The Recreational Cannabis Foundation (RCF) is a Dutch ANBI (Public Benefit Organisation) foundation with an international mission: to contribute to the development of European and global legislation for recreational cannabis. Drawing on the proven knowledge of the Dutch model, RCF connects policymakers, scientists, and entrepreneurs worldwide — including through the Union of Cannabis Retailers (UCR) platform.
After more than ten years of work on the Dutch coffeeshop dossier, it became clear that the discussion about recreational cannabis no longer stops at national borders. More and more countries are moving towards regulation, while the Netherlands — once the pioneer with its tolerance policy — has been overtaken internationally. At the same time, there is a risk that years of Dutch practical experience will be lost in the international debate. The Recreational Cannabis Foundation (RCF) was established based on this observation.
RCF is a Dutch foundation with ANBI (Public Benefit Organisation) status. Its mission: to contribute to the development of European and global legislation for recreational cannabis, with a clear separation between the medical, wellness, and recreational markets. The foundation operates in the public interest — public health and public order — and does not represent commercial parties or members.
From the foundation, we are building the Union of Cannabis Retailers (UCR) platform: an informal working group at national, European, and global levels through which we gather practical knowledge from retail and share it with policymakers, scientists, and international bodies — including the Commission on Narcotic Drugs in Vienna.
My role as co-founder and director involves promoting the vision, building the international network, writing policy analyses, and making Dutch experience visible at conferences, panels, and international institutions.