A Cannabis Social Club, sometimes called a Teapad, is a model of legal regulation of the cannabis market organised as non-profit organizations in which cannabis is cultivated and enjoyed collectively, usually for the purpose of relaxing or for social communion. These places differ from Cannabis coffee shops in that those are also operating coffee shops and where cannabis is openly sold, usually found in the Netherlands, while social clubs are usually not selling cannabis, and only accessible to members.
History
Beginnings
Cannabis Social Clubs became popular in the United States during prohibition. Cannabis was often used as a legal intoxicant since alcohol was illegal. Teapads were developed as clubs in urban areas where jazz music was performed and cannabis was consumed. Teapads usually catered to those in the jazz scene and were usually furnished comfortably, often playing jazz music. Music in homage from these clubs arose; Gene Krupa even composed an entire album named "Teapad Songs Volume 1". These clubs disappeared after cannabis became illegal.
A Cannabis Social Club is a concept of the pan-European non-government organization ENCOD conceived in 2005 as a way to enable legal production and distribution of cannabis for adults. Cannabis Social Clubs are non-commercial organizations which organize the professional, collective cultivation of very limited amounts of cannabis, just enough to cover the personal needs of their club members. United States Cannabis Social Clubs do not allow the sale of Cannabis on site, but allow consumption. They are also referred to as Cannabis Consumption Clubs. Cultivation, transport, distribution and consumption are subject to security and quality checks, and are done without publicity or advertisement of any kind. The members finance the system by subscriptions, according to their needs. Each member gets a value card with units, according to his credit, with a maximum limit per month and per year. The members are prohibited from reselling any cannabis purchased, and are required to ensure that it is not consumed by minors. In contrast to the Cannabis Buyers Club a CSC are not limited to medical-only use. Cannabis Social Clubs of the World New Zealand Spain,
By 2019 the concentration of cannabis social clubs in Spain is located in Catalonia with more than 200 cannabis clubs in the area of Barcelona alone.
Belgium, France, The Netherlands, Slovenia, Austria Germany. Switzerland
In 2016 four Swiss cities agreed to establish pilot cannabis clubs.
United States
Colorado's Amendment 64 ushered in the first legal Recreational Cannabis Clubs in the United States. The sale of Cannabis is NOT permitted in ANY of Colorado's Cannabis Clubs. Consumption regulations varies by county. Currently many Counties have adapted some sort of regulation pertaining Cannabis Clubs open throughout the State. History shows that iBAKE Denver and The Speakeasy Vape Lounge are the First and Oldest Legal Cannabis Clubs to open in the United States, paving the way for others to follow. iBAKE Denver was Est. February 2013 on the outskirts of Denver, by Thurlow Weed aka Steven Nelson Jr and Myra LittleTree Oppy. The Speakeasy Vape Lounge was Est. March 2013 in Colorado Springs, by Jaymen and Amy Johnson. As of today, both of these groundbreaking Cannabis Clubs are open daily and accept memberships at the door.
Oregon allows Cannabis Social Clubs under Measure 91. The World Famous Cannabis Cafe Est. in 2009 by Madeline Martinez, was the first to open their doors in Portland, Oregon as a legal Cannabis Social Club in July 2015. Followed by The NW Cannabis Club, who opened their doors in Portland on October 2015. Both Clubs are open and accepting memberships.
Nevada passed Senate Bill 236, which will take effect July 1, 2017 and will allow business to apply for Cannabis Social Club licences. Although the process has begun, Cannabis Clubs will not be opening until 2019.
