The Parliament of Catalonia just approved by a 118 to 9 vote a new law that (Ley de asociaciones de consumidoras de cannabis) establishes legal standards for cannabis clubs. Up until now, cannabis clubs in Catalonia, Spain were protected solely by municipal regulations and they have to a large extent been operating in legal limbo. This new law gives greater legal certainty to Catalonian cannabis clubs.
The law could still face legal challenges by Spain’s central government in Madrid or in front of Spain’s Constitutional Court, but for now it is the law of the land for Catalonia (which consists of four provinces: Barcelona, Girona, Lleida, and Tarragona. The law is intended to regulate recreational and therapeutic uses of cannabis as a way to improve public health standards, while also curtailing the illegal market and cannabis tourism.
Here are some of the new laws key points:
- The law will regulate the consumption, cultivation, and transportation of cannabis.
- The cannabis clubs must be self-sustaining non-profit associations.
- The law will impose requirements on how, who, and by what means cannabis can be delivered to a cannabis association.
- To combat “cannabis tourism,” members of cannabis clubs must wait 15 days after joining an association to obtain cannabis.
- The law will establish limits on advertising.
- Cannabis clubs may not sell alcohol, cannabis-infused food, or any other drug.
Catalonia’s new cannabis law also imposes the following limits, but not for those utilizing cannabis for therapeutic purposes:
- You must be 18 years or older to join a cannabis club.
- Cannabis club members between the ages of 18 to 20 years old will be limited to obtaining 20 grams of cannabis per month.
- Cannabis club members 21 years old and above are limited to 60 grams of marijuana per month.
- The quantities of cannabis dispensed to club members must be accurately logged in a ledger.
- Each cannabis non-profit association can produce no more than 150 kilograms of cannabis per year.
Nadja Vietz is an attorney at Harris Bricken, a law firm with lawyers in Seattle, Portland, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Barcelona, and Beijing. This story was originally published on the Canna Law Blog.
