Each month I receive hundreds of questions from readers about Barcelona’s cannabis clubs. Questions range from “How Can I get Membership at a Cannabis Club in Barcelona?” to “Is Weed Legal in Barcelona?” to questions about the club’s use of personal information and many others. Of course, there’s also no shortage of questions about the actual marijuana in Barcelona, such as “What’s the price of weed in Barcelona?” and, “Can tourists join a Barcelona cannabis club?” Because many of these questions follow a common theme, I thought this short but direct list of the 10 most important things you need to know about Barcelona’s cannabis clubs might help shed some light on what is – by necessity – a private industry.
CLICK HERE TO APPLY FOR MEMBERSHIP
(This is a preliminary application process valid as of 2018; not all who apply will qualify for membership based on Spanish law and club policy. This process is not meant to be promotional in any way; application for membership is general and is not necessarily applied to any particular club unless the applicant fully qualifies.)
Here are the 10 most important things you need to know about cannabis clubs in Barcelona:
1.) Cannabis Clubs in Barcelona are Private, not Public
Don’t confuse a cannabis club in Barcelona for a coffeeshop in Amsterdam; they’re not at all the same thing. Amsterdam’s coffeeshops are public and are open to anyone at any time. Barcelona’s cannabis clubs, on the other hand, are only open to new members via referrals through existing members. These policies result in striking differences between the two:
- Amsterdam’s best coffeeshops feel like you’re hanging out at a pub or bar
- Barcelona’s best cannabis clubs feel like you’re hanging out in your own living room
If you join a cannabis social club in Barcelona, you can trust that your personal information will remain private. You won’t receive marked mail from the club, the club won’t sell, give away, or provide your information to anyone else, the club will not leak or otherwise make your information available to government or other authorities, and the club won’t spam you with advertisements or offers. Why? Because it’s all private, not public.
Get Cannabis in Barcelona – Join a Private Barcelona Cannabis Club Now
2.) You Don’t “Buy” Weed from Barcelona’s Cannabis Clubs
When you become a member of a cannabis club in Barcelona, you are essentially part of a coalition that grows and distributes marijuana among its members. Therefore, the marijuana that’s grown belongs to all members, including you. You are required to pay for your share of what it costs to grow the marijuana and for the building space and other facilities, utilities, etc. These costs are recouped in a number of ways, and members generally share the cost.
This means that you’re not buying marijuana when you go to a Barcelona smoking club. You’re simply acquiring your share of what you and other members have collectively grown. Therefore, it is considered rude to talk about “buying weed,” and if you do so while at a club you might be corrected. Instead, ask how much the member share is, or how much contribution is required for X number of grams of cannabis.
Click this link to learn more about the legality of Cannabis in Barcelona
3.) You Need a Photo ID and Address in Spain to Get Membership at a Barcelona Cannabis Club
In order to get a membership at a Barcelona cannabis club, you must present a valid government-issued passport, driver’s license, state or regional ID, NIE/DNI card, or other photo-visa. You must also register using a regular residential address in Spain; in most cases a hotel or hostel address won’t work, so you will need to provide a residential address. No mail will ever be sent to the address you provide, the information will be kept strictly confidential and in most cases you are not required to “prove” your address. Spanish residency is NOT required to join a cannabis club in Barcelona or any other city; you must merely supply a residential address at the time of your inscription. AirBnB and similar addresses are perfectly acceptable to use at registration.
NOTE: In addition to the above, some clubs may require you to allow them to photograph you for their records. If you’re comfortable with this, then go for it.
Additionally, some clubs require members to be 21 years old or older, while others accept new members as young as age 18. If you’re trying to pull a fast one because you are under age, don’t bother; your identification will be rigorously checked by club staff before you are allowed to enter.
Join a Private Barcelona Cannabis Club Now
4.) You can Still Get in Trouble for Smoking Marijuana in Barcelona
Just because you can get weed legally in Barcelona doesn’t mean you can be flippant about it. Spanish law is very liberal in private spaces. Therefore, it’s okay to have some marijuana in your own home, or in a private Barcelona cannabis club. But if you display or use marijuana in a public place and are caught, you’ll almost certainly be fined, the marijuana will be confiscated, and depending on the circumstances, you could be arrested and jailed.
