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More than a decade ago, the first Cannabis Social Club (CSC) was founded in the Basque country. 

Over the last decade, the rest of Spain has followed suit, resulting in an almost nationwide network of CSCs today.

 As no such network exists in Germany yet, I decided – admittedly also partially motivated 

by the frosty Berlin climate in January – to visit a few of these clubs myself and take a little look 

over the shoulder of these cannabis growers.

On arrival in Fuerteventura, our first visit was to be to Colectivo Cannabisterapeutico Canario (Col.Can.Can) 

which welcomes its members in Gran Tarajal, a small town in the south of this barren island. In a comfortably 

furnished, “coffee shop” style club room, I met Lorenzo, the Club Manager. I had of course informed him of 

my visit in advance, with which I hoped for answers from an expert like Lorenzo that a search in most 

German-language media would not generate. An essential difference between the CSCs and the tolerant coffee shops 

in the Netherlands, which are in principle open to all*, is the members-only policy. To this end, all CSCs have 

a camera above the door and at least one very friendly bouncer. It goes without saying that the general CSC rules 

apply to Col.Can.Can. too. As a guest at the club and a future member, I was explained these by Lorenzo, 

in detail and in good English:

– Members must be 18 or over;

– A current member must vouch for the new member;

– The club does not promote the consumption of cannabis;

– The weed may only be consumed in the club or at home (public consumption is not permitted);

– On joining, the member gives the club a rough estimate of his/her demand, so that the club can calculate

 approximately how much grass needs to be cultivated per member;

– Clubs are not points of sale; members pay a fee;

– The club must spend any profit on the operation of the club, or invest it;

– The fees for cannabis patients are lower than for other club members.