Did you know that Barcelona is called “New Amsterdam”, being a popular destination for cannabis tourism? Consumption of marijuana is legal and safe here, though not everywhere. Yet, when visiting this offbeat place in Europe, you can grow and use cannabis privately at home or join a cannabis club in Barcelona.
In a nutshell, according to Spanish law:
It’s also stated that:
Cannabis clubs or, as they are commonly called in Spain, associations — Las Asociaciones de Cannabis or Cannabis Social Clubs are non-profit, social and recreational organizations where marijuana is grown with the purpose of being shared and consumed strictly among the members.
The only ones with access to the club are members; these organizations are private and closed to other people. Membership is granted only if you are sponsored by an existing member or endorsed by the club itself.
That means you can’t just walk in off the street without an invitation — you’d be rejected. This is an important difference between Spanish cannabis clubs and the public coffee shops in Amsterdam.
It seems like it is rather complicated, but it’s simpler than it appears. Formalities like invitations, referrals of existing members, and club memberships are necessary measures to adhere to the strict requirements of the law.
In general, the process of acquiring marijuana in a club is similar to that of an Amsterdam coffee shop, except for one important difference. There is no concept of buying/selling, as members speak only in terms of willing membership contributions. Thus, here it’s awkward to use the word “buy.” Instead, say “get,” “have,” or “try.”
Upon joining the club, you’ll pay a yearly membership fee, which is typically around 20€. If you’d like to get 1 gram of marijuana, an additional donation of 10-15€ for strains and up to 50€ for extracts and concentrates is needed.
New and registered members must always show their ID to confirm they are of legal adult age. It’s also necessary to comply with the KYC (know your customer) rule, meaning the clubs must verify your identity before granting membership and/or letting you in. For the same reason, the club will ignore any of your attempts to find out anything by phone or email. All the questions will be answered at the reception desk — everything is eyes only and happens after you provide your ID/passport.
In order to become a member of the cannabis club, it is not obligatory to be a resident of Spain or a citizen of Barcelona. Membership is allowed to anyone, including tourists and city visitors. Very rarely, you could be asked for your residential address. Provide the address of the hotel, apartment, or any other place you are staying in Barcelona: no one is going to check it.
There is only one restriction that regards the legal adult age limit. Usually, you must be 21+ years old, yet, there are some clubs that accept people aged 18 or over. You should specify this information beforehand. Also, you have to provide your identification card to enter, because they won’t let you in without your ID. A passport or a driver’s license with your photo works fine as well. A student ID, scanned copies of your card, photos from the phone, etc., will not be accepted.
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Besides the wide space and relaxing atmosphere, the menus of most clubs include sinsemilla (indica, sativa, hybrid), pre-rolls (joints, spliffs), hashish, different kinds of extracts/concentrates/wax, products for vape pens, different smoking gadgets and tools, all kinds of delicious marijuana edibles (cookies, gummy bears, lollipops, etc.), and much more.
Yes. Unlike coffeeshops, cannabis clubs allow their members to smoke cigarettes.
Yes, it happens, but rarely. Due to routine bureaucratic procedures, the club could temporarily stop or limit the registration of new members. Don’t take the rejection personally. Instead, try sending your application to another association on our list, using our Barcelona weed map to see all the best clubs nearby.
You may be wondering how the associations keep and use the private data of their members. There is no need to worry about the security and privacy of your personal data. All cannabis clubs are very responsible and spend a large part of their budget on the protection and storage of their members’ private and personal details. Under no circumstances does the club share its members’ sensitive and personal data with third parties, including legal authorities. Membership data is disclosed by court order only.
You can be invited to a “coffee shop” or a “cannabis club” directly on the street in Barcelona. Mind that such offers are illegal: private cannabis clubs have no right to advertise and use promoters on the streets. Stay away from street promoters and ignore such offers, especially in the city center.
The black market offerings can be divided into two types: buy marijuana directly on the street or proceed to a fake “cannabis club”, which has nothing in common with real social clubs. In both cases, you will get very low-quality marijuana and potential problems with the police and law (acting in this way, you get involved in drug trafficking). Don’t push your luck, choose legal smoking clubs with a strong reputation only.
Cannabis social clubs, cannabis cafes, weed clubs, or coffee shops — such a variety of names can be confusing. These establishments each provide cannabis products, but they offer quite differently in different countries, states, and cities.
Cannabis Social Clubs are closed non-profit organizations in Spain that are only accessible to members and regulated by the authorities and government.
Coffee shops are places in the Netherlands (Amsterdam), where cannabis is openly sold in small amounts for personal use only. Though it’s open cannabis stores, there are some rules to mind: minors are not allowed (legal adults of 18 or 21 years old only); an ID/passport is a must; it is permitted to come twice a day to the same coffee shop; a maximum 5 g of weed per day is allowed; alcohol, cigarettes, and hard drugs are forbidden.
Cannabis cafes are regulated locations in the USA, where adults of 21+ can openly consume cannabis products in a restaurant-style atmosphere. These are blends of dispensaries (places to get weed by prescription) and restaurants, where guests can order food and consume marijuana (vape, smoke, eat, etc.) legally.
Weed clubs (or weed shops) is a slang expression used to define all the cannabis establishments in the cannabis culture that are described above in the article.
The general rules are simple: don’t bother anyone and be positive. After all, a cannabis club is a place to relax and recreate. That is safe and legal, and there is no reason for you to worry. The majority of clubs have a chill- atmosphere. Hustle, rush, and loud conversations can disturb other guests.
Respect other people’s privacy and just enjoy the relaxing vibe. If you want to take pictures, please first ask the staff whether it is allowed.
So-called cannabis dispensaries are counters or bars with various weed products available. Hence, in the dispensaries, a “budtender” will greet you.
They will gladly tell you about all the strains and extracts in the assortment, advise something to suit your mood, and let you smell nearly everything that is on offer.
It is okay to leave a club under the influence of cannabis. However, possession and use of cannabis outside of the establishment are illegal. If you don’t have time to use all of your weed at the club, we recommend leaving it there for safekeeping and consuming it on your next visit.
It’s a risk to take it with you. Yet, if you still decide to take cannabis with you, hide it in your undergarments. If you are stopped and subjected to a search, the police can’t make you undress completely — they need a warrant to do that.
Our website will guide you through the local cannabis cafes, help you get a membership in hot spots with high-quality weed products, and prepare you for your first visit.
