Institute for Social Drug Research, Department of Criminology, Penal Law and Social Law Ghent University - Faculty of Law, Campus Aula, Universiteitstraat 4, B9000 Gent, Belgium.
Int J Drug Policy. 2018 Jun;56:21-29. doi: 10.1016/j.drugpo.2018.02.016. Epub 2018 Mar 11.
In Belgium, Cannabis Social Clubs (CSCs) collectively organize the cultivation and distribution of cannabis for the personal use of their members. In this paper we seek to improve understanding of the motivations and practices of cannabis growers operating within CSCs, shedding light on the cultivation process.
We draw on data gathered through face-to-face semi-structured interviews with the directors of seven active Belgian CSCs (n = 21) and CSC growers (n = 23). These data are complemented by additional fieldwork and a review of policies relating to CSCs', including bylaws and growing protocols.
The Belgian CSCs rely on single and multiple in-house grower arrangements. Most CSC growers had been cultivating cannabis prior to joining their current CSC, albeit growing in different contexts (non-commercial and commercial). The CSC growers discussed both ideological and pragmatic motives for operating within a CSC. Cultivation took place indoors and followed organic practices. Despite their small-scale (20 plants on average), the grow sites used specialized equipment. The growers reported receiving financial compensation to cover production costs.
This paper offers new insights into a particular sector of domestic cannabis cultivation - CSC growers and their practices within those collectives - which has not been studied previously. The Belgian CSCs have decentralized production among small-scale grow sites, at a size comparable to that found in other small-scale cultivation studies. In terms of motivations and practices, CSC growers share some features typically ascribed to small-scale cannabis cultivators. At the same time, CSC growers seemed particularly engaged with the CSC model and willing to adhere to the (self-)regulated practices developed by the organizations. This had implications for the way cultivation was organized and for the role of the grower within the CSC.
在比利时，大麻社会俱乐部（CSC）集体组织大麻的种植和分配，以供其成员个人使用。在本文中，我们试图深入了解在 CSC 内运营的大麻种植者的动机和实践，揭示大麻种植过程。
我们借鉴了通过与 7 个活跃的比利时 CSC（n=21）的主任以及 CSC 种植者（n=23）进行面对面半结构化访谈收集的数据。这些数据还辅以额外的实地工作和对 CSC 相关政策的审查，包括章程和种植协议。
比利时 CSC 依赖于单一和多种内部种植者安排。大多数 CSC 种植者在加入当前 CSC 之前就已经种植大麻，尽管种植环境不同（非商业和商业）。CSC 种植者讨论了在 CSC 内运营的意识形态和务实动机。种植在室内进行，并遵循有机实践。尽管规模较小（平均 20 株），种植地点仍使用专业设备。种植者报告收到经济补偿以支付生产成本。
本文提供了对家庭大麻种植特定领域的新见解——CSC 种植者及其在这些集体中的实践，这在以前的研究中尚未涉及。比利时 CSC 将生产分散在小规模种植点进行，规模与其他小规模种植研究相当。在动机和实践方面，CSC 种植者具有一些通常归因于小规模大麻种植者的特征。与此同时，CSC 种植者似乎特别关注 CSC 模式，并愿意遵守组织制定的（自我）监管实践。这对种植的组织方式以及种植者在 CSC 中的角色产生了影响。
