Society - Interest in cannabis cultivation associations on the rise
Before the official start signal for Cannabis growing cooperatives, interest is growing among potential operators. The Social Welfare Office for Rhineland-Palatinate (LSJV), which is responsible for permit issuance in Rhineland-Palatinate, already has 86 statements of intent, as the Social Ministry of the German Press Agency in Mainz reported. A month ago, there were fewer than half as many. Applications from cooperatives for cannabis cultivation can be submitted to the LSJV from July 1.
More clubs in the starting blocks
The number of founded clubs that want to grow cannabis has increased in recent weeks. Already 17 clubs, with the name Cannabis in them, are registered in the Land Registry of the States for Rhineland-Palatinate. A month ago, there were fewer than five of them.
They are called Cannabis Social Club Sondernheim Green Gorilla (Germersheim), Cannabis Gold RLP (Trier), Cannabis Club Green Love (Lambsheim), or Cannabis Initiative (Mainz). In addition, possible cannabis growing cooperatives such as Dopemaker Productions and the Mainz Family Association, which do not carry the term Cannabis in their name, are also mentioned.
Registration as an association is a prerequisite for applying for a license. If an application is complete, the LSJV has three months for processing, according to the ministry. There will be at most one cannabis growing cooperative per 6,000 inhabitants in a county and in a free city.
According to the Cannabas Law, since April 1, possession and home cultivation of limited quantities of cannabis for adults has been generally permitted. The regulations for home cultivation in growing cooperatives take effect on July 1. In growing cooperatives, cannabis may be grown collectively by members for personal consumption and distributed to members.
Better to wait a little longer
Fynn von Kutzschenbach, who has already founded eight Cannabis Social Clubs (CSC) in Hesse and one in Mainz with his team, is waiting to submit applications for licenses rather than rush things. "The risk is just too high to make mistakes at the beginning," said the young entrepreneur. "A lot has become clearer meanwhile, even what the fines are, but there are still questions. For example, do you have to have a plot of land when you submit an application, or a signed lease agreement?"
He currently plans to apply for licenses in the fall. However, there is a lot of bureaucracy and other obstacles that he believes will be difficult for clubs to overcome. "A community interest company would be a better legal form, which also has a different liquidity over banks," he said. "Where is a club supposed to get the money for a plot, the conversion, and the high electricity costs from membership fees?"
The Cannabis Social Club Rhoihesse in Woerrstadt (District Alzey-Worms) has already found a commercial property and is renovating it, as Daniel Ehrlich said, who is responsible for the organization of cultivation in the club and calls himself the cultivation advisor. His club, which has been registered in the association register since January, has already prepared the application and plans to submit it on July 1. Ehrlich considers the regulations for cannabis growing cooperatives to be "veto-proof."
Individual points may cause difficulties according to his assessment. For instance, it may not be permitted for several clubs to share an immovable property for cultivation, which could pose challenges for clubs in cities. Commercial properties generally have more space than a club needs for cultivation.
The Cannabis Social Club Rhoihesse has received 250 inquiries from interested parties so far. Approximately 100 of them have already become members, said Ehrlich. Since the protection of minors is very important to the club, the minimum age has been raised to 21 years. In regard to the license, we are in close contact with authorities, as "it is new territory for all."
The Landesamt is also supposed to control the cultivation associations once a year, as the ministry announced. In addition, there will be random inspections. For the implementation of the Cannabis Law, "appropriate resources" should be built up in the Landesamt and the ministry.
It is in the nature of things that not all questions of practical implementation can be definitively answered with new laws. Therefore, the Social Ministry will conduct an evaluation of the regulations at a given time, a spokesperson stated.
A cultivation association may only give Cannabis to its members for covering their own needs. A maximum of 25 grams of Cannabis per day and 50 grams per month per member is allowed. Adolescents between 18 and 21 years may consume a maximum of 30 grams of Cannabis per month - the THC content may not exceed ten percent.
Common registration portal of the states for questions and answers on the Cannabis Law
- Interested parties in Germersheim, like those in other regions of Rhineland-Palatinate, are joining the growing list of potential cannabis growers' association operators, following the announcement by the Social Welfare Office for Rhineland-Palatinate (LSJV).
- The Society for Cannabis Social Club Sondernheim Green Gorilla in Germersheim is one of the 17 registered cannabis clubs in Rhineland-Palatinate, as reported by the media.
- The State Office in Trier, involved in issuing permits, is anticipating applications for cannabis cultivation from July 1, with the number of interested growers' associations steadily increasing in recent weeks.
- Mainz is home to several potential operators seeking to establish cannabis growing cooperatives, such as the Mainz Family Association, despite not using 'Cannabis' in their official name.
- The closing date for submitting complete applications for cannabis cultivation licenses by growing cooperatives is set for September 30 by the authorities in Mainz, as announced by the Society.
- The Cannabis Social Club Trier has recently opened its doors to provide advice and support to aspiring growers, assisting them in navigating the complex regulatory landscape surrounding cannabis cultivation.
- The German Press Agency in Trier has reported that the Rhineland-Palatinate authorities are planning annual inspections and random checks on cannabis cultivation associations as part of implementing the new Cannabis Law.