Be smart. Just because you see people smoking joints on Las Ramblas doesn’t mean you should too. In fact, the truth of the matter is that outside of a private residence or a legitimate cannabis club, you could be harassed and ticketed by police. If you take cannabis out of a club (most people do) then please remember to transport it in your under garments. Spanish authorities cannot search there without a warrant. If you do get caught with weed in public, you will be ticketed and pay a fine, but there is no criminality involved unless you are over a threshold that most cannabis club members never exceed.
The best policy if you are stopped by police and found with cannabis is to say as little as possible, and do not tell the police where you acquired the cannabis.
5.) Not All Marijuana at Cannabis Clubs in Barcelona is grown by the Club
Some Barcelona smoking clubs can’t afford the space, equipment, risk, or services required to grow fine quality marijuana. Instead, they resort to acquiring it via other means. In some cases this may involve getting weed from other cannabis clubs in Barcelona, or it may require cooperation with large growers out in the Spanish countryside. There are also some clubs that get their marijuana from the guys that sell it down on the beach.
Where the club acquires its cannabis may not matter to you, but it definitely does to me. After all, if I wanted street marijuana, I’d just go get it from the street guys directly, and at a much better price. The problem is that, because growing cannabis at scale is not legal in Spain, many clubs have been raided repeatedly, and at great expense. Therefore, many clubs opt to procure cannabis via local supplier networks, which often service a large number of clubs. Often, the cannabis acquired from these networks is excellent, but in some cases, it’s sub-standard, so make sure you only join a Barcelona cannabis club with a superior reputation for the quality of its marijuana.
CLICK HERE TO APPLY FOR MEMBERSHIP
6.) Not All of Barcelona’s Smoking Clubs are Created Equal
The differences from one Barcelona cannabis club to the next are astounding. There are huge clubs that span three floors of a major building, and there’s clubs that are nothing more than one small room with a couple of cheap chairs. There are clubs that are located in dark basements, and clubs that are in bright new spaces. Some are themed, some are not. Some are fancy, some are dingy.
Whatever type of environment you’re looking for, chances are that you can find it at a cannabis club in Barcelona. In fact, there’s even a gay cannabis club in the city called Berry Boi, but I’ve never been able to get much information on it. If you know of this club or you’re a member there, please get in touch with me: russ@marijuanagames.org
What I’ve found is that most people who are regulars at Barcelona’s cannabis clubs have memberships to multiple clubs – usually at least 5 or 6 – and frequent them all for different reasons; different strains of cannabis, different people, different environments, different locations in the city, etc.
7.) Most Cannabis Clubs Charge a Yearly Membership Fee
You’ll pay your fair share for the effort required to grow your marijuana and house you in a number of ways. First, nearly every club requires the payment of a yearly membership fee. This is generally 25-50 Euro, but can be as low as 20 Euro and as high as 100 Euro. Some clubs give membership away for free, but this is rare and often comes at a price – poor service, cruddy environment, terrible weed, etc.
It is not appropriate to negotiate or attempt to have the membership fee waived. We are all members; we all need to support each other, and these small fees are how we pull together to do this. You’ll also contribute a set amount per gram for different marijuana strains and hash, and for any other products or services offered by the club.
Additionally, you may want to bring a friend or family member with you to the club who doesn’t smoke, but still wants to see what it’s like. This is completely acceptable, but this person must still register for membership to be able to enter the club, in keeping with the private nature of the clubs which is necessary for their existence. Remember; if a person could just walk into a club off the street, without becoming a member, then the club cannot be considered “private,” and thus will have no protections under the law. The best thing to do is to bring your friend with you even if they don’t use cannabis; most clubs have beer and wine, snacks and sweets, movies, games, videos, live music, special events, and more to keep everyone happy; even non-smokers.
