Cooperations

BCD | Bond Van Cannabisdetaillisten

Since its official founding in December 1993, the originally Amsterdam-based Association of Cannabis Retailers (BCD) has achieved much already. Because of their efforts, for instance, every Amsterdam coffeeshop can now be transferred or sold just like any other company, even for coffeeshops in previously “overcrowded areas”. Decades of serious consultancy and advice have ensured that BCD is appreciated as a full-fledged branch organization. BCD has served as a valued discussion partner at Amsterdam city hall under a succession of respective mayors. Because of this respected position the BCD is able to express vitally constructive criticism on counterproductive regulations and policies, such as the methods used by HIT-teams and article 13B of the Dutch opiates act, for example.

With the support of council members, the BCD has contributed to a sound and realistic set of rules for coffeeshops to observe, as well as helping to shape local authorities and police procedures. In doing so, rules governing advertising, pre-rolled joints, and the sales of space-cake became more transparent. A milder approach of the deeply unpopular HIT-teams was requested in turn, as well as a halt to stop-and-search procedures during customer checks.

Under the third cabinet of prime minister Balkenende, the Netherlands was struck again with a phenomenon known as “the war on coffeeshops”. As part of this renewed offensive against coffeeshops, a distance criterion was enforced between schools and coffeeshops. Although this distance-criterion was included in the government agreement, it was never actually encoded in the opium act. In Amsterdam, mutual consult led to an agreement on a walking distance of 250 meters.

Between these modest victories, the larger battle raged on. Despite contributions of the BCD and external support from, among others, the Drugs consultancy agency, dozens of coffeeshops were forced to shut down after their licenses were revoked. The BCD did however prevent the overall cancellation of license extensions, at least for the time being.

A project known as the “Rode Loper”, Dutch for ‘Red Carpet’, marked the beginning of dark times for the BCD. Over the course of this project, 26 coffeeshops were forced to close, despite the enormous amount of energy, time and money that the BCD spent in their defence.

In 2016, coffee shops in the city centre had to cope with a series of hit-and-run shop window shootings. The shootings took place after closing time, and luckily, there were never any personal injuries – or worse. Close contacts between the BCD and City Hall led to extensive discussions, after which the parties arrived at a written agreement to deal with the matter. In times of crises, the BCD has never shied away from its responsibilities, and this continued investment has led to a fruitful relationship with city authorities.

By 2017, BCD membership had steadily grown to considerable numbers, even though the actual number of Amsterdam coffeeshops declined sharply. By now, the alliance has extended its sphere of influence, welcoming members from various cities including Enkhuizen, Beverwijk, Haarlem, Den Haag, Utrecht, and even faraway Groningen. The current administration searches rapprochement to other branch organisations, which resulted in the organisation of Cannabis Connect Entrepreneur Day in February 2017. Recent political developments continue to contribute to a further professionalisation of the alliance. Today, the future of organised cannabis retailers seems brighter than ever before.

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