1920s and the early concept in Northern America Cannabis consumers clubs became popular in the
United States during the
Prohibition era (1920-1933). Cannabis was often used as a legal intoxicant since
alcohol was illegal.
Teapads were developed as clubs in urban areas where jazz music was performed and cannabis was consumed. Teapads usually catered to those in the
jazz scene and were usually furnished comfortably, often playing jazz music. Music in homage from these clubs arose; Gene Krupa even composed an entire album named "Teapad Songs Volume 1". These clubs disappeared after cannabis became illegal, although some groups (such as the early
San Francisco Cannabis Buyers Club) continued to operate a model with similar tenets.
2000s and the European model During the 1990s and early 2000s, an important number of "cannabis users associations" appeared in
Spain, mostly the Basque country and Catalonia regions. Many of these Spanish groups were members of the pan-European non-government organization
ENCOD The term was also thought as a way to enable the normalization of this model for the legal production and distribution of
cannabis for adults. Cannabis Social Clubs as developed in Spain are
non-commercial organizations which organize the professional, collective cultivation of very limited amounts of cannabis, just enough to cover the personal needs of their club members. Cultivation, transport, distribution and consumption are subject to security and quality checks, and are done without publicity or
advertisement of any kind. The members finance the system by subscriptions, according to their needs. Each member gets a value card with units, according to their credit, with a maximum limit per month and per year. The members are prohibited from reselling any cannabis obtained from the club, and are required to ensure that it is not consumed by minors. In their European Cannabis Social Club Guidelines, ENCOD explains:CSCs are characterised by transparency, democracy and non-profitability. They function as an association, with complete openness about financial arrangements to their members, so the members can see how the costs are calculated and the money is spent. CSC's organise a general assembly at least once a year, where annual reports are discussed and approved. These reports include a full balance of income and expenses in the past fiscal year, according to the rules established for this purpose. A CSC is not a business in which there are economic benefits that are used for personal profit. The benefits are not shared between the partners, and therefore, it could be less attractive to criminal structures. Unlike cannabis distributors who operate on the illegal market, CSC's are willing to enter into dialogue with authorities to provide insight into their working methods, in the framework of the elaboration of regulation of cannabis. establishes:"The Institute for the Regulation and Control of Cannabis shall have the following powers: [...] D) Authorize cannabis membership clubs pursuant to the legal provisions in force and related regulations." leaving Catalan cannabis social clubs (like in other parts of Spain) in a legal grey zone. In 2023, relying on this lack of legal certainty, the
Mayor of Barcelona initiated a campaign of closure of the city's cannabis clubs.
Malta In December 2021, the Parliament of Malta adopted Bill No. 241 which creates the "Authority on the Responsible Use of Cannabis" and, in its Article 7A, authorizes Cannabis Social Clubs:"it shall be permissible to establish, and an individual may be a member of, an organisation the membership of which shall consist only of individuals in their personal capacity and acting only in their own name the only purpose of which being the cultivation of the plant cannabis exclusively for its members in a collective manner to distribute it only to those members".
South Africa In
South Africa, after a 2019 Constitutional Court ruling decriminalising personal activities, CSCs have unfolded under the name of
Dagga Private Clubs; however, they remain in a legally grey area.
Switzerland Although not legally-regulated as such, an experimental protocol allowing to develop Cannabis Clubs managed by universities, local authorities, research institutes, associations or foundations. Pilot trials can be set up between 2021 and 2031, as enacted by Switzerland in 2021. In early 2022, pilot trials with different modalities were approved in the cities of Basel, Lausanne and Zurich.
Germany According to a plan for cannabis reform presented in April 2023, users in
Germany would be able to purchase up to 25 grams ( oz) of cannabis each day, but no more than 50 grams ( oz) in a single month. The legal limit of members in Germany was proposed to be 500. Non-profit cannabis social clubs in Germany are due to be legalised on 1 July 2024. Membership of cannabis social clubs in Germany will only be legal for adult residents of Germany Cannabis social clubs in Germany will also require permits. ==Cannabis Social Clubs throughout the world==