Join a Barcelona Cannabis Social Club Now
8.) There are Legal Limits to How Much Marijuana you Can Acquire
This is important; there are limits to how much weed you can procure per month at a cannabis club in Barcelona. I believe the limits are something like 98 grams, depending on the club, which means that if you’re getting lots of weed at multiple clubs, you could be subject to investigation. Probably not, but you should know this. When you register at a Barcelona cannabis club, you will be provided with information about what the limits are, and you’ll sign a form stating you’ve read this information.
You’ll be asked on the forms how many grams per week you will acquire from the club. This is not a commitment; it is merely an estimate, so you are not required to collect this amount each week. Clubs will only allow you to acquire 5 grams per day maximum, although some clubs allow more or less, depending on the club and the member in question. I usually write that I’ll acquire around 8-10 grams per week or up to 40 per month, and for me that’s probably pretty accurate unless I’m doing a lot of entertaining that month.
By filling out this form, you are authorizing the club to grow X grams of cannabis on your behalf. This protects the club in the event that its cultivation operations are investigated.
9.) Cannabis Clubs in Spain Cannot Advertise Publicly
Because Spain’s cannabis clubs are private, members-only organizations, they cannot publicly advertise. This may be why so few people are aware of what’s really going on in Barcelona, how prevalent the cannabis clubs are, and that membership is available even to foreigners.
If you see that a Barcelona cannabis club is advertising publicly, such as someone handing out fliers or other literature or advertisements on the street, then you probably should not go to that particular club. After all, doing business with a cannabis club that’s breaking the rules is self-defeating when lawmakers in Barcelona and Spain overall still haven’t really made their minds up about cannabis clubs just yet.
If you are approached by someone on the street who wants you to join a cannabis club, you should take extreme caution as this is probably not legitimate. Professional clubs do not send promoters out into the streets to recruit new members – they don’t need to and it’s against the law anyway. I know some shady characters who promote clubs on Las Ramblas and the popular plazas nearby, and they’re not exactly people you want to get involved with.
Beware.
Join a Cannabis Club Now
10.) Regulations for Cannabis Clubs in Barcelona are on the Way
There are close to 200 cannabis clubs in Barcelona, and they’ve all been operating under what are often confusing statutes and grey areas that make it difficult to be certain that they’re doing the right thing. Thankfully, legislators have been hard at work developing a set of standards that Barcelona’s cannabis clubs can be held to. Some of these standards are being put into effect now, while others have been reserved for systematic implementation.
This means that we can expect at least some changes to the way cannabis clubs operate in the coming months, so it’s important to stay abreast of these changes in case any of them present risk or potential problems for you, whether you’re a Spaniard or not.
UPDATE: A lot has happened in the last few years. Catalonia passed a referendum to regulate the cannabis clubs, thanks to the La Rosa Verde petition, but then in 2017 the region lost its autonomy after a failed bid for independence. Now, the federal government of Spain has stepped in, applying Constitutional law, which protects and allows cannabis clubs to exist without the need for specific regulation…at least for now [2018 and beyond]. For more information about this, please review the materials at the following link:
Acquiring Membership at a Cannabis Club in Barcelona is Relatively Simple
There seems to be a lot of mystery about Barcelona’s cannabis clubs, but the reality is that in most cases, membership opportunities are abundant. So how exactly does one go about getting membership at a Barcelona cannabis club? If you know someone who is already a member of a club, you can simply ask them to sponsor you. If you don’t know anyone, then you’re more than welcome to strike up a dialogue with me in the comments below, in the comments on this post about my first experience at a club in BCN, or by using the site’s contact form. You can also email me directly at russ@marijuanagames.org. I’ve helped many people acquire membership at a Barcelona cannabis club, and I may be able to do the same for you.
CLICK HERE TO APPLY FOR MEMBERSHIP
(This is a preliminary application process valid as of 2018; not all who apply will qualify for membership based on Spanish law and club policy. Application for membership is general and is not necessarily applied to any particular club unless the applicant fully qualifies.)
