You are the Foundation
As a cannabis retailer, you are at the heart of the sector. You have direct contact with consumers, you understand their needs, and you carry the responsibility of providing safe access. Your practical knowledge is essential for developing regulation that truly serves public health and public order.
Why retailers are essential
The recreational cannabis market exists in every society — whether regulated or not. Bringing it above ground through licensing, age restrictions, and product standards is not an endorsement of use, but a public order and public health measure. It reduces the illicit market, ensures consumer safety, and acknowledges the reality of adult choice.
Retailers are the frontline of this transition. In the Netherlands, the industry has already shown how responsibility can be translated into professionalism: standards were developed, staff were trained, and practices emerged as a pragmatic solution to societal challenges. These experiences prove that the industry can create accountability from within.
Yet without the perspective of those who operate in practice, the lessons from pilots remain incomplete. By excluding practical expertise, policy debates lose valuable insights into feasibility, compliance, and consumer dynamics. As the position paper states: "If the wider European sector does not step forward — providing knowledge, transparency, and practical input — regulation will continue to be shaped without essential expertise."
What you bring to the table
As a retailer within the community, your practical experience directly informs policy and regulation.
- Consumer contact: You are the direct link between the market and the consumer. You understand what people need, what works, and what doesn't — insights that no policymaker can have without you.
- Quality & safety standards: You set the bar for product quality, responsible sales, and consumer protection. Your daily practices prove that professional self-regulation is possible.
- Community & knowledge sharing: Through the platform, you connect with fellow retailers at national, European, and global levels — sharing challenges, solutions, and best practices.
- Practical expertise in the debate: Policymakers are already discussing regulation at the European level. Without practical expertise from the sector, these conversations remain incomplete. Your knowledge ensures regulation is practical and credible.
How you contribute
- Sharing practical experience via the community with retailer groups at national, EU, and global levels
- Contributing to quarterly digital meetings with representatives from different countries
- Collaborating in thematic working groups focused on specific regulatory challenges
- Exchanging information, insights, and best practices with fellow retailers across borders
- Bringing practical expertise into European and international policy dialogue
- Strengthening the Recreational Cannabis Foundation's research and public interest mission with real-world knowledge