Taking cannabis abroad

Short answer

The short answer: do not. Taking cannabis across the Dutch border is prohibited, regardless of quantity and regardless of destination.

Information · not for sale Pillar: Law and rules

Export is prohibited

The Dutch Opium Act prohibits exporting cannabis. What is tolerated within the Netherlands stops at the border, and that includes small quantities for personal use.

This is the most common misunderstanding. Several countries have relaxed their cannabis laws, but that does not mean you may bring it there.

Almost everywhere, regulation applies to the domestic situation, with its own rules on origin and points of sale. Importing from another country falls outside that framework and remains a criminal offence. You would be breaking both Dutch export rules and the destination country’s import rules.

Including products from the experiment

Products bought within the closed supply chain experiment may not cross the border either. The experiment regulates the chain inside the Netherlands and changes nothing about export rules.

Including CBD products

Rules on CBD differ considerably between countries, and products freely available in the Netherlands are prohibited in some. Check with the authorities of your destination before travelling.

The consequences

These vary widely by country, from confiscation and a fine to severe penalties. Outside Europe the consequences can be serious. Do not assume the Dutch situation counts as a mitigating circumstance elsewhere.

Practical advice

Buy what you use here, and leave the rest. Before travelling, check bags and coat pockets for any remains. In practice, that is where most problems begin.

Sources

Government of the Netherlands · Dutch Customs · Ministry of Foreign Affairs

This article is general information and not advice. Cannabis use is not without risk. For independent information and help, contact the Trimbos Institute, Drugsinfo or your doctor.


Further reading