EDITOR DISCLAIMER: This post was originally written in 2013, but received substantial edits and additions in September 2018 and was republished accordingly. Hence, you may see dates on comments from several years ago, though the publishing date of the newly revised and expanded post is 18 September 2018.
- Barcelona Cannabis Club Review: Green Age - March 23, 2022
- Things to do after Smoking Weed in Barcelona - March 2, 2022
- 9 Things You Need to Know about Cannabis Clubs in Madrid - February 15, 2022
498 thoughts on “10 Things You Need to Know about Barcelona Cannabis Clubs”
Hi Russ, I’m in Barcelona currently and am very keen to visit/join a cannabis club. How short of notice will be required for sponsorship?
Many thanks,
Michael
Hi Michael; things are a little chaotic in Barcelona (and for me on business here in the States), so it’s a little difficult to answer that question and it depends on whether you meet the current requirements. It’s best to email me at russ@marijuanagames.org to discuss. Peace -Russ
Hi Russ. Thank you for the great articles and your overall effort in promoting the cannabis culture! I just sent you an email. Would be great to hear from you.
Regards
Flo
Hi Flo; sorry, I get a lot of emails and I can’t always associate them with the comments section – did we connect via email?
In barcelona now. I have a medical cannibis card from Oakland California but was flat out rejected and treated like a jerk from the club on 62 Carrer del Rec when I showed up and requested to enter club. They wouldn’tt help and seemed uninterested in my status as a patient. Leaving to tomorrow, my location is Passeig de Picasso, any help would be appreciated.
That’s unfortunate, but I am fairly certain most clubs require you to have a sponsor even if you are a medical patient…I can’t do anything with this short notice, sorry mate.
Hi Russ, i arrived barcelona today, and im willing to stay for 1 week. Moreoever, im here with my family, so i would like to get some quality time for my self and just get high. So where do u recommend that i should go, and i would prefer to get weed on my own and smoke it in my apartment, therefore i wont have to leave and my family will be worried. Thank you
Hi Mohammed, it’s best if you email me at russ@marijuanagames.org. As I am on an extended hiking trip in the US and that is the best way to reach me at the moment. Peace. -Russ
Hi Russ, just arrive from uk and will stay for few days is there any change you can sponsor or suggestion where to go or try? Thank you
Best regards
Adam
Hi Adam, I am on an extended hiking trip right now, so it’s best if you can email me at russ@marijuanagames.org. Peace.
Hi Russ,my best friends dad has just been sent home from hospital because his kemo is not working. Would it be possible do you think to get cannabis oil for use as medicine for him if we were to take him to Barcelona from Ireland? Please help as we are desperate.
Hi Quintin; I will be happy to try to help. I am not sure about which clubs (if any) have cannabis oil. Some clubs have hash, shatter, wax, dabs, etc., but very few have oil. I will send some emails today on your behalf and see if I can find a club that has cannabis oil. If I am successful I will contact you, but for now if you can send me an email at russ@marijuanagames.org so that we can more easily communicate, that will be ideal. Has your friend’s dad had radiation and surgery already? Peace -Russ
Hi I found on the internet someone who offers to sponsor people for the Betty Boop club in Barcelona is it alright if I just have his first name and if that isn’t the case could you possibly help me.
Hi Edmund; no that is definitely not legitimate, not to mention the fact that I don’t recommend anyone to become a member at Betty Boop:
https://marijuanagames.org/barcelona-cannabis-club-review-betty-boop-on-maria-cubi/
If you’d like to see examples of respectable clubs who conduct themselves legitimately, please see here:
https://marijuanagames.org/tag/barcelona-cannabis-clubs/
If you need more information or assistance please email me at russ@marijuanagames.org
Peace -Russ
Hey! Your information was really helpful, but I wanted to ask you one thing. My sister has a membership with a cannabis club in Barcelona, but she won’t be in the city when I am. If I give the club her name and show them my ID, is there a chance I’ll be able to get a membership too? Thank you for your help!!
What club? Did your sister agree to this? If she wants to sponsor you, she will need to be present in order to do so. But being that I have no idea what club you are talking about, it’s impossible to say. The general rule is you must be sponsored in person by a current member.
