FAQ

The CSC Dortmund e.V. is committed to a responsible and regulated cannabis policy. Our aim is to grow cannabis in a safe and controlled environment for safe consumption. Our focus is on the protection of young people and health as well as education and prevention.

We are actively committed to destigmatizing consumers. To this end, we carry out public relations work, provide experts and advise political decision-makers. We want to use fact-based discussions to break down prejudices and promote a rational drug policy that focuses on youth protection, prevention, help and responsibility.

The protection of minors is our top priority. Through strict age controls, we ensure that only adults can become members and have access to cannabis. We also provide targeted information about the risks of cannabis use for young people and want to work closely with schools, youth centers and prevention specialists. Our aim is to protect young people from the dangers of consumption.

We proactively seek exchange with authorities, political decision-makers, police, addiction counseling centers and other relevant stakeholders. We want to contribute to an objective debate through information events, round tables and participation in specialist conferences. Our aim is to reduce reservations, build trust and jointly develop solutions that strengthen the protection of minors, promote public health and reduce organized crime.

Education and prevention are central to our work. We provide evidence-based information about the effects and risks of cannabis, encourage people to critically examine their own use and show them ways to use cannabis in a self-determined and low-risk manner. To this end, we want to offer information events, webinars and training courses and develop target group-specific materials. Of particular importance to us is the offer of a low-threshold consultation with one of our prevention officers, which can be taken up by any member (also anonymously).

Cannabis is the Latin name for hemp. It refers to the plants belonging to the Cannabis genus, including mainly industrial hemp (Cannabis sativa) and Indian hemp (Cannabis indica). The hemp plant contains over 100 different cannabinoids, of which THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) and CBD (cannabidiol) are the best known. THC is mainly responsible for the intoxicating, psychoactive effect, while CBD has a more relaxing and relaxing effect.

Cannabis is one of the oldest useful and medicinal plants known to mankind. Hemp was cultivated in China and India over 10,000 years ago and processed into food, textiles and rope. Cannabis also has a millennia-old tradition as a remedy. In ancient China, it was used to treat rheumatism and gout, and in the Middle Ages it was used in monastic medicine. It was not until the 20th century that cannabis was increasingly demonized and eventually banned.

Marijuana and hashish are the most common forms of cannabis, but differ in terms of production and active ingredient content. Marijuana consists of the dried flowers and leaves of the female hemp plant. The THC content can be between 5 and 30%. Hashish is the pressed resin of the inflorescences. It has a higher THC content of up to over 30% and therefore a stronger effect. Both products are usually smoked, but can also be vaporized or consumed orally.

Cannabis has also been increasingly used as a medicine in recent years. In Germany, medicinal cannabis has been available on prescription for seriously ill patients since 2017. Among other things, it can help with chronic pain, spasticity, loss of appetite, nausea and vomiting. Cannabis is also used successfully in the treatment of epilepsy, Tourette's syndrome, ADHD and sleep disorders. The cannabinoids have an anticonvulsant, anti-inflammatory, anxiolytic and appetite-stimulating effect.

Until 1929, cannabis was legal in Germany and a popular remedy. It was only with the signing of the so-called "Opium Act" that cannabis was made subject to narcotics law and possession and trade were made punishable. The background to this was international agreements on drug control, which Germany joined. In the 1970s, the ban was tightened further as part of the "War on Drugs" policy.

The partial legalization of cannabis refers to the law passed by the coalition government, which came into force on 1 April 2024. It stipulates that adults may possess up to 25 grams of cannabis without punishment and grow up to three plants. Community cultivation in cannabis social clubs will also be permitted. The aim is to dry up the black market, strengthen the protection of minors and end the criminalization of users.

The communal cultivation of cannabis in non-profit associations, so-called cannabis social clubs, will be possible from July 1, 2024. These must be organized as registered associations or cooperatives and may have a maximum of 500 members. Each member may supply up to 25 grams of cannabis per day and 50 grams per month. We are subject to strict official requirements and controls.

With the partial legalization of cannabis, the Narcotics Act was amended. Cannabis was removed from the list of prohibited substances and possession and cultivation in limited quantities was made exempt from punishment. At the same time, the protection of minors was strengthened and the sale and supply to minors was made subject to tougher penalties. Consumption in public is also regulated in order to prevent nuisance. Overall, the partial legalization should lead to better control of the cannabis market and more prevention.

