The Aschheim hemp magnate declares, "The play area was the scarecrow."
On a Typical Monday Afternoon in Aschheim
The sprawling parking lot of "Hemp Haven" – a hemp megastore nestled in the Aschheim industrial district – remains eerily vacant. The same goes for the small, yet pivotal playground adorning the town hall, a stone's throw away.
Arevnastraße 61, formerly a Rewe supermarket, is now home to this expansive hemp emporium, dear to the heart of its founder, Vaclav Cerveny. Launched in February 2023, the store offers an impressive assortment of cannabis-growing equipment, consumer accessories, and hemp-derived products.
From seed to soil, lighting, and everything in between. You'll also find hemp teas, fruit gummies, bath additives, oils, creams, shampoos, and a dedicated baby clothing department. Cerveny proudly boasts the clothing's pesticide-free nature, a pet project of his wife.
The entrepreneur is particularly fond of the hemp shoes, ideal for individuals grappling with perspiring feet. Contrastingly, shoes made from synthetic materials, he claims, tend to emit unpleasant odors.
With half a million euros in sales since the store's inception, "Hemp Haven" seems to be thriving. But the good times won't last; the store is slated to shut its doors in July. The nail in the coffin? The playground.
Origins & Ambitions
Before plunging headfirst into the hemp industry, Cerveny honed his skills as a restaurant professional at the Hilton am Tucherpark and later as a restaurateur. Rumors of a cannabis club within the supermarket had initially arisen when he presented his business plan to the Aschheim municipality, seizing the opportunity presented by the previous federal government's cannabis law.
However, the town hall apparently lost its nerve, constructing a playground adjacent to the town hall – a mere 150 meters from the hemp store. The club dream was, thus, dashed, as the cannabis law stipulates a minimum distance of 200 meters.
"Without the club, it doesn't make sense," laments Cerveny, bemoaning the exorbitant rent of a total of 20,000 euros. "The club experiment has failed," he sighs.
Faced with apparent harassment from Bavarian authorities and the judiciary, Cerveny remains resolute, vowing to continue his fight.
Aroids & Controversies
Ever since Cerveny shifted his focus from gastronomy to the hemp trade, he alleges he's experienced over 25 raids, with countless confiscated goods. Numerous proceedings, he claims, have been initiated against him, with 15 of them dropped.
In the coming weeks, Cerveny will face trial at the Munich local court, six years after a raid, over his alleged violations of the Cannabis Consumption Act (KCanG). Specifically, the trial centers around the sale of hemp tea and CBD buds with a THC content of less than 0.2 percent.
For Cerveny, the trial is a manifestation of a political agenda: "I am not being pursued for the law, but for ideology," he insists. Minister President Markus Söder (CSU) has pledged a rigid implementation of the new cannabis law, now accelerating the justice system's role as an "extended arm of this ideology."
Cerveny believes he is unfairly persecuted. The legal situation concerning CBD remains contradictory, especially in the context of EU law, BtMG, and administrative court rulings. In other federal states, vendors are allowed to sell without interference. "What is sold in Berlin is confiscated in Munich," complains Cerveny, lamenting the lack of legal equality.
The Future
Despite the impending closure of "Hemp Haven," Cerveny remains optimistic, looking ahead to a new retail space in Munich. Targeting around 200 square meters, he has already been offered numerous locations in Sendling, eastern Munich, and even the Viktualienmarkt. However, the new business will not open too close to the valley branch, which is currently performing exceptionally well.
With more ambitious plans on the horizons, Cerveny aspires to run for the Munich city council, championing the rights of cannabis consumers and patients. He also envisions a citizens' initiative and exponential growth for his chain, aiming for 100 branches in just two to three years.
Finally, Cerveny confidently declares his intention to protect the "Haschheim" brand, ensuring that the name will continue to resonate long after the Aschheim store's demise.
[1] While searching for information on the specific Aschheim case, no detailed report explaining the reasons behind the closure due to its proximity to a playground was discovered. General insights regarding regulations on cannabis businesses with regards to sensitive locations like schools, kindergartens, or playgrounds in Germany could be inferred, but no concrete evidence was found linking the Aschheim case to such legal proceedings. If more specific details become available, a precise explanation can be provided.
[1] The closure of 'Hemp Haven' in Aschheim, despite thriving sales, was likely not solely due to its proximity to a playground, as no detailed reports could be found to substantiate this claim.
[2] Vaclav Cerveny, despite the alleged harassment and numerous raids, remains optimistic about the future, eyeing a new retail space in Munich and aspiring to run for the Munich city council.
[3] In the realm of health-and-wellness, finance, and business, Cerveny's vision extends beyond Aschheim, aiming to grow his chain to 100 branches within a few years and championing the rights of cannabis consumers and patients in the local government.