Hi Russ I want to become a member, I’m from Australia here for 6 days, staying at the are hotel barcelona. Can you help me??
regards glen
Hi Glen; I’m overwhelmed with requests right now, so please send me an email so I can try to keep things organized: russ@marijuanagames.org
hi russ. can you help me get in. i cant email you for some reason. im here for the next two or 3days.
Bryan
Hi Bryan; I assume you mean “get you in” a cannabis club? I can certainly discuss it with you, but not in the comments section. Only via email: russ@marijuanagames.org. If you’re not able to email there really isn’t much I can do. Peace -Russ
Hello im going to barcelona with my girlffriend from july 24th to july 31th. Ill be in the “CONFORTEL AUDITORI” for the 1st 3 days and from july 27th to 31th ill be in “B HOTEL” Ill be in the “confortel auditori”at arround 10pm july 24th and i would like to know if there is a cheap cannabis club arround there?
-Can you suggest me one?
-Can I stay late in a cannabis club?
-How much is it to get a membership card?
Thanks in advance for your answer. I would like to pay the membership 10e.
Sorry, I don’t have a membership at any “cheap” cannabis clubs.
Hey dude im going barcelona with my girlfriend an looking on joining a club im 22 an she is 21 we both smoke back in england an was looking on trying to see some of the clubs out there how do i do it
Hi Jordan; if you will be in Barcelona in the next couple of days, please email me at russ@marijuanagames.org. If not, please wait to email me until 1 day before your arrival. In the meantime, it may be helpful to read some or all of the articles found at this link: https://marijuanagames.org/tag/barcelona-cannabis-clubs/ Peace -Russ
Hey man! Great articles and strain reviews! I especially enjoyed the one on cheese! My friend and I just finished being at Amsterdam and we are about to go to Barcelona and then to Madrid, so reading upon the recent situation and general information were great! But I was wondering, after reading your ABCDA article, I was planning to do something similar, stand out the club and chit-chat for awhile hoping for a sponsor, but given the recent atmosphere would you consider this a smart idea?
Hi Jin; No, that is definitely not a smart idea, and after the events of last month I doubt that it would work anyway. The best thing to do is to do things the right way and obtain a sponsor, provided you meet the normal conditions. Cheers -Russ
Hi!
I read your article about the clubs in Barcelona and I vould love to visit one with one with my sister and I would be really thankful If you could help us get into one of these clubs! I love Barcelona so far by the way.
Mark
Hi Mark; Indeed – Barcelona is an amazing city! Depending on your situation, I may be able to help you, but it’s easier to discuss via email at russ@marijuanagames.org. See you there. Peace -Russ
Hiya Russ, Thank you so much for your excellent articles. They really helped me understand the ins and outs of the Barcelona club scene. Please refer to the e-mail I sent you just now. thanks again.
Hi Russ, I stumbled upon this website while looking up information about marijuana culture in Spain. I am interested in checking out one of these private clubs in Barcelona and possibly procuring some Spanish green as well.
I see that you’ve provided an email address to contact; is it cool if I send a request your way? Thanks either way.
Regards,
David
Hi David; yes, email is the best way to contact me for all queries: russ@marijuanagames.org Peace -Russ
Hey Russ,
I will be in barcelona over the next week and was wondering if you could put me in connection with one of these clubs. While I do enjoy it for recreation, I have had a herniated disc in my back for several years, and smoking helps relieve some of the pain.
Let me know if anything is possible. Thanks!
Hi Jorge; in general medical users of cannabis receive preference for membership, so it is possible that I may be able to help you. Best practice is to send me an email at russ@marijuanagames.org. Peace -Russ
Hi Russ,
Thanks for the interesting article, I have wrote you a personal email, your advice appreciated..
Danny
Hi Russ.
Me and my friend are arriving in Barcelona, thursday the 10th of july, and we are going to be there for a week.
We are both older than 21.
We are curious to know, what do we have to do, for you to help us aquire a membership in a Barcelona weed club.
