First cannabis social club in the Westerwaldkreis: Licenship done!

First cannabis social club in the Westerwaldkreis: Licenship done!

The Westerwaldkreis has now taken a significant step towards legalizing cannabis. The region's first cannabis social club (CSC) has received approval for the joint, non -commercial cultivation of cannabis. According to the Rhein-Zeitung , the growing permit was already granted in January 2025. The chairwoman of the association Nikolai Allen and investor Agron Dervishaj are at the top of the new club, which can now start cultivation.

This progress is part of a larger process that started with the partial legalization of cannabis consumption on April 1, 2024. In May 2024, the first cannabis social clubs in Germany started with the submission of legally grown cannabis to their members. The approval process for the Westerwaldkreis took a total of half a year, which underlines the complexity and the challenges of issuing such licenses.

challenges in approval

While the Westerwaldkreis has taken one step forward, the view of North Rhine-Westphalia shows that the situation there is more difficult. The 420cloud reports that only one of 80 applications for an attachment was granted in NRW, to a club in Bielefeld. The cannabis social club "Duesselhanf" in Düsseldorf is still waiting for its growing permit, despite an extensive 43-page application. Chris Demmer, spokesman for the Düsseldorf hemp association, criticizes the lack of political will and the late clarification of responsibilities.

In addition, the financial hurdles for the establishment of a cannabis club are considerable. An association with 500 members requires investments of around 100,000 euros for rent, plants, fertilizer and attachment accessories. These high costs limit many potential founders in their plans.

a turning point for Germany

The legalization of cannabis represents a turning point for Germany, but the way to complete implementation is associated with challenges. For example, regulations for the cultivation associations only came into force on July 1, 2024. The offer of legal cannabis is still in the initial phase, even if the first harvests are already expected in other regions. The CSC "Duesselhanf" hopes to be able to start cultivation in December 2025, whereby the first harvest for February 2025 is targeted. Interest in this new market remains high, but the guidelines and political framework conditions must continue to be clearly defined and implemented to ensure the successful operation of cannabis social clubs.