Baden-Württemberg’s Cannabis Clubs: Growth, Rules, and Legal Impact

A new cannabis law has been in effect in Germany and Baden-Württemberg since April 1st, 2024. Part of the regulation, for example, is that non-commercial cultivation associations are also allowed to cultivate cannabis as of July 1st, 2024.

But how many of these are there in Baden-Württemberg? Who monitors them, and what does the police say about the whole thing? All answers and questions can be found in this article.

How many cannabis social clubs are there in Baden-Württemberg?

There are currently 24 cannabis social clubs in Baden-Württemberg. The Freiburg Regional Council, which is responsible for licensing social clubs throughout Baden-Württemberg, confirmed this to SWR.

Since July 1, 2024, it has received around 100 applications from cultivation associations in Baden-Württemberg. Five applications were rejected and six were withdrawn. According to the regional council, 66 applications are still pending, 36 of which are undergoing more intensive review.

Will the partial legalization of cannabis soon be reversed?

An evaluation of the cannabis law is planned for fall 2025. Chancellor Friedrich Merz (CDU) announced during the election campaign that he wanted to repeal the partial legalization. The cannabis law was passed by the “traffic light” coalition, which was replaced by the new government in the spring of this year.

The coalition agreement between the CDU, CSU, and SPD stipulated an open-ended assessment of the law’s impact.

Who controls the cannabis social clubs?

While the regional council is responsible for the permit required by a cannabis social club throughout the state, the Tübingen regional council is responsible for monitoring cannabis social clubs throughout the state.When an application is submitted, the Freiburg Regional Council examines, among other things, the completeness and quality of the submitted documents.

Another key consideration is how quickly and accurately the respective growers’ associations implement, or can implement, the required points. According to the Regional Council, finding a suitable location is often more difficult than social clubs initially assume. The Freiburg Regional Council further stated that whether a social club receives approval must be examined on a case-by-case basis.

What requirements must cannabis clubs meet?

To obtain approval, a cannabis social club, for example, must comply with a ban on advertising. Furthermore, a cannabis social club may not be located within 200 meters of the entrances of schools, childcare centers, or children’s playgrounds. The number of members is limited to 500, and only persons over 18 years of age and resident in Germany are permitted to be members.

What is the situation regarding crime since partial legalization?

Shortly after the introduction of the new Cannabis Act, fewer cannabis-related crimes were recorded last year. According to the State Criminal Police Office (LKA), a total of 8,945 violations were recorded from January to March 2024 – compared to just 2,203 violations from April to December.According to the State Criminal Police Office (LKA), no reliable trend statement is yet possible for this year, as there is no comparable reference period for offenses under the Cannabis Act. Comparisons based on the police crime statistics will only be possible in subsequent years.

Does the partial legalization of cannabis create more work for the police?

Yes. As the LKA stated in response to an inquiry, the change in the law has led to additional challenges for police and security authorities, particularly with regard to combating illegal trade. While cannabis for personal use has been legalized under certain conditions, trade and cultivation outside of the regulated market remain illegal.

According to the LKA, combating illegal trade and enforcing existing criminal provisions are more complex and laborious than before.According to the State Criminal Police Office (LKA), the situation is similar with the complex accompanying measures to improve child and youth protection. In addition, there are legal complications, especially in the fight against organized crime, as the threshold for the use of certain covert measures has increased.

__

(Featured image by Pavel Danilyuk via Pexels)

DISCLAIMER: This article was written by a third party contributor and does not reflect the opinion of Born2Invest, its management, staff or its associates. Please review our disclaimer for more information.

This article may include forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements generally are identified by the words “believe,” “project,” “estimate,” “become,” “plan,” “will,” and similar expressions. These forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks as well as uncertainties, including those discussed in the following cautionary statements and elsewhere in this article and on this site. Although the Company may believe that its expectations are based on reasonable assumptions, the actual results that the Company may achieve may differ materially from any forward-looking statements, which reflect the opinions of the management of the Company only as of the date hereof. Additionally, please make sure to read these important disclosures.

First published in tagesschau. A third-party contributor translated and adapted the article from the original. In case of discrepancy, the original will prevail.

Although we made reasonable efforts to provide accurate translations, some parts may be incorrect. Born2Invest assumes no responsibility for errors, omissions or ambiguities in the translations provided on this website. Any person or entity relying on translated content does so at their own risk. Born2Invest is not responsible for losses caused by such reliance on the accuracy or reliability of translated information. If you wish to report an error or inaccuracy in the translation, we encourage you to contact us.