Cannabis Club & Dispensary Reviews

10 Things You Need to Know about Barcelona Cannabis Clubs

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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.)

The Zanzi Cannabis Club in Barcelona
Zanzi is one of the newest Barcelona cannabis clubs, it opened in early 2018. Zanzi is a private, members-only Barcelona cannabis social club. To see a full feature review of Zanzi, go here: https://marijuanagames.org/barcelona-cannabis-club-review-zanzi/

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

Green Age Cannabis Club in Barcelona
Green Age Cannabis Club in Barcelona is one of the few smoker’s clubs in the city that has an in-house restaurant.  To see a full feature review of Green Age, go here: https://marijuanagames.org/barcelona-cannabis-club-review-green-age/

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.

Dr Dou Cannabis Club in Barcelona
One of the more established cannabis clubs in Barcelona, Dr. Dou is located fittingly on Carrer del Doctor Dou in the Raval district of the city. This is one of the swankiest cannabis clubs in Barcelona.  To see a full feature review of Dr. Dou, go here: https://marijuanagames.org/barcelona-cannabis-club-review-dr-dou/

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

La Mente cannabis club for 10 Things Article
La Mente cannabis club in Barcelona is Dutch-influenced, but run like a Spanish business. This Barcelona cannabis social club is small but clean and friendly. LaMente’s location in the upper part of the Raval neighborhood of Barcelona is perfect for people who want to join a Barcelona cannabis club directly in the center of the city. To see a full-feature review of LaMente, go here: https://marijuanagames.org/barcelona-cannabis-club-review-lamente/

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.

Choko Cannabis Club on Jonqueres in Barcelona Spain
Choko is an art club, but it’s also one of Barcelona’s best cannabis clubs. You can see a full-feature review of Choko here: https://marijuanagames.org/review-of-choko-cannabis-club-in-barcelona/

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.

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Abcda Cannabis Club in Barcelona
The grow room of the ABCDA cannabis club in Barcelona. This was one of the oldest and most well-established clubs in the city, but police shut it down permanently a couple of years ago after numerous raids on the club’s grow centers.

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.

Sweet Dreams Cannabis Club in Barcelona
Sweet Dreams Cannabis Club in Barcelona has several fascinating and well-done murals painted on its walls by local artists and members. This is one of the most discreet cannabis clubs in Barcelona.

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.

The Alhambra Cannabis Club in Barcelona
The Alhambra Cannabis Club in Barcelona was an Arabic-themed association that offered members free dinners, movie nights, breakfast buffets, and a gorgeous environment in which to smoke some of Barcelona’s best hashish. Sadly, Alhambra closed down a few years ago, and a similarly-themed club hasn’t opened in the city…yet. 😉

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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.

Smoke Green Cannabis Club in Barcelona
Smoke Green Cannabis Club in Barcelona is one of the city’s more “Bohemian” style clubs, but it’s well-known for hosting great events like cannabis tastings and pairings, as well as ping-pong competitions.

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.

Circulo Cannabis Club in Barcelona
This is the inscription area at Circulo cannabis club in Barcelona. This is where new members sign up via an existing sponsor. Circulo is located in the Born district of Barcelona, in the building formerly occupied by the infamous La Mesa; one of Barcelona’s best cannabis clubs, now closed. To see a full feature review of Circulo, go here: https://marijuanagames.org/barcelona-cannabis-club-review-circulo/

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.

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Kush Cannabis Club in Barcelona
The Kush Cannabis Club in Barcelona used to recruit new members on the streets of Las Ramblas and Via Laietana. This practice is frowned upon and is a good way for a club to get shut down, but Kush operated for years even after being closed by police on several occasions. While many people were able to acquire acceptable product at Kush, the environment was a little sketchy because there was no control over who the club accepted for membership. Membership via a sponsor from an existing member is the best way to stay within the laws in Spain, but it’s also the best way to ensure that the fellow members at your club are people that you actually want to be around.

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.

Betty Boop Cannabis Club in Barcelona
Betty Boop Cannabis Club in Barcelona, not recommended by this author. This was my first review of a Barcelona cannabis club, and sadly it was one of my only negative reviews in the city. But to each his own; you might like the club, and it has certainly changed in the 5 years since I became a member, although I never went back to the club after 2013, you can read about my experience here: https://marijuanagames.org/barcelona-cannabis-club-review-betty-boop-on-maria-cubi/

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.

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Jammin Cannabis Club in Barcelona
Jammin’ Cannabis Club in Barcelona, circa 2013. The club is still open as of 2018 and has undergone a lot of changes. This author had a bicycle stolen from outside of the club, so keep your wits about you when in this area of Barna.

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.

Club Fum Cannabis Social Club in Barcelona Spain
Club Fum is a hip new cannabis club in Barcelona, with lots of activities for members, and high-quality marijuana products. To see a full feature review of Club Fum, go here: https://marijuanagames.org/review-of-club-fum-cannabis-club-in-barcelona/

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:

Reading Materials – Cannabis Club Resources

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.

 

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498 thoughts on “10 Things You Need to Know about Barcelona Cannabis Clubs

  1. Hi Russ! Thank you for all the great information provided. I am coming to Barcelona to study abroad for a semester, would I need a seperate membership in order to attend Spannabis? I will send you an email and thanks for all of your help!

