Cultivation club: Cannabis social clubs, becoming a member, costs, quantity & co.

Cultivation club – Since partial legalization in April 2024, adults in Germany have been allowed to legally consume cannabis – but only within a strictly regulated framework. In addition to private home cultivation, membership of a so-called Cannabis Social Club (CSC) is also possible. Officially, these are cultivation clubs that give their members access to community-grown cannabis. Growing cannabis at home or buying cannabis from a grow club? How exactly does this work and what is the difference to social clubs abroad?

What is a cannabis social club in Germany?

A cannabis social club – or rather: cultivation club – is a registered association that cultivates cannabis collectively for its members. The legal basis for this is the Cannabis Act (CanG), which came into force on April 1, 2024. There are now almost 300 approved cultivation clubs in Germany.

The grow club may only supply cannabis to its own members, so you must become a member of the cannabis club. It is not a place for consumption or recreational activities, but a legally regulated supply structure.

Requirements for the foundation

A cultivation association must be founded as a non-profit association and registered with the local court. It also requires official approval in accordance with Section 11 CanG. Permission is only granted if extensive requirements are met – including a detailed cultivation concept, a safety plan, information on storage and delivery and proof of suitable premises.

• Registration as a registered association (e.V.)
• Official approval is mandatory
• Maximum of 500 members per club

293 cannabis clubs (as of 08/25)

How many cultivation clubs are there?Here are the current figures from 08.25. sorted by the most cannabis clubs per federal state. The top 3:

1. North Rhine-Westphalia
2. Lower Saxony
3. Rhineland-Palatinate

Infographic: Growers’ associations by federal state

Table: Growers’ associations by federal state

Federal state	Inhabitants	Quantity	per million
North Rhine-Westphalia	17.9 million	83	4,6
Lower Saxony	8.1 million	55	6,8
Rhineland-Palatinate	4.2 million	27	6,4
Baden-Württemberg	11.2 million	23	2,1
Saxony	4.1 million	16	3,9
Brandenburg	2.5 million	16	6,4
Saxony-Anhalt	2.2 million	14	6,4
Hamburg	1.9 million	13	6,8
Hesse	6.4 million	11	1,7
Schleswig-Holstein	2.9 million	9	3,1
Bavaria	13.4 million	8	0,6
Berlin	3.9 million	7	1,8
Thuringia	2.1 million	6	2,9
Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania	1.6 million	3	1,9
Bremen	0.7 million	2	2,9
Saarland	1.0 million	1	1,0

Membership: Who can join?

Any person of legal age who is resident in Germany may become a member of a growers’ club. The prerequisite is one-time registration in a club – parallel membership in several clubs is prohibited. Identity must be verified. The club keeps a list of members and is obliged to document cultivation and delivery precisely.

Dispensing quantities and regulations

A cultivation club may supply a maximum of 25 grams of cannabis per day andup to 50 grams per month to a member. Transfer to third parties – even within the family – is prohibited by law. Consumption in the club building is not permitted. Cultivation takes place in closed, secure rooms. Each club may cultivate a maximum of three plants per member.

• Max. 25 g per day, 50 g per month
• No consumption rooms allowed
• Documentation of cultivation and dispensing

Did you already know? Cannabis patients naturally enjoy the service of being able to order their cannabis online.

The first harvest in the Social Club

The cannabis harvest in the social club and the question: Is it now legal to smoke weed?

Cannabis Social Club (CSC) in the neighborhood: Map

Growing club nearby? Find your club in Berlin, Hamburg, Munich, Stuttgart, Hanover and Frankfurt. Use our

• Free cannabis card

Where can a club be founded?

In principle, a cannabis social club can be founded in any German city or municipality. However, there are minimum distances to schools, daycare centers and playgrounds – usually 100 meters – which you may know from the question “where are you allowed to consume” and the Bubatzkarte. In addition, the premises must meet certain requirements, e.g. in terms of access control, safety and hygiene. Permits are issued at state level, so the details may vary slightly from one state to another.

Benefits for members

For many people, a growers’ association offers the opportunity to obtain cannabis legally – without having to rely on home cultivation or a medical prescription. The quality can be controlled, the origin is traceable and the price is often lower than on the black market. At the same time, members must adhere to clear rules and contribute to the financing of the association.

• Legal access without home cultivation
• Transparent origin of the cannabis
• Co-design of variety selection and processes
• How to become a member of a CSC

“Disadvantages” for patients

Are there also “disadvantages”? At least if you are a cannabis patient. For example:

1. Instead of 25 g of cannabis per day, or 50 g per month, you can obtain up to 100 g of cannabis
2. Association has limited variety, as a patient you usually have well over 50+ varieties
3. As a patient, you can order your cannabis online

Difference to social clubs in Spain

Compared to countries such as Spain, where social clubs also include consumption rooms, the German model is much stricter. It is not about leisure or socializing, but about legally secure access to cannabis within the framework of a club. Consumption takes place outside the club, for example in one’s own home or – under certain conditions – in public spaces.

• Read more about social clubs in Spain here

Conclusion? Strict model with clear rules

Cannabis social clubs in Germany are a new way for adults to legally consume cannabis – but under clearly defined legal requirements. The clubs are exclusively for communal cultivation and controlled distribution. Anyone who wants to join must register, actively participate and abide by all the rules. At the same time, CSCs offer an interesting alternative to home cultivation and help to reduce the black market.

• Legal, but only within the association
• No consumption rooms or events permitted
• Strict control by authorities
• No online shipping