Medical: Illegal
Recreational: Decriminalized
The legal status of marijuana in Spain is complicated. There is no legal pathway to access medical cannabis and the legality of recreational cannabis can vary widely depending on the individual situation.
While it is legal to buy seeds and growing equipment, it is illegal to sell cannabis in Spain. It is legal to grow cannabis on private property, but it cannot be more than two plants per household and it cannot be visible to the general public. No legal penalties come with the possession of or smoking of cannabis, but it cannot be smoked in a public area.
Cannabis clubs and marijuana laws in Spain
Spain’s cannabis clubs present another unique and rather confusing ripple to the legal status of marijuana in the country.
Spain’s cannabis clubs are establishments similar to the coffee shops of Amsterdam and are technically legal because Spanish law allows the private consumption of cannabis. However, they do have a few key differences from coffee shops. First, most of them require membership and the payment of membership fees. Owing to Spain’s complex set of laws around marijuana, many do not advertise publicly, so prospective members must rely on word of mouth advertising. Some clubs only allow people who have been referred by previous members, and some only allow Spanish citizens. The common thread between all of them is that members don’t bring their own cannabis. Instead, they purchase cannabis which is sold on-site by the club.
Medical cannabis and marijuana laws in Spain
Spain has no legal provisions for medical professionals to prescribe cannabis. However, the decriminalization of recreational cannabis in Spain and various legal loopholes mean that accessing cannabis is easier than other places where medical cannabis is illegal. To complicate things further, Spain does cultivate medical cannabis for other countries. Medical Plants S.L.U is officially authorized to grow and export medical cannabis flower- but not to supply it to Spanish citizens.
If someone in Spain wants to get medical cannabis, there are several avenues they can pursue. The first is to grow it themselves. Spanish law allows the purchase of cultivation equipment and the cultivation of up to two plants for personal use, so patients do have the option of growing their own. Joining a cannabis club is another option, particularly if your condition requires a specific strain or product. If you live in Spain, you could also consider moving to Catalonia. The neighbouring, independent jurisdiction has fully legalized cannabis, including recreational cannabis. If you are looking to buy cannabis from local illicit suppliers, the plant is known as ‘ganja’ in Spain
Price of marijuana in Spain
As there are no legal avenues to accessing cannabis, the prices of marijuana in Spain can vary widely. Usually, though, you’ll find that they come in at around $5 USD per gram. Owing to the large tourist market, it can be a little more expensive than the rest of the EU. With no legal oversight, this pricing also comes with wide variations in quality.
Foreigners and marijuana in Spain
Foreigners can absolutely access cannabis in Spain. With the proliferation of cannabis clubs and the legal allowances for privately owned plants, it’s easier than in many other places to get cannabis. However, it will require some local knowledge and connections. Finding dealers may prove a challenge, as well as gaining membership to the cannabis clubs without a member’s recommendation.
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