Spannabis Barcelona 2016, More than a Decade Bringing Together the Best of the International Cannabis Sector

Barcelona is now ready to hold one of the most significant cannabis fair in Europe. The next edition of Spannabis will take place on 11, 12 and 13 March in Fira de Cornellá, 12 years following the first event held in 2004. It also comes at a time when the situation for consumers and clubs is in one of the most delicate moments in the history of Spain.

The future is not looking very green, either in Parliament or in the courts. It is precisely for that reason that an event like this is essential in order to get together a broad forum of people interested in discovering how things are going and how they can be improved. This year the conferences of the 13th Hemp and Alternative Technologies Fair will take place during the World Cannabis Conferences at Cornellá Auditorium. The organisers aim to make it a “place to unite knowledge about hemp".

It will involve around 20 speeches, including CCS (Cannabis Club Systems), a software system created to help cannabis clubs and dispensaries manage and administer their centres in an effective and simple manner.

There will also be discussion about the Responsible Regulation initiative, a group of citizens and social organisations that want the consumption, production and distribution of cannabis to be regulated in our country. They believe that integral regulation would weaken criminal groups and ensure that the rights of users themselves were respected, with consumers having access to the plant in a natural, safe and controlled manner.

On the other hand, the first Gathering of Cannabis Women will take place, where women from sectors linked to culture and industry in Spain will meet with the aim of creating a kind of state network that incorporates more female and gender based voices, experiences and perspectives in the sector and in the drug policy sector.

Several professionals linked to the cannabis sector will gather in Barcelona. They include Iván Fornís Espinosa, a biologist and head of the technical part of the Energy Control drug analysis service; José Martínez Orgado, a doctor at the Neonatal Unit of the Paediatric Department at Puerta de Hierro Hospital in Majadahonda, and Amina Omar, a lawyer and cofounder of the Nieto&Povedano law office, which specialises in cannabis related matters. Other professionals from the Spanish sector will also participate such as the doctor Fernando Caudevilla, the doctor in Pharmacology José Carlos Bouso, the doctor Xavier Nadal and the journalist Viriginia Montañés.

On this occasion there will also be participation from Kyle Kushman, who will travel from the United States in order to explain his experience as a cannabis grower and his 13 wins in the Medical Cannabis Cup. He will be accompanied by Tom Blickman, a researcher from the Transnational Institute centre of reflection, and by Coletta A. Youngers, an activist and analyst of matters relating to drug policy and currently the main advisor at the Washington Office on Latin America (WOLA) and a representative of the International Consortium on Drug Policy.

From Holland, Erika can Hell will contribute with her knowledge about the effects of THC on impulsivity and reward, and Matthijs Bossong with his research about the functioning of the cannabinoid system in the context of psychosis. Their perspectives, experiences and voices will be decisive to understanding what road Spain and the world is taking in relation to cannabis policies.

As previously commented on, the Spanish scenario is not the most desirable for those seeking a change: users, activists and patients. This is how the situation stands 20 years after the first foundations were laid for the creation of cannabis clubs. Until midway through 2015 it seemed that, although the journey had not been easy, the battle within institutions was becoming stronger everyday: many courts supported management and consumers, and even the Supreme Court made its stance known. The high institution has not only set out new guidelines that should be used to govern users of these associations, rather, it has already started to seriously punish a lot of them.

Some such as Ebers, Three Monkeys and Pannagh have been sentenced over the last few months. Experts state that their sentences will determine those made from now on, therefore the future of cannabis seems to be more black than it is green.

As such, a large number of users can no longer obtain cannabis from their associations in a shared manner. Each association will have to be comprised solely of regular consumers of the plant. They must be identified correctly, consume in an enclosed space and at the time in order to avoid promoting the plant publicly. On the other hand, those in charge of the association have to ensure that all the requirements are complied with. If something goes badly they will be the primary people held responsible and the ones that have to face the consequences.

The battle seems to have been left behind, along with the work of some pioneers such as the Cannabis Tasters Club of Barcelona, ARSEC and Kalamudia. While some countries (especially American ones) are looking forward and planning policies that are less and less prohibitionist, Spain continues with the regressive stance that criminalises the plant and its consumers.

The history of cannabis in this country has always involved going through difficult episodes: associations such as Pannagh were raided years ago on several occasions; therefore they are accustomed to fighting. The problem is the same as always: the limits and licenses have never been one hundred percent clear.

However, if Spain stands out for something, it is its reserve of experts, scientists and doctors that spend their time researching the medical benefits and properties of cannabis. Professionals at the University of Seville and Cádiz have recently patented a technique that has allowed them to control chronic pain in rats combining cannabinoids and technology. They are not the only people involved in searching for the benefits of cannabis.

The researcher Guillermo Velasco has also spent years studying the possibility of applying cannabinoids to treat cancer and at this point is he is aware that this is the future of the battle against this illness. In turn, the scientist Manuel Guzmán defends the positive effects of cannabis and explains that some disturbances such as anxiety, depressions and pain can be corrected thanks to the plant. With his work he has also discovered that cannabinoids prevent Alzheimer’s and help to reduce its symptoms.

The findings of these specialists help to understand the beneficial properties of a plant that has almost always had to confront stigmas and gossip that only seeks to harm its future and that of those that defend it. Therefore, a fair like Spannabis could become a perfect gathering point in order to understand a reality that remains distant for many.

The only thing you need to bear in mind is that only adults over the age of 18 can enter the enclosure. Entry costs 15 euros per day or 35 for the full weekend. Those attending can enjoy performances from groups such as Ganjahr Family, Rumba Katxai, Sr. Marküsen, King Messenger, Bundem Squad, Jah Nattoh and Dj Karlixx. They will be there to liven up Spanish cannabis community’s most eagerly awaited nights.

You cannot miss out on this gathering which is now more needed than ever in order to unite efforts and put things back on the right track. Last year alone around 500 companies and 3000 accredited professionals attended, and they were visited by thousands of participants from 18 different nationalities that gathered in a 17,000m2 area. This year there will be at least as many attending, if not more.