Tag: spain

When it comes to being a cannabis consumer, you will be hard-pressed to find a better place to hang out than Spain. The European nation has long been home to an amazing cannabis community and it is no secret that the hash in Spain is unparalleled.

Barcelona is particularly fantastic for cannabis enthusiasts, with roughly 70% of the nation’s world-famous cannabis clubs being located in the Barcelona region. The food, the culture, the beauty, and the cannabis combine to make Barcelona one of the top cannabis tourist destinations on earth.

Spain is home to a very unique public policy and regulatory approach to cannabis, with some policy components being better than others, especially from the perspective of cannabis patients and entrepreneurs.

Current Legal Status

Currently, cannabis is decriminalized in Spain for personal use. Someone caught with a personal amount of cannabis can face a fine of up to 200 euros, however, many parts of the country have lax enforcement and it is unclear what constitutes a ‘personal’ amount of cannabis.

Cannabis for commercial purposes is completely illegal with the exception of a handful of medical cannabis industry licenses. All of the medical cannabis that is produced under the limited number of licenses is earmarked for export. The only other nationally-recognized cannabis business models are those that involve cannabis research.

With that being said, hundreds of cannabis clubs operate in Spain, and at one point cannabis clubs operating in Barcelona were considered to be legal by local authorities. A court decision overturned Barcelona’s policy of allowing cannabis clubs, leaving the entire industry sector in limbo. Spain’s unregulated market is thriving, however, its regulated industry is considerably hindered by current policy.

Future Reforms?

Europe recently witnessed its first nation legalizing cannabis for adult use after lawmakers in Malta passed a reform measure at the end of last year. Several other countries, including Germany, Luxembourg, and Italy are expected to legalize sooner rather than later.

All of that puts pressure on Spain to step up and take its rightful place as an international cannabis industry and policy leader. The best way to learn more about what is on the horizon in Spain is to attend the upcoming International Cannabis Business Conference B2B event in Barcelona on March 10th, co-sponsored by Bhang Inc and Grow Glide with an after-party sponsored by Juicy Fields. The B2B event is part of the world’s largest cannabis industry superconference alongside Spannabis.

The B2B event has a panel dedicated to the analysis of current laws, regulations, and possible reforms looming in Spain. The moderator of the panel will be Bernardo Soriano Guzmán, CO-CEO, S&F Abogados. Panel participants will include Sergio González aka Weedzard (President, 420 Movement), Iker Val (CPO, Sovereign Fields), and Ruben Valenzuela Moreno (CTO, Valenveras). Every panel member possesses tremendous experience in the cannabis space and is optimally suited to provide valuable insight regarding Spain’s evolving cannabis policies and regulations.

Who Else Will Be Speaking At International Cannabis Business Conference Barcelona?

The most entertaining man in cannabis, Ngaio Bealum, will serve as the International Cannabis Business Conference’s Master of Ceremonies in Barcelona. Additional speakers include:

• Jamie Pearson – President and CEO, Bhang Inc
• Guillermo J Fernandez Navarro – CO-Founder, S&F Abogados
• Nic Easley – CEO of 3C Consulting and Managing Director of Multiverse Capital
• Luna Stower – VP Business Development, Ispire
• Òscar Parés – Deputy Director, ICEERS Foundation
• Chloe Grossman – Executive Director of Corporate Growth, Trulieve Cannabis Corp
• Roberto Algar – Managing Director, Curaleaf Switzerland
• Santiago Ongay – CEO, Sabia
• Kai-Friedrich Niermann – Founder, KFN+ Law Office
• Dr. Juana Vasella – Attorney of Law, MME Legal Zurich
• Joan Simó Cruanyes – Coordinator of Cananbis Hub UPC
• Albert Tio – Founder of Airam and President of Fedcac
• Aaron Smith – Co-Founder and Executive Director, National Cannabis Industry Association
• Lisa Haag – Founder, MJ_Universe
• Juanma Fernández – CEO, Easy CSC Group
• Patricia Amiguet – Founder of Pachamama Cannabis Association and President of CatFAC
• Zeta Ceti – Founder and CEO, Green Rush Consulting

Over 80 countries will be represented at the superconference this March in Barcelona and will include representatives from every sector of the industry as well as leading international cannabis policymakers and industry service providers. Attend the superconference in Barcelona to network with investors, entrepreneurs, industry regulators, and international policymakers and take your industry pursuits to the next level.

