- Ministry of Health (VWS) — Policy oversight
Dutch Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport sets national cannabis policy. Oversees both OMC and IGJ. Controls the government cannabis supply system via OMC.
- National cannabis policy framework
- Oversight of OMC tender system
- Treaty obligations under Single Convention 1961
- IGJ — Healthcare Inspectorate
Inspectie Gezondheidszorg en Jeugd. Medicines regulator — equivalent to MHRA or BfArM. Issues wholesale dealer licenses, GMP inspections, pharmacovigilance.
- Wholesale Dealer Authorization (WDA)
- GMP inspections of Dutch manufacturers
- Pharmacy and distributor licensing
- OMC — Office of Medicinal Cannabis
Bureau for Medicinal Cannabis (OMC/CCBM). Issues per-shipment import/export authorizations. Manages the government tender system for standardised cannabis products supplied to Dutch pharmacies.
- Per-shipment import authorizations
- Per-shipment export authorizations
- Government tender management (Bedrocan varieties)
- Opium Act Article 8 authorizations
- CBG / MEB — Medicines Evaluation Board
College ter Beoordeling van Geneesmiddelen. Issues marketing authorizations for registered medicinal products. Most cannabis in NL is unregistered — CBG role limited for cannabis currently.
- Marketing Authorisation for registered products
- Labeling and package leaflet approval
- Pharmacovigilance coordination
- Licensed Wholesalers — IGJ WDA holders
IGJ-licensed wholesale dealers distribute cannabis to pharmacies. Must comply with Dutch GDP guidelines. Cannabis must be sourced from OMC or CCBM-authorized imports only.
- IGJ Wholesale Dealer Authorization
- GDP compliance
- Cannabis only from OMC or CCBM-authorized sources
- Pharmacies — Dispensing to patients
Dutch pharmacies dispense medicinal cannabis against physician prescriptions. OMC-contracted products available nationally. Non-OMC products via magistral preparation or import authorization.
- Pharmacy license from IGJ
- Prescription required for Schedule 2 cannabis
- OMC delivery system for standard products
- Patients — End recipients
Receive cannabis via GP or specialist prescription. OMC products reimbursed by some health insurers. Non-OMC products generally not reimbursed. Netherlands has relatively liberal prescribing culture.