A work in progress: understanding the development of the Cannabis Social Club model in Belgium and its current key features
Abstract
Background and research questions: Cannabis Social Clubs (CSCs) are legally registered non-profit associations of cannabis users who collectively organize the cultivation and distribution of cannabis among their adult members. This supply model was first introduced in Spain during the 1990s but can now be found in many other countries, including Belgium - where CSCs have been present for over a decade. As the model consolidates its presence in the country it is important to better understand CSCs’ features as cannabis suppliers, and whether these have changed over time. As such, the goals of this paper are to provide an overview of the development of the CSC model in the country since its inception, and to analyze current Belgian CSCs’ supply practices.
Methods: For this analysis, we draw on data collected through a total of 45 face to face semi-structured interviews with key actors within the CSC model, namely with directors of the currently active seven Belgian CSCs (n= 20), with directors of a former CSC (n= 2), and with cannabis growers operating within Belgian CSCs (n= 23). This data was complemented by additional fieldwork, as well as a documentary review of CSCs’ key internal documents (including bylaws, membership forms, house-rules, etc.).
Results: We present findings on the development of the Belgian CSC landscape since 2006, highlighting three different phases. Despite some volatility associated with the uncertain legal standing of CSCs in the country, which has resulted in the closure of a number of CSCs, some of the core features of the first group of CSCs can still be observed today. Nevertheless, changes in practices have occurred as well. We found that some of the currently active CSCs have adopted a different method of distribution of cannabis to their members, opting for door-to-door delivery. We note also the emergence of a different type of CSC in Belgium: the medical CSC, which supplies medical cannabis users only.
Discussion: Recent accounts of CSCs in Spain have pointed to deviations to the original key features of the model, such as a departure from a non-profit ethos by some CSCs and the appearance of very large CSCs (enrolling several thousand members, including foreign tourists), constituting a new variant of the model, termed Cannabis Commercial Clubs. As the CSC model is often included in discussions about cannabis policy as a ‘middle ground’ option, it is important to take stock of the current features of the model. This paper contributes to that body knowledge, by providing a critical analysis of CSC practices in one of the key settings where the model has been developed.