The International Cannabis Business Conference also has additional upcoming events in Berlin in July 2022 and Zurich in September 2022. You can secure tickets now and take advantage of the early bird pricing discount.

The entire cannabis conversation has moved forward, dramatically, over the last year in Europe. Where does this leave Spain?

As anyone who has watched the American market, in particular, jolt slowly forward over the last seven years is beginning to see, there are similarities to what is going on in Europe now. Nothing is exactly the same of course, and the reform on the table here is sovereign rather than state. Regardless, there are indeed curious parallels afoot.

Even leaving Switzerland out of this (as it is outside of the EU), Germany has now joined the list of nations to put cannabis reform on its legislative “to do” list along with Portugal, Malta crossed the line and even France has now formalized its CBD market. In this context, the issue of Spanish reform looms large. This is even more true as Holland formalizes its cultivation market nationally and Luxembourg begins to dip its tentative heels into the seed market.

Spain, particularly given the fact that its industry is organized roughly in a cross between what Holland is (coffee shops as the focus of the retail trade but a yet formally legal cultivation network) and what Switzerland is rapidly shaping up to be, is now on the hot seat to begin to formalize this entire discussion. This is even more true given what is about to happen right next door in Portugal.

Where Do Things Stand in Spain?

The issue of reform is even more pressing given the kinds of danger those who run the clubs still face. Albert Tió, the man given credit for kicking off the entire club discussion in Spain, is still serving jail time. Yet those in both Barcelona and the Basque region (the area of the country with the second-highest concentration of clubs), have bravely fought on through the Pandemic to establish a formal industry, not to mention the federal and even EU level reform that must precede it.

Cannabis is technically decriminalized in the country. GMP grade cannabis production is also taking place (four licenses to do so have been issued by the national medication agency here). 

However, the grey zones are rapidly becoming less attractive for an industry that has both survived if not thrived in the Pandemic and further, seen significant progress just over national borders within the same region.

Indeed, both Spain and Greece are front and centre for announcements of further reform, and activists if not the flourishing industry are well aware of the same, not to mention what is afoot in Central and South America. That is why for many their new year’s resolution in 2022 is cannabis reform now, en españa.

The International Cannabis Business Conference is returning to Barcelona in March 2022! Book your tickets now!

Spain, particularly Barcelona, has been home to a vibrant cannabis community for many years. Cannabis is very easy to acquire throughout most of Spain where roughly 1 out of every 10 adults consumes cannabis annually, and it’s no secret that Spain has long served as the top destination for world-class Moroccan hashish.

When it comes to cannabis clubs, Spain has some of the best on the entire planet. Home to roughly 47 million people, Spain is also home to hundreds of cannabis clubs with a majority of them operating in the Barcelona area. The clubs are private and require a membership, however, they are extremely popular and most people have been able to join if they are willing to jump through the necessary hoops.

Barcelona is one of the most beautiful cities on earth, and we are very excited to once again be teaming up with Spannabis to put on the world’s largest cannabis superconference this March. Barcelona is a hotbed for cannabis clubs due to a 2016 regulation approved by the Barcelona City Council which permitted cannabis clubs to operate in the city.

Unfortunately, that regulation was overturned in 2021 by Catalonia’s Superior Court, leaving Barcelona’s entire social cannabis club scene in a state of limbo. Technically, such clubs are considered to be illegal under Spanish law, however, with so many cannabis clubs already in operation shutting them all down is likely to prove to be an impossible task. Even if some get shut down, more will presumably open up.

