VZCZCXYZ0013
RR RUEHWEB

DE RUEHTC #1245/01 1531441
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 021441Z JUN 06
FM AMEMBASSY THE HAGUE
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 5909
INFO RUEHBS/USEU BRUSSELS 0317
RUEAWJB/DOJ WASHDC
RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE
RUEABND/DEA HQS WASHDC
RHEHOND/DIR ONDCP WASHDC

UNCLAS THE HAGUE 001245 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT FOR INL, INL/T, EUR/ERA, EUR/PGI, EUR/UBI 
ONDCP PASS CHARLOTTE SISSON 
DOJ FOR OIA 
USEU FOR WAGNER AND DOJ 
DEA HQS FOR OEE, OIE 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: SNAR KCRM PINS PREL NL
SUBJECT: NETHERLANDS: HIGH-THC CANNABIS REMAINS "SOFT" DRUG 
 
 
¶1. Summary. Health Minister Hans Hoogervorst informed 
Parliament that the government will continue to treat Dutch- 
grown cannabis with high THC content as a "soft" drug. 
Research by the National Institute for Health and 
Environment (RIVM) showed that, although high-THC cannabis 
use induced elevated heart rates, lower blood pressure and 
sleepiness, the symptoms were not sufficiently serious to 
require regulation comparable to that for "hard" drugs.  The 
RIVM study investigated acute physical effects; it did not 
make any conclusions about possible long-term effects of 
high-THC cannabis use.  Shortly after the release of the THC 
report, Justice Minister Donner agreed to Belgian requests 
to meet with the Mayor of Maastricht to discuss that city's 
controversial proposal to relocate coffeeshops away from the 
city center, and closer to the Belgian border.  End Summary 
 
"Nederwiet" Study 
----------------- 
 
¶2. The study into possible risks of Dutch-grown cannabis 
with high THC content (called "Nederwiet") was announced by 
Health Minister Hoogervorst in his "Cannabis Discouragement 
Plan" of April 2004.  He noted at the time that if research 
showed that use of high-THC cannabis led to serious health 
risks, the Cabinet would reassess its legal regulation and 
possibly ban it from Dutch marijuana shops. 
 
¶3. The State Institute for Health and Environment's (RIVM) 
Toxological Information Center investigated the effects of 
high-THC cannabis on 24 male volunteers aged 28-45 who, in a 
laboratory setting, were given "joints" with THC 
concentrations of 0 percent (placebo), 9.75 percent, 16.38 
percent and 23.12 percent.  [Note: RIVM stated that the 
placebo cannabis was obtained from the U.S. National 
Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA).  End Note.]  The applied THC 
concentrations reflect the range of THC levels currently 
sold in Dutch coffeeshops.  According to RIVM's report, the 
average THC content of cannabis available in the Netherlands 
dropped to 17.5 percent in early 2006, from 17.7 percent in 
¶2005. 
 
¶4. The study, published May 22, concluded that smoking of 
high-THC cannabis is associated with a dose-related increase 
of physical effects, such as increased heartbeat and 
decreased blood pressure, as well as psychomotor effects, 
such as slow reaction, decreased concentration and increased 
drowsiness.  These effects were detectable up to eight hours 
after the smoking of a "joint."  The study focused on the 
immediate effects of high-THC cannabis use, and did not 
venture into the effects of long-term acute or chronic 
exposure, but did note that blood samples showed that traces 
of THC were present for longer periods of time in patients 
who smoked high-THC cannabis.  The researchers called for 
further investigation into the effects of simultaneous 
exposure to cannabis and alcohol, reportedly the most common 
form of cannabis usage. 
 
Reaction by Minister Hoogervorst 
-------------------------------- 
 
¶5. In his letter to Parliament reporting the conclusions of 
the RIVM study, Health Minister Hoogervorst stated that 
although there clearly were some physical effects from high- 
THC cannabis use, they were not sufficiently serious to 
require regulation of it as a "hard" drug.  His letter also 
referred to the 2005 National Drug Monitor, recently 
published by the Trimbos Institute for Mental Health and 
Addiction, which concluded that, although the number of 
cannabis users seeking treatment is rising, the overall 
number is still relatively small. 
 
¶6. Hoogervorst did conclude that the physical effects of 
high-THC cannabis are stronger than those of marijuana with 
a lower THC content.  He told Parliament that this 
information would be highlighted during upcoming public 
information campaigns, such as the "Coffeeshop Information" 
project, which is to be launched this summer, and the mass 
media cannabis campaign scheduled to begin in November 2006. 
Hoogervorst emphasized that the RIVM investigation only 
provides information on acute physical effects and that no 
conclusions can be drawn about the effects of long-term 
usage.  He noted that the new research division of the 
scientific bureau ZonMW would be asked to investigate the 
long-term effects of THC use. 
 
¶7. During a meeting with representatives of the Health 
Ministry and the Trimbos Institute, Emboffs were told that 
this latter study might be difficult to carry out, both for 
ethical and cost reasons.  They suggested that the study 
could be considered for a potential joint ZonMW-NIDA 
investigation, but acknowledged that it would have to take 
place in the Netherlands for legal reasons.  They also 
anticipated that the RIVM study and Hoogervorst's reaction 
would be discussed in Parliament on June 7. 
 
Maastricht's Controversial Plan to Relocate Coffeeshops 
--------------------------------------------- ---------- 
 
¶8. The Health Minister was not the only one discussing Dutch 
cannabis policy this week.  Justice Minister Donner was 
asked by his Belgian counterpart on June 1 to halt the city 
of Maastricht's proposal to move 7 of the 15 coffeeshops in 
the center of Maastricht to the city outskirts.  Maastricht 
Mayor Leers developed the proposal to reduce nuisances in 
the city center caused by drug tourists, but Belgian 
authorities are concerned because Leers's plan would 
relocate coffeeshops closer to the Belgian border. 
Following a meeting with Justice Ministers from Belgium and 
Luxemburg, Donner stated that Maastricht's plans might 
violate Dutch policy forbidding coffeeshops near schools and 
border regions, and promised to meet with Leers to discuss 
his plan. 
 
¶9. Following the Benelux Justice Minister meeting, Belgian 
Justice Minister Dewael reportedly stated that Maastricht 
should not implement its plan until after Dutch PM 
Balkenende answers a letter sent to him earlier this week by 
Belgian PM Verhofstadt.  Verhofstadt's letter states that 
Maastricht's plan violates the Schengen treaty and would 
cause problems in the Belgian border region.  Mayor Leers in 
turn criticized Belgium for allowing possession, but not the 
sale, of cannabis in Belgium. 
 
Arnall