    1. Hi Alison; thank you for your comment. I will respond via email, but I also want to reply here too so that others can see this information. Cannabis clubs in Barcelona are distinctly separate private associations. They are not connected to each other, and they are not connected to Spannabis, which is another separate entity. However, it’s no problem to become a member of a club and purchase tickets to Spannabis. Anyone wishing to do so should send me an email to russ@marijuanagames.org Thanks! Peace -Russ

  2. Hi Russ. Thanks for all the information. Ive been here in barcelona for a few days now. And I was wondering if you knew the aproximate opening hours of the clubs and if they open on sundays as well. Peace.

    1. Hi Nicolas; thank you for your comment. As the clubs are private entities distinctly separate from each other, the opening times and days vary greatly from one establishment to the next. Some open early, some later, some are open on Sundays and holidays and some are not, etc. It’s best to contact the club directly to find out their hours. Keep in mind you will need a current member to sponsor you if you wish to join a club. Peace -Russ

  3. Hello russ, thanks for all the information provided it should all come to good use! Me and my girlfriend are coming over for the spannabis in march and was wondering if you’d be willing enough to help us out with membership, I have emailed you also but I thought I might as well cover both, any more information/advice or anything else would be much appreciated and I thank you in advance for any help you can give 🙂 thanks, jake smith

  4. Hey Russ! I appreciate the information you’ve posted here, it’s quite informative and helpful. I’m interested in a membership and have sent you an email regarding said membership. If you could get back to me when you can it would be greatly appreciated. I look forward to speaking with you. Peace!

  5. Hey, Russ! Good post and thanks in advance for your help. Defunately would like to experience the club environment. Will email you shortly for help… Thanks once again… MZ

  6. Buenas tardes Russ!Yo resido en Barcelona y soy miembro de tres clubs,navegando por la red he encontrado tu blog y me ha parecido muy interesante por la información que detalla,más que nada me gustaría saber si podrías abalarme en un Club llamado La Mesa que me parece interesante y por su ubicación me iría bien, ya que me muevo por la zona del Born.
    Bueno,simplemente agradezco tu ayuda de antemano y estamos en contacto.
    Gracias.
    Saludos.

  7. Hi Russ,

    I will be visiting Barcelona with my girlfriend from the 13th to the 17th Nov for my birthday.

    I got used to weed in Mexico where it is grown in a field and you don’t mix it with tobacco but I simply haven’t come across anything like that in the UK, so I don’t tend to smoke very often. It would be massive for me if I could enjoy a relaxed spliff in legal circumstances in Barcelona.

    Would really appreciate your help with sponsorship to an amiable club. If it helps I speak Spanish fluently,

    Many thanks,

    John

  8. Hi 🙂 i’m visiting BCN in mid of january. I will live in hotel. I’m 28 yo Polish guy. Will you help me? Which clubs are foreigners friendly?

  9. Hi Russ!

    My name is Jacqueline and I will be in Barcelona with my friend starting tomorrow, 10/1/2014 until 10/4/2014. I would really like to be able to go to a cannabis social club while visiting, so please let me know what I should do!

    Sorry for the late notice,
    Jacqueline

  10. Hi russ
    I’m coming to Barcelona in November with my boyfriend, as a surprise for his birthday. Usually I would leave this side to him as he knows more about this kind of stuff. But as it’s a surprise and we have not been before I just woundered if you could help and sponser us please, it would really help us out. Plus it would defiantly make his birthday thanks :-))

  11. Hi Russ,
    My wife and I are coming to Barcelona and would really love a smoke in a chilled out comfy place, could you help us with a sponsor please? We’ve been to Amsterdam loads but this is our first trip here.
    Much love,
    Dee

  12. Hey Russ, just arrived in Barcelona yesterday. While I have just messaged the five ‘best’ cannabis clubs here I heard I need a sponser or referral. Hit me back please as my brother and I would like to experience this for ourselves. Here are the five clubs I’ve messaged so far
    *dragon cannabis club
    *the clinic Barcelona
    *Barcelona coffee shop
    *club de cannabis Barcelona
    *choko club

    I do appreciate any help you can give us while we’re here in Spain. Thanks

  13. Hi i have arrived in barcelona and cannot get a membership in any club. I was here 5 weeks ago and it was relatively simple..i joined cafe 420 but that appears to be closed. I would appreciate a sponsor to help me get a membership somewhere.
    Many thanks

  14. Yo!

    Just got into Barcelona.
    Looking for some help with the clubs.
    Can you send me
    In the right direction?

    Much love,
    Beau

  15. Hey, first helpfull article i found about the subject, thanks. My girl and me are in Barcelona the next days and we wanted to see some club from inside. would be great of you helping us.

  16. Thank you for detailed information about this subject. Me and my gf are going to Barcelona from Madrid and we are hoping to smoke time after time. If you can help us, that will be great.

  17. Hi Russ,
    I’m 30 and am I’m in Barcelona until Friday and would be very thankful if you could sponsor me and recommend a chilled out club with some nice smoke? I would be very grateful.
    Thanks

  18. I would be very grateful if you would sponsor me. I am visiting and would like to know your suggestion for a good club in the gothic section.

  19. hi, me and my friends are 25 years old and coming for a vacation in barcelona this sunday. we want a good cannabis club in the city center. can u recommned us one and tell us what we need to do in order to sign? peace

  20. Hi Russ. I am looking forward to my very first excursion to the beautiful city of Barcelona. I would like to email you regarding the cannabis clubs.

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