Lawmakers Need To Accept Reality

Cannabis prohibition does not work, and there is zero evidence that it stops humans from consuming the cannabis plant. Instead, people just do it in the shadows, all the while living in fear. This also applies to cannabis clubs. The clubs in Spain serve a vital function for suffering patients by providing them safe access, and they provide a safer alternative for consumers compared to many other substances that are legal in Spain, including and especially alcohol. Prohibiting them will not make them go away. Rather, it will just make them less safe.

Spain is world-famous for its cannabis, its cannabis community, and specifically, its cannabis clubs. Rather than sticking their heads in the sand and acting as if the clubs will go away, lawmakers in Spain need to embrace cannabis clubs and let Spain take its rightful place as a global cannabis industry tourism leader.

Such a move would create jobs, generate public revenue via fees and taxes, and eliminate any costs to taxpayers that are tied to enforcing cannabis club prohibitions. Cannabis clubs are going to exist in Spain no matter what. Spain might as well regulate them and reap the benefits from doing so.

Spain Needs Adult-Use Legalization

Full adult-use cannabis legalization has obviously failed to pass in Spain as of this article’s posting. For many years it was easy for lawmakers in Spain to drag their feet, to refuse to take action, and to point their fingers elsewhere. That approach is going to be harder to stick with as cannabis legalization spreads across the European continent.

At the end of 2021, Malta became the first country in Europe to pass an adult-use legalization measure. Malta’s legalization model will include legalizing cannabis clubs, which will serve as the primary source for people to acquire cannabis beyond cultivating it themselves. Luxembourg, Italy, and Germany are all on the cusp of legalization. Certain jurisdictions in Switzerland and the Netherlands are participating in a legalization pilot program. All of that reform puts pressure on lawmakers in Spain to step up.

Spain is at a vital crossroads right now. Lawmakers in Spain can continue to cling to failed cannabis prohibition policies and only allow a very limited medical cannabis industry to operate, or they can embrace the emerging cannabis industry and benefit in ways that many other countries cannot due to how well-known Spain is for cannabis. Only time will tell which one it ends up being.

The Cannabis Industry Guild (or GIC) has just been formed to create an advocacy group for the nascent industry across the country

In yet more of a sign of how large the ripple effect of the German announcement to move forward on recreational cannabis has been in Europe, a group of Spanish entrepreneurs has just come together to form a new business group. According to Canamo.net, which broke the story, the members of the new Guild are coming together to create a new partnership with the government. Namely, one in which seed sales are legalized and that the grow shop sector be recognized as legitimate and regulated.

The Spanish industry has suffered several setbacks beyond Covid, most of which stem from the intransigence, so far, on a national, federal level, to consider even the widespread medical use of cannabis. Indeed, the regulatory authorities in Spain have only issued four EU GMP cultivation licenses, all of which are focused on export. In the meantime, the Club industry has evolved and taken its knocks. One of the cofounders of the same, Albert Tio, is currently doing jail time for his part in organizing the same after losing his appeal at the European level earlier this year.

Beyond this, of course, the Spanish industry is suffering all the problems still recognizable to the American state industry – namely police intervention and even problems with getting a bank account.

Organizing for National and Regional Cannabis Reform

It is very clear that the Spanish industry is not going to let the other conversations about reform lie unanswered, even if they come from outside the country. The GIC is working closely with the Guild of Grow Shops in Catalonia, a group in operation for over 15 years in the heart of the Spanish industry (in Barcelona). Beyond this, the group has formed an alliance with the European Observatory of Cannabis Consumption and Cultivation to move the conversation forward at a national and EU-wide level.

There are many reasons to believe that this forward motion might in fact this time be successful, and not just because of the new German Coalition government decision on the same. The model proposed by the GIC is very much what has been proposed now for Luxembourg. This is surely also not a coincidence.

Regardless, more reform is clearly on the way in Spain, driven undeniably by the forward motion in countries all around it.

Be sure to book your tickets to the International Cannabis Business Conference when it returns to Barcelona in March!