, no alcohol, and other house rules set by municipalities. This approach—designed to separate soft drugs from hard-drug markets—remains the backbone of Dutch policy. [1][2]
Why there’s a new supply trial
To address the persistent “back door” problem (shops may sell but historically had no legal way to source), the government launched a controlled-supply experiment. Under this trial, licensed growers supply participating municipalities, and products carry clear information on origin and content. Early public materials indicate the average retail price in the trial is just under €7 per gram, reflecting a more transparent supply chain. [4]
Prices: then vs now
Travel lore long suggested “€5 a joint.” Today, expect to pay more. Because gram prices in the legal trial average just under €7, and because pre-rolled joints include production, tax, and brand mark-ups, menus commonly set pre-rolls above €5—especially in tourist centers. Exact prices are unregulated and differ by city, shop, product strength, and whether you buy flower, resin (hashish), or a pre-roll. Always check the current menu on site. [4][2]
Key Cannabis Terms Explained
Joint — A cannabis cigarette, typically rolled in paper; may contain only cannabis (“pure”) or cannabis mixed with tobacco, depending on local norms and shop rules. [5]
Weed — Common name for cannabis flower; the word also means any unwanted plant, reflected in Spanish as “mala hierba” (translated from Spanish). [3]
Hashish (cannabis resin) — A concentrated form produced by separating and pressing resin glands (trichomes) from the plant. Often denser, with aromas and effects distinct from dried flower. [6]
Pollen / kief — Dry-sieved, powdery trichomes collected from cannabis; sometimes pressed into a soft resin. In European drug-monitoring language, it is treated as a resin product. [7]
Terpenes — Volatile aromatic compounds found in many plants (including cannabis) that shape scent and may modulate perceived effects alongside cannabinoids. [8][5]
What the rules mean for visitors and residents
Adults can buy small quantities in licensed coffeeshops. Shops verify age (18+), refuse service to minors, and typically limit per-person purchases to keep within toleration thresholds. Public nuisance rules are enforced locally, so consuming on streets or near schools can draw fines. Shops do not serve alcohol. If you’re in a trial municipality, labels and supply are part of the controlled chain; elsewhere, the familiar toleration model applies. [1][2][4]
Conclusions
Clear but pragmatic
Dutch cannabis policy is best understood as pragmatism: tolerate small-scale use and regulate points of sale to protect public order. The new supply experiment aims to close the sourcing gap and add transparency.
Language matters
Knowing that “weed” originally means an unwanted plant—and how terms like hashish, pollen/kief, and terpenes differ—helps consumers read menus and understand products.
Price reality
That €5 joint benchmark belongs to the past. With trial-area grams averaging just under €7 and wider market mark-ups, pre-rolls today are typically priced above €5, with local variation the rule rather than the exception.
Selected References
[1] Government of the Netherlands — “Possession of soft drugs for personal use will not be prosecuted” (includes the five-gram guideline and coffeeshop toleration policy): https://www.government.nl/topics/drugs/soft-drugs
[2] Government of the Netherlands — “Why does the Netherlands tolerate coffee shops?” (policy rationale and shop rules): https://www.government.nl/topics/drugs/coffee-shops/why-does-the-netherlands-tolerate-coffee-shops
[3] Britannica Dictionary — “weed” (definitions include “unwanted plant” and “marijuana”): https://www.britannica.com/dictionary/weed
[4] Government (Open Government portal) — Experiment Closed Cannabis Chain, public information noting the average retail price “just under €7 per gram”: https://open.overheid.nl/documenten/ronl-fbbf5a5d77ef0d1e9e927abf5c8e9a47f7a9b4e3/pdf
[5] EU Drugs Agency (EUDA, formerly EMCDDA) — Cannabis products profile (herbal cannabis and terminology context): https://www.euda.europa.eu/publications/drug-profiles/cannabis-products_en
[6] EU Drugs Agency (EUDA) — Cannabis resin profile (hashish overview and production): https://www.euda.europa.eu/publications/drug-profiles/cannabis-resin_en
[7] EU Drugs Agency (EUDA) — (Within the resin profile and product notes) recognition of dry-sieved trichomes (“kief/pollen”) as resin product: https://www.euda.europa.eu/publications/drug-profiles/cannabis-resin_en
[8] Encyclopaedia Britannica — “Terpene” (definition and role of terpenes in plants): https://www.britannica.com/science/terpene
[9] BBC News (YouTube) — “Netherlands trials legally cultivating cannabis for first time” (journalistic explainer on the Dutch experiment): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ANXBMQ4e0u4
Appendix
A–Z mini-definitions for clarity
Coffeeshop
A licensed retail venue permitted to sell small amounts of cannabis under local toleration rules; no alcohol sales and no advertising. Adults only. [2]
Hashish
A pressed resin form of cannabis made from trichomes; typically distinct in texture and aroma from dried flower. [6]
Joint
A cannabis cigarette. May be pure cannabis or mixed with tobacco, depending on local custom and shop policy. [5]
Pollen / Kief
Dry-sieved trichomes collected from cannabis; sometimes pressed. Treated as a resin product in EU monitoring. [7]
Terpenes
A large family of volatile aromatics produced by plants; in cannabis, they drive scent and may shape the overall experience alongside cannabinoids. [8]
Weed (word)
Common shorthand for cannabis flower; the word also means an undesirable plant, as in “mala hierba” (translated from Spanish). [3]
My Diary - Leonardo Cardillo 