Barcelona Vs Weed: City Council Orders Shutdown Of 30 Cannabis Clubs

By Lucía Tedesco via El Planteo

Citing violations of municipal ordinances, the Barcelona City Council, led by Jaume Collboni, has ordered the closure of 30 cannabis clubs. However, it seems that all such clubs in the city might eventually be shut down.

In 2023, Barcelona had 200 clubs, serving as the primary access point for cannabis users. At that time, Deputy Mayor and Security Councilor Albert Batlle announced the City Council’s intention to close all of them, as reported by ABC. By the end of that year, a series of inspections began, where municipal agents stopped club members as they left, questioning them about their activities, whether they bought cannabis and if non-residents visited the clubs.

Urban Guard Data Compromises Barcelona’s Cannabis Clubs

Following these inspections, sources from the urban guard said that there was a significant influx of non-resident tourists entering the clubs.

Following the closure order, the clubs have ten days to present a case, allowing the judiciary to determine whether the shutdown will be temporary or permanent. In the event of a potential reopening, it is stated that there will be “strict surveillance.”

Currently, the clubs lack a legal framework to protect them. In fact, in 2021, the Supreme Court upheld a ruling against a regulation approved by the City Council, brought forward by representative Ada Colau in 2016, which governed these establishments.

Since then, the regulation of the clubs has been precarious, a consequence of a failure to implement the appropriate policies in due time.

This article is from an external unpaid contributor. It does not represent Benzinga’s reporting and has not been edited for content or accuracy.

Photo by Logan Armstrong on Unsplash