Clubs de cannabis à Barcelone : une référence mondiale en voie d'extinction

Les clubs de cannabis ont fait l'objet d'un nombre croissant de fermetures et de sanctions économiques. Pour en savoir plus, en anglais, veuillez lire les informations ci-dessous.

In recent days, cannabis social clubs (CSCs) in Barcelona have faced a series of administrative inspections resulting in economic sanctions and, in some cases, closure orders. This situation, driven by the new mayor Jaume Collboni from the Socialist Party of Catalonia, threatens to dismantle a model internationally recognized as a safe and responsible alternative to the unregulated cannabis market.

CSCs have operated in Barcelona for more than twenty years, providing safe spaces for cannabis consumption and promoting a public health approach. Authorities allege irregularities in the clubs’ licenses and activities. This measure is perceived as a political strategy and does not respond to social demand. However, various entities and professionals warn that without comprehensive regulation, the situation could worsen.

ICEERS has consistently defended the validity and benefits of cannabis social clubs. In January, we submitted a letter to the Barcelona City Council, backed by 179 signatures of experts and representatives from 53 countries, advocating for the protection and proper regulation of these clubs. Unfortunately, our proposals were not considered, and the administrative persecution continues, contrasting with advances in other countries like Germany, where the first legal CSC has opened. This lack of response and transparency from the City Council shows a worrying trend towards prohibitionist policies that have proven more problematic than resolutive, generating more problems than those they are intended to solve.

The current situation is the result of a combination of structural and circumstantial factors: police and judicial repression, lack of support from the Barcelona Public Health Agency, the entry of commercial actors, demobilization of law firms, internal conflicts, mafia presence, and worn-out leadership, all of which have sown distrust and disorganization in the activist network. In this context, Deputy Mayor for Security, Albert Batlle, could jeopardize a reality that many considered established.