Cannabis Clubs in Barcelona May Close After Supreme Court Decision
Police and municipal authorities agree that the 'pioneering' model has reduced trafficking and street consumption
Curation and editing by Sechat Content, with information from The Guardian
Famous cannabis social clubs in Spain are at risk of closing their doors after a historic decision by the Supreme Court aimed at closing the legal loophole that led to their popularity.
According to The Guardian, 200 cannabis clubs in Barcelona are in danger after the court overturned its 2017 ruling that said "the private consumption of cannabis by adults is part of the exercise of the fundamental right to free personal development and freedom of conscience."
The cultivation, consumption, and distribution of cannabis were essentially legalized in Catalonia for members of private cannabis clubs in the same year, leading to a thriving market.
Cannabis social clubs have been governed by the city statute of Barcelona for years, however, the Supreme Court's decision suggests that city authorities are no longer "competent" to legislate on issues governed by the state.
Cannabis businesses will now be informed that the sale, consumption, or promotion of cannabis will be prohibited in Spain, including Barcelona, where 70% of the country's cannabis clubs are located.
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Eric Asensio, spokesperson for the Federation of Catalan Cannabis Associations, told The Guardian: "Most associations assume that sooner or later they will be forced to close."
Once again the judiciary attacks associations without taking into account the reality of Barcelona, a city that has lived with these entities for over 30 years.
"The associations there are a pioneering model in Europe, exported internationally, in the application of new drug policies focusing on the individual and their health," says Eric.
He adds, "what is needed is a legal framework that recognizes existing reality and obtains the necessary regulatory mechanisms in collaboration with public authorities, with a clear emphasis on public health."
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As previously reported, the Spanish cannabis market is large, with businesses like social clubs that attract millions of tourists. According to Canna Byte, there are four million local consumers, as well as about 6.5 to 12.5 million people who spend some time in the country to enjoy the herb every year.
It is now up to the Spanish to wait for the Federation, which has requested to be part of the City Council's working group, to create legislative solutions to circumvent the situation.