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As of 1 July 2025, a significant amendment to the Dutch Opiumwet (Opium Act) has come into effect, with direct implications for anyone involved in the cannabinoid sector — including producers, importers, exporters, and researchers.
The update targets synthetic cannabinoids, also known as cannabimimetics. These are lab-created substances designed to mimic the effects of naturally occurring cannabinoids like THC. Due to their often unpredictable potency and unregulated composition, synthetic cannabinoids have been under increasing scrutiny across the EU and globally.
What Has Changed?
Under the amended law, all substances falling within a defined modular chemical structure (detailed below) are now prohibited in the Netherlands. This means it is illegal to:
- Bring these substances into or out of the Netherlands;
- Prepare, process, treat, sell, deliver, distribute, or transport them;
- Possess them in any quantity;
- Manufacture them in any form.
This applies to any substance or preparation that matches the specific chemical framework now outlined under List IA of the Opium Act.
What Exactly Are Cannabimimetics?
- A cannabimimetic or synthetic cannabinoid is any chemical compound that corresponds to the following modular structure:
a structural element A, which is connected at a defined position to (structuurelement A) - a bridge
- to a structural element B (stuctuurelement B)
- and has a side chain at a defined position (zijketen)
Figure 3 illustrates the modular structure of 1-fluoro-JWH-018.
Figuur 3
1-fluoro-JWH-018 has as structural element A: indole-1,3-diyl, a carbonyl group at position 3 as the bridge, a 1-naphthyl group as structural element B, and a 1-fluoropentyl group at position 1 as the side chain.
Structural element A, bridge, structural element B, and side chain are defined as follows:
Structural element A
Structural element A includes the ring systems a through e as described below.
These ring systems may be substituted at positions 5, 6, and 7 with the following atoms or atomic groups: hydrogen, fluorine, chlorine, bromine, iodine, methyl, methoxy, and nitro groups.
These substituents are referred to in Figures a through e as R1, R2, and R3.
The wavy line indicates the attachment point for the bridge, and the dotted line indicates the attachment point for the side chain.
a) Indole-1,3-diyl |
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b) 2-methylindole-1,3-diyl |
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c) Indazole-1,3-diyl | |
d) Benzimidazole-1,2-diyl isomer I |
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e) Benzimidazole-1,2-diyl isomer II |
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Bridge
The bridge may consist of the following molecular groups connected to structural element A as defined under 2.1:
- a) carbonyl and azacarbonyl groups;
- b) carboxamide group (the carbonyl group is attached to structural element A);
- c) carboxyl group (the carbonyl group is attached to structural element A); and
- d) a heterocyclic ring structure of up to 5 atoms directly attached to the binding site of structural element A.
Structural element B
Structural element B may consist of any chemically possible combination of carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen, oxygen, sulfur, fluorine, chlorine, bromine, or iodine with a maximum molecular weight of 400 u and may include the following molecular groups:
- a) Any substituted saturated, unsaturated, or aromatic ring structure, including polycyclic and heterocyclic ring structures, which may also be connected to the bridge via a substituent;
- b) Any possible substituted chain group with a continuous chain of no more than 12 atoms (not counting hydrogen atoms).
Side Chain
The side chain includes the following molecular groups attached to structural element A as described under 2.1:
- a) Saturated and mono-unsaturated, branched and unbranched hydrocarbon chains, which may also contain oxygen and/or sulfur atoms in the chain. These chains may also include fluorine, chlorine, bromine, iodine, trifluoromethyl, and/or cyano substituents.
This also includes substituents containing oxygen and/or sulfur with a continuous chain, including heteroatoms, of 3 to 7 atoms (excluding hydrogen atoms). - b) Saturated, unsaturated, and aromatic ring structures, either directly attached or connected via a methylene, ethylene, or 2-oxoethylene group, including heterocyclic ring structures. This also includes derivatives with fluorine, chlorine, bromine, iodine, trifluoromethyl, methoxy, or cyano substituents on the ring, as well as derivatives in which the ring nitrogen has a methyl or ethyl group.
List of Prohibited Synthetic Cannabinoids
In addition to the general chemical definition, the law includes a named list of specific banned synthetic cannabinoids, many of which have been circulating in unregulated markets under false or misleading product labels.
The following cannabinoids are now explicitly prohibited in the Netherlands:
- 5B-ADB-INACA
- 5C-AKB48
- 5F-AB-PINACA
- 6-C-ABDA
- 6-CL-ADB-A
- 7-ABF
- 7-ADD
- AKB48 (APINACA)
- APICA (2NE1)
- BB-22
- JWH-210
- JWH-073
- MAM-2201
- MMB-CHMINACA
- NM-2201
- STS-135
- THJ-018
- THJ-2201
These substances are now banned to possess, produce, transport, sell, or import/export in or through the Netherlands, regardless of intended use.
Need Help Understanding the Regulations?
Whether you’re sourcing bulk cannabinoids, developing new formulations, or entering the EU market, our compliance team is ready to support you with up-to-date insights and guidance.
At WeeDutch, we believe in a future where cannabinoids are safe, regulated, and rooted in science — not in risk. Let’s build that future together.
