City of Antwerp must pay cannabis shop 13,000 euros for illegal closure (Antwerp)
The city of Antwerp has paid a compensation of 13,400 euros to cannabis shop Florapoint caused by the civil court for image damage and lost income. Last year the manager had to close his business for two months because he does not have an operating license. The judge ruled last week that the closure was not necessary at all.
Since June 2019, the Florapoint cannabis shop has been operated in Antwerp’s Kronenburgstraat. The store sold cannabis-based products, also known as CBD. In November last year, the store was visited by the police, together with customs, the FPS Public Health and the Federal Agency for the Safety of the Food Chain (FAVV).
All kinds of products were seized during the visit. The police also established that the manager did not have an operating license, later the store was closed.
However, the civil court ruled that the cannabis shop did not require an operating license at all. The operator still has a branch in Deurne, which means that the store in Kronenburgstraat is part of a chain. the evidence was presented to the judge, two months later the store was able to reopen.
As a result of the illegal closure, the business not only suffered a loss of income, but also damage to its image. The manager requests a complaint against the city of Antwerp. The civil court ruled in favor of the manager and ruled that the city of Antwerp must pay the shop compensation of no less than 13,400 euros. The court costs are also borne by the city. (nelo)