10 things you need to know about Cannabis Clubs in Barcelona and beyond

Barcelona, or the new Amsterdam. With Cannabis Social Clubs (sometimes summarized as CSCs) now legal in Spain, a new kind of cannabis tourism is developing in the Catalan city. Here are 10 things you need to know about Barcelona Cannabis Clubs and elsewhere, as Cannabis Clubs have sprung up all over Europe.

1. Barcelona's Cannabis Clubs are private, not public

Don't confuse cannabis clubs with Amsterdam coffeeshops. Coffeeshops are public and open to everyone. Cannabis clubs, on the other hand, are only open to new members through co-optation by existing members.

Where the atmosphere of coffeeshops is much like that of a normal bar, cannabis clubs will make you feel more at home.

2. You don't buy weed in Barcelona's Cannabis Clubs

When you become a member of a cannabis club in Barcelona, you join a group of growers who produce and distribute their own harvest. The cannabis produced belongs to all the members, including you.

On the other hand, you are required to pay your share of the costs involved in growing the cannabis. These costs are offset by a number of means, and members generally share the cost.

This means you don't buy weed when you join a club. You're simply acquiring what you and the other members have produced. It's often considered inappropriate to talk about «buying cannabis», and if you do so in a club, you could be corrected.

3. You need an identity card and an address in Spain to become a member.

To join a club, you need to present valid identification. You must also provide a residential address in Spain (not a hotel). You'll never receive any mail, and you won't be asked for proof of address.

Some clubs will also ask you for a photograph, taken by webcam at the club entrance. And, of course, you have to be over 21.

4. You can still get into trouble for smoking cannabis in Barcelona

Just because you can legally buy cannabis in Barcelona doesn't mean you can do whatever you want. Spanish laws are very liberal in private spaces. But if you consume in public and are caught by the police, they will certainly confiscate your pot, possibly with a fine attached.

5. Not all cannabis clubs grow their own weed

Due to a lack of space or resources, some cannabis clubs obtain their supplies from outside the club. Either from other clubs, or from growers in the Catalan countryside. Find out about the clubs before you go, so you don't buy the same stuff you'd find on the street.

6. Clubs are all different

The differences between clubs are quite astonishing. From small intimate places to huge 3-storey clubs, there's something for everyone. Some clubs are themed, others rather distinguished, and others rather seedy.

Most regular customers have several membership cards and move between different clubs, for different reasons: atmosphere, quality of the weed, different varieties, etc...

7. Most cannabis clubs require a yearly subscription

Almost all clubs charge an annual registration fee. These are usually around €20, but can range from €10 to €50.

You cannot negotiate these fees. As a member, you are expected to contribute at the same level as everyone else. This is the way a Cannabis Club should be run, and you also contribute when you buy a few grams of cannabis or hashish, or for any other service provided by the club (hot drinks, for example).

If you want to bring a friend or family member who doesn't smoke into your club, you're perfectly welcome to do so, but the person will have to register as a member before they can enter the club.

8. The amount of cannabis per person is limited

This is important: the amount of cannabis a person can buy per month is limited in Spain. The limit is around 98 grams, which means that even if you buy from several clubs, you could be in trouble. Be sure to ask your club about the current limit.

9. Cannabis clubs are not allowed to advertise

As clubs are private membership organizations, they are not allowed to advertise. Perhaps that's why so many people pass clubs by without guessing what's behind their doors.

So if you're approached by someone on the street about joining a club, you'd better watch out. It may be an illegal club, or simply a scam. Professional clubs don't canvass the street for new members. They don't need to, and would be breaking the law.

So how do you find a cannabis club in Barcelona? You can go to take a look at Weedmaps !

10. Cannabis Clubs are being regulated

There are around 200 cannabis clubs in Barcelona. In fact, Spanish lawmakers have set a maximum limit on the number of clubs, pending appropriate legislative measures to regulate these new clubs. This means that all this could change in the next few months, with new rules for tourists for example. Make sure you find out about the latest terms and conditions at your club!