We welcome the partial legalization of cannabis as an overdue step towards a rational and humane drug policy. At the same time, we see a need for further reform in order to improve access for adults and reduce the black market in the long term.

Any person of legal age who has been resident in Germany for at least six months, is not a member of any other German cannabis social club and supports the goals of the association can become a member of our association. We welcome cannabis users who want to advocate for an accepting and regulating drug policy.

All members must comply with the articles of association, the association rules and the code of honor in particular the obligation to protect minors and to handle cannabis responsibly. In addition, we conduct a personal interview with every prospective member, as we attach great importance to a positive community. A valid photo ID must be presented at the admission interview.

The monthly membership fee is currently EUR 25. They are used for the association's work, in particular to cover the costs of administration, prevention and public relations work as well as the preparation of the community annex. A one-off admission fee of EUR 350 is currently payable on admission to cover all investment costs.

Interested parties can register on our waiting list. We will then invite you to a personal meeting where we will explain our goals and rules and clarify any unanswered questions. You will also have the opportunity to get to know us. If both parties agree, membership can then be established directly. We are currently unable to offer membership to everyone who is interested, as demand exceeds our capacity.

The partial legalization of cannabis came into force on 1 April 2024. Since then, adults have been allowed to possess up to 25 grams of cannabis and grow up to three plants with impunity. From July 1, 2024, community cultivation in cannabis social clubs will also be possible. But that doesn't mean we can start yet! A cultivation permit is required before then!

We applied for a cultivation permit immediately after the regulations came into force on July 1, 2024. We submitted the necessary documents and proved that we meet the legal requirements. We received the cultivation license on 25 November 2024 and will start collective cultivation on 1 January 2025. The first distribution to our members is expected in April 2025 will take place.

The exact duration of the approval process cannot be estimated 100%. However, the authorities must grant approval no later than three months after the application is submitted if all the requirements for a cultivation association are met. We do not currently offer start-up advice.

We are preparing intensively for community cultivation. This includes the development of a detailed cultivation and safety concept, the search for suitable premises, the procurement of equipment and the instruction of our members. We attach great importance to quality, hygiene and safety and will only work with experienced growers. We are also establishing contacts with laboratories to ensure regular quality control.

Quality assurance is our top priority. We will only grow genetics that have been tested for quality. We will also carry out regular spot checks and have the harvest examined by independent laboratories. We will only supply our members with cannabis that meets the legal limits and our own quality standards.

The safety of our members is our top priority. We will implement strict access controls and ensure that only our members have access to the cultivation rooms. In addition, we will closely document and monitor the delivery to prevent it being passed on to third parties. In the event of emergencies, we will instruct our members and develop an emergency protocol. We will also consistently enforce compliance with the protection of minors.

Transparency is very important to us. We will regularly inform our members about all association activities, in particular about cultivation, quality controls and finances. To this end, we will send out a newsletter, hold general meetings and make all relevant documents available internally. We will also act transparently towards the authorities and be available for questions and inspections.

We attach great importance to providing honest and fact-based information about the risks of cannabis use. This includes information about possible side effects such as concentration disorders, addiction and psychological problems. In particular, we explain the dangers for young people and pregnant women and warn against consumption in road traffic. To this end, we offer information events and webinars, distribute flyers and refer people to counseling services.

Prevention officers play a key role in our association. They are specially trained and act as the first point of contact for questions and problems relating to cannabis use. They hold information events, develop prevention materials and are available for confidential one-to-one discussions (also anonymously). They also maintain contact with external addiction counseling centers and, if necessary, arrange for further help.

We offer our members various support services for problems with cannabis use. These include confidential one-to-one discussions with our prevention officers, which can also be conducted by telephone or online. If necessary, we can refer members to external addiction counseling centers or therapists. Our aim is to provide every member with the help they need.

We want to work closely with the drug counseling centers. These institutions support us in the further training of our prevention officers and the development of information materials. We also refer members with problematic consumer behavior to the right places so that professional advice and treatment can be guaranteed.

The promotion of responsible and low-risk consumption is a central concern of our association. This initially involves providing comprehensive information about the effects and risks of cannabis. We provide information on safer use rules such as dosage, breaks in consumption and avoiding mixed consumption. We also raise awareness of the dangers in road traffic and in the workplace. By distributing tested cannabis in limited quantities, we also want to offer an alternative to the black market and protect consumers from extenders and impurities.