OMC publishes tender for grower(s)
The Offfice of Medicinal Cannabis (OMC) has published a tender for the cultivation of medicinal cannabis on behalf of the Dutch government. This grower / growers may in the coming years be the only one in the Netherlands legally cultivating medicinal cannabis of constant and pharmaceutical quality for medicinal purposes and research.
Tender document
The restricted European tender consists of 2 lots, one for the existing species, one for new varieties. The conditions that growers must meet are in the tender document.
Government agency
The OMC has been acting as a government agency since 1 January 2001 under the Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs. The OMC as such has exclusive rights in the Netherlands for import and export, wholesale trade and the holding of stocks relating to cannabis and cannabis resin. The OMC must purchase and actually take possession of all cannabis harvest.
Ending contract
The contract with the current grower expires on 1 May this year, making this new tender procedure necessary. The agreement with the current grower will be extended after 1 May 2018 for the duration of the completion of the new tendering process.
Two phases
The tender consists of two phases: the selection phase and the award phase. Interested companies can register for the selection phase up to and including Monday 18 June 2018. This phase ends on Monday 27 August 2018 with the announcement of the selected candidates for the award phase. The OMC announces the intention to award on 30 September 2019.