With hundreds of cannabis clubs popping up around the city, Barcelona has become a leader in the budding European market.
Falling somewhere between a dispensary, a consumption lounge, and a bar-depending on the time of day—these clubs provide a legal respite for stoners and tourists to obtain products and consume in peace.
Like all cannabis laws, Spain’s regulations are performative, nonsensical, and ever-in flux.
Currently, you’re allowed to grow and consume cannabis in a private residence or business, but not sell, purchase, possess or smoke weed in public. If you get caught doing any of the latter, you’re hit with a fatty fine, or worse.
I was in town for Spannabis, Europe’s largest cannabis conference, now in its 19th year. (Read my coverage on Weedmaps here). But the cannabis clubs were the most interesting to me because they offered an entirely unique consumption experience while representing a facet of this global cannabis culture.
These clubs skirt Spain’s legal grey zone by selling “memberships,” where the cost acts as a donation for the cannabis products inside.
Like Cali medical clubs in the mid-2000s, a set of specific rules and jargon circumvent senseless government authority, allowing consumers access to the medicine.
While Barcelona is famous for its solventless hash scene, I’m a flower girl myself, and thus was much more curious about the quality of flower available in these clubs.
What I found surprised me in more ways than one.
Check out this week’s episode of Hot Tokes with Oystergirl above for the full rundown on Barcelona’s exciting weed scene, where I review flower from famed clubs like GWA Social Club and High Class, as well as from underground organic grower Vida Verde, and one abomination that should have never seen the light of day.
So without further ado, let’s get stoned in Barcelona!
