Cape Town’s very own cannabis club, for members only

It's like your friend’s living room, just with 85 strains of weed

Last updated: Wednesday, 12 April 2023

Cannibisters, Cape Town’s first legal cannabis members’ club, feels like Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, if Willy Wonka was a weed geek. 

Inside the two-floor cannabis dispensary, which is also a herbal apothecary, are more than 85 strains of weed, an in-house medicinal cannabis practitioner and a coffee bar with CBD-infused coffee and tea. 

Here’s what you need to know, plus how you can become a member and shop there.

Cannibisters is on Regent Road in Sea Point. Image: Lara van Zyl

DISCOVER THE STORY BEHIND CANNIBISTERS

Cannibisters founder Pierre Sarembock left a 28-year-long career in the clothing manufacturing industry to open the first legal cannabis dispensary in South Africa on 31 December 2021.

He’s created a safe and comfortable space for cannabis lovers – and newbies – to come together and learn, buy and enjoy high-quality weed. “I get to live my dream. It's amazing.”

Private use of cannabis has been legal in South Africa since 2018. While you can grow and consume it at home, trade remains illegal unless you can get your hands on a licence.

How did he manage to do it? “I hired the legal team that won the battle to get cannabis legalised in South Africa,” says Pierre. “There's a thicket of licences that cover [Cannibisters] completely.”

Cannibisters works on a membership basis – only members have access to the club. Image: Simone Strydom

EXPLORE THE CANNABIS BAR 

You can’t miss the cannabis bar: The green haven popping out in the corner of the club with a neon “Nip it in the bud” sign and jars of weed behind it. 

Cannibisters, which classifies itself as an apothecary and pharmacy, carries more than 85 strains (the different variations) of weed, including indica (a relaxant) and sativa (a stimulant). You can find strains that make you giggly, energetic or calm. 

All the products are made and tested by Cannibisters. Image: Lara van Zyl

GET IT ALL – JOINTS, BONGS, EDIBLES

You can get pre-rolled joints, buy buds by the gram and roll your own joint or pop it in a bong. There are clean bongs and grinders available to use if you don’t have your own equipment or just want to stay and hang. Or try the cannabis distillates (vapes) with a variety of flavours, like grape and strawberry. 

Not big on smoking? Cannibisters has a variety of edibles to choose from, with kosher and halaal-certified variations. There are brownies, cookies, fudge, ice-cream, cake and gummy bears. THC or CBD-infused coffee and tea are available from the coffee bar.

The products are stored in a cool cupboard or in a fridge. Image: Simone Strydom

GET A TASTE OF THE CLUB 

The club itself feels like a mixture between a coffee shop and your best friend’s living room. The layout is spread over two floors, with coffee tables, leather couches, colourful stools, a bright chandelier and a coffee bar. Lush green plants fill every corner, complementing the bold artworks on the wall. 

Each table has a stack of board games, from chess to Uno, and you can watch your favourite sports game on one of the three TVs. At the top of the spiral staircase is, what feels like, a private nook with a lounge and TV as well as a pillow fort hanging over the shop.

There is also classical or light jazz music playing a few nights in the week. Image: Lara van Zyl

Cannibisters is on Regent Road, the pulsating side of Sea Point, with its popular restaurants and bars – making Cannibisters a fun pit stop on a night out. If you decide to stay put at Cannibisters, which you most likely will, there's a mini tuckshop for your munchies, selling chocolates, snacks, fresh juices and sodas. Plus, there’s free purified water with lemon and cucumber. 

Coffee and tea is available throughout the day. Image: Lara van Zyl

ASK FOR ADVICE + FEEL SAFE AS A BEGINNER 

If you’re a newbie to the world of weed, Cannibisters is the best place to start. Chat to the staff and they’ll help you put together the ideal “starter pack”. In the case of one of our team members, this was made up of a packet of gummies, a piece of fudge and a pre-rolled joint, along with exact instructions – a small bite of the fudge, a quarter of a gummy, two to three puffs of the joint (not all at the same time). 

The club can take up to 80 people at a time. Image: Lara van Zyl

GET IT EASILY (OR HAVE IT DELIVERED)

It’s as easy as buying headache tablets from the pharmacy. You order directly from the bar and each product is placed in its own container, which looks like a medicine bottle. Order online and have it delivered to your door in 45 minutes within a 20km radius.

You can only visit Cannibisters or order online once you’ve signed up as a member and paid the membership fee. Image: Simone Strydom

SEE A MEDICINAL CANNABIS PRACTITIONER 

Pierre always intended for his shop to provide cannabis-based and other herbal medications to help with health issues, whether it’s for pain, anxiety or insomnia. For that you book a session with Cannibisters’ in-house medical cannabis practitioner. 

Dr Andre Sorger, a Chinese Medicine Doctor and Pierre’s business partner, has more than 24 years of experience in his field and has been approved to prescribe cannabis products. Call the shop to schedule an appointment. You can choose between a 1-hour Chinese medicine consultation, which includes diagnosis and treatment, or a 30-minute medical cannabis consultation.

Cannibisters is open 365 days a year. Image: Simone Strydom

HOW TO BECOME A MEMBER

Follow these quick and easy steps:

• Go to Cannibisters.com
• Create an account: Fill in your name, age, email address + ID number (you’ll also need to upload a copy of your ID).
• Select your interests (lawful private usage, growing or medical)
• You’ll receive a confirmation email to activate your account
• And finally pay the membership fee of R100 per month

As an active member, you’re able to explore Cannibisters’ products online, pop into the club anytime you wish and book an appointment with the club’s medicinal cannabis practitioner. 

The club is open from 10am - 10pm. Image: Simone Strydom

WHEN + WHERE TO GO  

Cannibisters is open: Daily, 10am - 10pm
Find it: 65 Regent Road (between Mojo Market and Checkers), Sea Point, Cape Town
Become a member: Via Cannibisters, R100 membership fee p/m. No under 21s allowed
Price: From R100 for a gram; R350 for 30 min consultation
Contact on: 066 344 3012, high@cannibisters.com, Facebook

By Lara van Zyl

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