Sole Dutch medicinal cannabis firm declared bankrupt

Cannabis plant with fully grown buds, ready to be harvested - Credit: - License: DepositPhotos Business Friday, 9 October 2026 - 10:30

Bedrocan, the Dutch medicinal cannabis grower, was declared bankrupt on Thursday after requesting a suspension of payments two weeks ago. The Veendam-based company is the sole supplier of medicinal cannabis in the Netherlands.

Bedrocan has been supplying medicinal cannabis since 2003 but ran into financial difficulties after the Ministry of Public Health terminated its contract with the grower earlier this year, Dagblad van het Noorden, RTV Noord, and the Volkskrant reported.

As a result, Bedrocan can no longer supply cannabis to the Office of Medicinal Cannabis (BMC), which manages the procurement and distribution of medicinal cannabis. This cannabis is used by people suffering from chronic pain and severe muscle spasms, as well as patients with cancer, MS, and epilepsy. Approximately 7,000 people in the Netherlands use medicinal cannabis prescribed by a doctor.

Bedrocan employs around 70 people. It is not yet clear whether the company will be able to make a restart or be acquired.

Bedrocan was founded in 1984 as an indoor grower of chicory, herbs, potted plants, and other crops. In the 1990s, the company shifted its focus to the development of medicinal cannabis. It currently produces five different cannabis varieties for the Netherlands and business clients in Denmark.

According to the Ministry of Public Health, there is sufficient time to find another supplier of medicinal cannabis, as current stocks are expected to last until roughly mid-2027. The contract was due to expire in 2025, and the government is currently conducting a European tender process to find a supplier of comparable products.

Reporting by ANP