Germany recently allowed the restricted consumption of cannabis, but clubs that grow and share the plant say they are experiencing challenging levels of bureaucracy.
Nico Schack was hoping to take advantage of Germany’s new laws permitting the possession of cannabis, but his dream of setting up a club to share the drugs with others in Berlin is on the move.
Instead, he’s decided to set up an office in the neighbouring state of Brandenburg because he says the process for getting a licence in the capital city has been so slow and unclear.
“I think that a lot of clubs are very unsure now, because the requirements are very high, and that they still wanted to wait, maybe to have a clear situation and to know that the application will be also positive,” said Schack, the CEO of Bunte Blüte.
Visiting a club that grows and shares cannabis is one of the ways consumers can now access the drug since its consumption was made legal in Germany in April, albeit with restrictions.
The slow process is a particular hindrance for users in Berlin, which has a significantly higher cannabis use compared to the national average. A 2021 survey found that more than half of Berliners have consumed cannabis at least once.
Alex Khourdaji, an analyst with research company Prohibition Partners, said the challenges could push users to illegal sources.
“A lot of people that were going to set up felt like that it was too bureaucratic, so they decided not to set up cannabis cultivation associations,” he said. “Now, with less cannabis cultivation association that leaves many consumers in the dark, and it does give them the attitude, or the feeling that they might have to revert back to the illicit market.”
Khourdaji added that many are turning to growing their own cannabis.
A report by Prohibition Partners stated that creating cannabis clubs is a “time-consuming and strenuous process”.
While owning cannabis has been legalised, it has not stopped the black market, and residents can buy it illegally at parks in central Berlin.
