Barcelona has a rich café culture like many other cities in the world. You are sure to find a hipster coffee shop as well. The locals and even visiting tourists like to relax and have a drink while seeing the many attractions of the city – la Sagrada Família, the scenic Gothic Quarter, Casa Milà, the city’s social hub La Rambla, Parc Güell, and so much more. If you are a local, you can also open a coffee shop in the city. Yes, there are many coffee shops already, but there is always room for one more to do good business.
Planning to open a coffee shop in Spain? You can do one better. Consider starting a social club.
Can You Open a CSC in Spain?
CSC stands for Cannabis Social Club. They are cannabis clubs that offer weed or marijuana, cannabis coffee, and other edibles in the food menu. The club doesn’t just offer weed – it offers much more. There are many food and drinks options, games corner, large-screen televisions showing soccer games, dancing, and even special nights. They work like luxury lounges during the daytime. The weed culture takes over only after dark.
The first CSC opened in the country around 2010. Spanish laws allow the growers to create communities where they can consume socially and legally. In Barcelona, the city authorities allow the locals to grow up to two plants in their homes. The growers can come together, share their produce, and share knowledge of different growing techniques. However, the public sale of weed is not allowed.
The CSC’s works as members-only and non-profit organizations. Most work in this way. Others operate by not profiting from the cannabis, but believe in making money from the sale of food and special music, dancing nights, and competitions.
So, yes, you can open a Cannabis Social Club or CSC in Spain and still avoid violating any laws. The process of starting a CSC is quite simple –
- You select a location that will interest and excite people
- Decide what to offer in your club
- Find out the different ways of attracting members
- Decorate it and stock with the supply
- Apply for license from the authorities
How to Start a Cannabis Café?
Before the city had a cannabis café, consumers could only consume their produce. But now, they can exchange, which gives them more options. A weed cafe Barcelona was meant for members to help out each other. They have stayed true to this purpose.
There are three steps for establishing a cannabis club in Barcelona –
- Concept creation
- Registration
- Membership
Concept creation
You must start by holding a Constituent Assembly. Here, you must have a minimum of 3 founding board members, which includes a Treasurer, Secretary, and President. Your original cannabis café must also have a foundation charter and articles of association, which all members must approve, sign, and ratify. The charter must also indicate the registered name of your club.
Registration of a weed coffee shop
You have to then present the documents to the registry of the autonomous community where the club is located. Make sure to join the FAC or the Federation of Cannabis Associations. This will make your club legitimate. It will also help your weed coffee shop in Barcelona grow.
Membership Registration and Consumption Estimates
Prepare an estimate of how much product you need. Of course, you can only do this based on the number of members. Remember, only those who are members can gain entry and try the products.
So, you have to formally register all the members and must also issue a membership card to them all. They must also show identification and pay the membership fee, which is usually for a year. Also, you can only admit members above the age of 21 years and they cannot have any criminal charge against them.
Only such members are allowed the consumption of weed, recreational marijuana, and cannabis products. This will satisfy the requirements of the city council.
Every member of your club must also provide a monthly estimate of how much marijuana they are likely to consume. This will help you decide how much weed can come into your club. If you exceed this, the city council might charge you with trafficking.
What You Really Need to Know About Opening a Cannabis Social Club in Spain
There are various rules that govern the operation of these clubs. However, you can stretch the rules and yet stay on the right side of law –
- The Membership Rules – Many clubs require the members to be at least 21 years old. However, the Spanish law allows those above 18 to join as members. More members mean you will be allowed to get more marijuana into your club.
- The Consumption Rules – You will have excess stock if you allow more members to join by reducing the age. This will allow you to stretch the consumption rules. Many clubs allow their members to carry a limited amount to their homes for personal consumption.
- Democracy and Transparency – Often, the members together decide on issues like reducing the joining age. The largest clubs, however, have hundreds of members. It is likely that most of them won’t participate in the decision-making process.
Where Things Stand With Cannabis Social Clubs in Spain and What This Means for You
There is a difference between the Amsterdam coffee shops and the ones in Barcelona. Plan properly, comply with the regulations because there is cannabis control, install an air filtration system, register the members, and you can even stretch the laws and yet stay safe. The cannabis social club or CSC can work out very well for you.