Best regards, Andres
Hi Andres; if you are specifically asking me to sponsor you at a club, it’s best to do so via email to russ@marijuanagames.org. Also, I encourage you to check out the blog on the site, where you will find tons more information about cannabis clubs in Barcelona. Peace -Russ
Hi there. My name is Giacomo and I come from Italy, so sorry if my English is not perfect:). I’ll be in bacelolona Tuesday 8 July with my friends and we would like to get some weed. May you tell me the name of some clubs which accept under 21 people, because we’re all 19.
Thank you very much. Giacomo
Hi Giacomo; right now there are very few clubs that permit members who are under 21. In fact, it is possible that new legislation in the coming year will make this a law, but we’re not sure yet. However, there may be an option available to you depending on your circumstances and whether you meet specific criteria or not. It’s best if you email me to discuss this in detail: russ@marijuanagames.org. Peace -Russ
Im interested in joining a club. Could you help me?
I COULD help you, but I’m not very motivated by messages devoid of salutations and common courtesy.
thank you again for the reponse i have 2 lasr queations then i ill leave you alone haha is thi ban soley in the city of barcelona or all of spain couldnt one be open in another part of spain also are there any good websites or anything you know of for more info on clubs in spain and such thanks again
The moratorium is for new cannabis clubs in Catalonia. I know next to nothing outside of this region. Not to be immodest, but this website is by far the most comprehensive and authoritative source of information about cannabis clubs in Barcelona. If the information you are looking for cannot be found on my site, then I honestly don’t know where else to point you. Good luck! Peace -Russ
Hello Russ Thank you for the information I appriciate it. Well i was not planning on penning one for about 14 months anyway do you think i should go ahead with it? And if.not ia there a way of getting involved growing or working at a social club?
I’m not sure how easy it is to get a job at a club or how that process works; your best bet will be to contact club management directly and find out if they’re hiring and what the requirements are – most will be happy to talk to you about it. As far as opening a club, I really don’t know much and what little I do know will almost certainly change by next year. Nevertheless, I encourage you to make an attempt once the moratorium on new clubs has been lifted. IF it is lifted. Peace -Russ
Hey Russ thanks for the info so would it be that difficult to actually get one started I wouldnt be doing this for about 14 months or so anyway and if not any info on being involved with growing out there or working at a marijuana social club just being involved out there thanks again
Hey Russ 🙂 I just sent you an e-mail, thanks in advance for all your help!
Thanks Jad, I’ll keep my eye out for it. Peace -Russ
how is it when i want to go camping near barcelona?? is a camping ground considered a private space… or public? could i smoke in my tent??
I’m not a Spanish lawyer, but if you are legitimately using a campground space and are inside your tent, I believe that would be construed as private and so technically you should be allowed to smoke in your tent. However, if the smoke escapes the tent and, for instance, floats over to the children’s tent next to you, then there could be a problem.
In general, just be discreet and make sure your smoke doesn’t bother anyone else. I smoke on hiking trails and mountain tops even though it’s technically “public” space, but I just make sure that no one is around.
Now, if you rent a caravan in a campground, then you should be all set unless the campground specifically forbids smoking inside.
Ola Russ ! Thanks a lot for your post here. Your experience is priceless.
Now me and my wife in Sitges, is there any opportunity to help us get God blessed herb here or you can help us only in Barcelona? 🙁
Sorry, I only have membership in clubs in Barcelona, but you can use my directory to find a CSC near you and then contact them directly. Good luck! Peace -Russ
Hi Russ, My girlfriend and I will be traveling to Barcelona August 15th and were wondering how we join/get in touch with clubs. Any information or help would be much appreciated.
Thanks
привет !янедавно зарегестрировался у вас но вся переписка странным образомм исчезла если можно примите меня ещё раз в carrer de maria cubi 194
Нет, я не спонсировать людей в Betty Boop и не рекомендую, чтобы любой пойти туда. Вы, вероятно, следует прочитать эту статью: https://marijuanagames.org/barcelona-cannabis-club-review-betty-boop-on-maria-cubi/