What are Dagga Private Clubs?
Dagga Private Clubs (DPC), also known as Private Cannabis Clubs, are registered non-profit companies, formed by consenting adults who consume Cannabis, mainly as recreational activity.
South Africa’s Constitutional Right to Privacy allows adults to cultivate and consume Cannabis in a private space. The judgement left many inadequacies and led to the formation of Dagga Private Clubs, a private collective of individuals where registered members take part in safely cultivating Cannabis Sativa L. for their exclusive and personal use.
Please read the Dagga Private Clubs section in our comprehensive e-book on Cannabis in South Africa. This is the first and only evidence-based Cannabis policy guiding document in South Africa and the rest of the world.
Below is the full excerpt of the Dagga Private Club Model from our Manifesto.
Legality of Dagga Private Clubs
in South Africa
Whilst government drags its feet with implementing Cannabis
laws in South Africa, it has not stopped the Cannabis community
from disobeying bad laws by opening Dagga Private Clubs (DPC’s),
with more and more clubs sprouting up across the country, some
operate blatantly in full view of the public, whilst others much
more clandestine and PRIVATE.
We have been at the forefront of this conversation and by
becoming a member of The Green Network, you gain
access to various discussion forums on DPC’s, as well as numerous
documents, guidelines, and academic journals to help you
understand the Dagga Private Club model, giving you the tools
and courage to perhaps open your own club. Our exclusive
Green Network DPC content touches base on topics such as:
Club Documentation i.e. DPC Constitution, Grower Agreement, Membership Agreement etc.
Choosing a Legal Entity
Accounting
Digital Presence
Security
BECOME A MEMBER TO GAIN ACCESS
TO ALL THIS EXCLUSIVE CONTENT
Starting and operating a club carries significant risk from both law enforcement and criminals alike due to the current lack of formality or regulation in this emerging sector. In anticipation of the growing pains that the South African Cannabis club community would experience, we have spent the last decade participating in local and international drug policy events and documenting our interpretation of the Dagga Private Club Model.
Unfortunately, the risks mentioned have resulted in heavy handed arrests, and whilst our support goes out to any club who encounters law enforcement, The Haze Club case is of significant interest as they are the only club that has been bust and is challenging the state in court on their club model. The outcome of this case will carry significant ramifications for clubs, as well as the Cannabis community in South Africa. You can learn more about The Haze Club from our blog posts:
The Haze Club Arrests (https://fieldsofgreenforall.org.za/the-haze-club-arrests/)
The Haze Club: Interpreting the Legalese (https://fieldsofgreenforall.org.za/the-haze-club-interpreting-the-legalese/)
Fields of Green’s Support at The Haze Club Hearing (https://fieldsofgreenforall.org.za/fields-of-greens-support-at-the-haze-club-hearing/)
A word on compliance/ Cannabis Clubs and the Responsibility to Educate Members
It is worth mentioning this in order to clear up common misconceptions:
There are no laws to comply to… yet
We hope our work in the DPC space inspires a new wave of clubs that use this plant to support and improve the lives of their communities, club members and employees. Always remember:
Good People Disobey Bad Laws!
Watch These Videos Related to Dagga Private Clubs
More Reading on Dagga Private Clubs
In addition to our exclusive Green Network Member DPC content, we have published numerous blogs dissecting every aspect of this fascinating movement, as well as dedicating an entire section to clubs in our Full Spectrum Manifesto for Policy Reform, which is the first and only evidence-based Cannabis policy guiding document in South Africa and the rest of the world.
Below is the full excerpt of the Dagga Private Club Model from our Manifesto, and links to all our DPC related blogs:
Africa Policy Week 2023 – Part One – A Quick-ish Overview
Africa Policy Week 2023 kicked off on a fine Monday
Our FULL Presentation to the Portfolio Committee on the Bill
Few things are as frustrating as needing to repeat
Go Away, Damned Spot, Go Away!
Submitted by CannaBil Entitlement's scourge on Human Rights If
