In short: a cannabis social club is an association in which adults grow cannabis together for their own use. German law calls these associations cultivation associations (Anbauvereinigungen). They need a licence from the authorities, do not work for profit and only pass on cannabis to their own members.
What the law allows
The Consumer Cannabis Act (KCanG) has been in force since 1 April 2024. A cultivation association is a registered non-commercial association or a registered cooperative. Its sole purpose is joint, non-commercial cultivation for its members’ own use, passing on cannabis to members for their own consumption and informing members about addiction prevention and counselling (§ 1 no. 13 KCanG).
- The licence is granted by the competent authority, which for Dortmund is the Arnsberg District Government (§ 11 KCanG).
- Only adults who have had their residence or habitual abode in Germany for at least six months can become members, so anyone who does not live in Germany cannot join. Nobody may be a member of two cultivation associations at the same time, and a cultivation association may have no more than 500 members (§ 16 KCanG).
- The members themselves grow the cannabis together (§ 17 KCanG).
- Per member, the law allows no more than 25 grams a day and 50 grams a month; for 18- to 20-year-olds, no more than 30 grams a month with no more than 10 per cent THC (§ 19 KCanG).
No sales, no coffee shop
A cannabis social club is not a shop. It does not sell, it does not deliver and it may not advertise (§ 6 KCanG). Cannabis is only passed on to members in person at the club, after their membership card and official photo ID have been checked. Shipping and delivery are prohibited, and members may not pass the cannabis on to others (§ 19 KCanG).
A cultivation association is financed by membership fees set out in its statutes (§ 24 KCanG). At CSC Dortmund, there is a monthly basic fee and a cost contribution per gram; no profit is made. The Costs page explains what this means in practice.
Prevention and youth protection
Every cultivation association needs a health and youth protection plan and prevention officers (§ 23 KCanG). Minors are not allowed on the premises. At CSC Dortmund, this includes an anonymous self-test, a knowledge section, prevention trainingDE and our rules on youth protection.
Cannabis Social Club Dortmund
Cannabis Social Club Dortmund e. V. was founded on 5 September 2023 and, on 25 November 2024, became the first cultivation association in Dortmund to receive a licence from the Arnsberg District Government. The requirements and the admission process are set out on the Membership page. Our map of no-consumption zones shows where public consumption is prohibited in Dortmund.
Frequently asked questions
Can you consume cannabis at a cannabis social club?
No. Consumption is prohibited on the premises of a cultivation association and within sight of its entrance (§ 5 KCanG).
Is a cannabis social club the same as a coffee shop?
No. There is no legal sale of cannabis to adults in Germany. What is legal is growing up to three plants at home (§ 9 KCanG), membership of a cultivation association and medical cannabis on a doctor’s prescription from a pharmacy.
What does membership cost?
At CSC Dortmund, the basic fee is €15 a month. On top of that, there is a cost contribution per gram for the cannabis you receive. There are no discounts, because they would be an incentive to consume more. All amounts are listed on the Costs page.
Sources
Consumer Cannabis Act (in German): § 1 KCanG, § 5 KCanG, § 6 KCanG, § 9 KCanG, § 11 KCanG, § 16 KCanG, § 17 KCanG, § 19 KCanG, § 23 KCanG, § 24 KCanG.