Barcelona’s City Council Presents a New Plan to Regulate Cannabis Clubs

The new plan for the regulation of cannabis clubs developed by the City Council of Barcelona aims to lower the minimum distance between clubs from 150 meters, as previously stipulated, to 100, which will spare many of the city's associations and clubs from having to shut down. These 100 meters will not only apply to the minimum distance between clubs, but also between them and schools, and also CAS (drug dependence treatment and follow-up) facilities. As for historic city centres, like Ciutat Vella, and Gràcia, the minimum distance will remain at 150 meters, due to the areas' higher population densities.

The regulation proposed by former Mayor Xavier Trias set the minimum distance at 150 meters in every case. If this initial version of the regulation had been enforced, a total of 133 locales would have been forced to close. While the exact number of closures that will occur after the application of the new ordinance has not been specified, there will be far fewer.

Among other requirements, clubs are limited to 200 m2, and must have independent access from the street, so they will, necessarily, be located on the ground floors of buildings. The establishments must also have a ventilation shaft and a double door, or separating foyer.

These measures not only apply to new clubs, but also to those already operating, which must be modified to comply with them within 18 months.


Barcelona's Ecology, Urban Design and Mobility Commission was responsible for drafting the regulations and for handling the Special Plan for the regulation of cannabis associations and clubs. The city's Ecology, Urban Design and Mobility area, Health Commission, and the Public Health Agency of Barcelona (ASPB) were involved.

The City Council has also indicated that the regulation aims to "reconcile cannabis consumers' right of association with the exercise of other fundamental rights, such as health protection, harmonious coexistence, and environmental care."

Although the suspension of licenses for cannabis associations, in place since last year, has been extended until 12 June, this is definitely good news. The local government has demonstrated an understanding of the marijuana association movement, and the fact that regulation is necessary.