In Spain, private cannabis use by adults is not a crime, although there is no national law regulating it. Marijuana is one of the most widely consumed drugs, so trafficking in this substance has become a dangerous, multimillion-euro business.
Regulation is a positive step towards ridding society of these problems and creating a freer and healthier environment.
The situation in Spain
In our country, cannabis is decriminalized for cultivation, personal use and other purposes not involving buying and selling. It remains illegal for commercial purposes. Only one legal cannabis-based medicine is available, nabiximols (Nabiximols – Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia), a painkiller for people with multiple sclerosis.
In a way, politics has lagged behind public opinion, since the trend and public opinion on cannabis use changed years ago. In April 2021, 50% of the people surveyed by the Centro de Investigaciones Sociológicas supported the comprehensive regulation of marijuana. This figure reached 90% for medicinal use.
These opinions appeared in a special context: cannabis is the third most consumed substance, after tobacco and alcohol. There is a business opportunity in the legal sphere through the cultivation of this plant. According to a study by the Autonomous University of Barcelona, more than 3 billion euros a year could be collected through taxes with the regulation of a medical cannabis market.
Legal consumption in the country
Some autonomous communities have tried to regulate cannabis associations. In Catalonia, for example, the Parlament passed a law on these associations in 2017, but the Constitutional Court struck it down in 2018.
The legal situation has been under review for years. This process was accelerated by the increase in medical research on cannabinoids and their ability to interact with the endocannabinoid system.
Mainly, the way in which it affects the immune system has been studied. In addition, the industry for the commercialization of derivatives such as cannabis oil and edibles has grown enormously.
You may be interested in: Our article on the leading CBD vape brands.
There are different outlets for cannabis items. In Spain, selling seeds is permitted for ornamental or collecting purposes. There are also grow shops that sell a range of products for home cannabis cultivation.
In any case, medicinal regulation solves part of the problem. It remains to regulate recreational use, which affects millions of people in Spain alone. The group of Unidas Podemos presented a law in Congress for this type of consumption. ERC has also done so, but the PP and Vox have positioned themselves against any progress in this area.
Cannabis in the world
Countries that have regulated recreational use include Canada, Uruguay, Malta and several US states. Germany joined them in April 2024: it allows adults to possess cannabis and grow it at home, as well as non-profit cannabis social clubs.
At our cannabis association in Sant Antoni, Barcelona, we’re committed to responsible and safe consumption. We’ll keep writing about the latest cannabis news on our blog. Stay tuned!
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