Context of the agreement between Junts and the municipal government
Barcelona City Council has decided to strengthen control over the city’s cannabis clubs. The initiative, agreed between the Junts per Barcelona municipal group and Jaume Collboni’s government during a session of the Presidency, Security and Internal Regime Commission held on 19 March 2025, aims to ensure compliance with regulations by these associations and to curb the expansion of cannabis products in the city.
Strengthening inspections of cannabis clubs
Jordi Martí Galbis, leader of Junts in the city council, emphasised the need to take firm action. ‘Barcelona cannot become the European capital of drugs and cannabis,’ said Martí. He stressed that it is crucial to increase resources to combat illegal cultivation and the sale of cannabis products, as there has recently been a considerable increase in the supply of these products in the city.
The proposal presented by Junts was approved by all the municipal groups, except for the abstention of the Comunes. The agreement includes several key measures, including a further strengthening of inspections. The Guàrdia Urbana and the Directorate of Inspection Services will be responsible for carrying out exhaustive monitoring to ensure that cannabis clubs operate within the established legal margins. The results of these inspections will be presented to the Presidency Commission in a first report expected in the next six months.
Combating the illegal cultivation and sale of cannabis
It was also agreed to intensify surveillance of illegal cultivation and sale of cannabis products. In addition, the municipal government will ask the central government to ban products such as CBD and HHC and to adjust the permitted limits of THC, in accordance with the guidelines of the United Nations Commission on Narcotic Drugs. As for cannabis clubs, the central government will be asked to clearly regulate cannabis consumption associations, as there is currently a legal vacuum, something that has been reflected in various rulings by the High Court of Justice of Catalonia and the Supreme Court.
An institutional common front against cannabis
Martí welcomed the municipal government’s approach to dialogue and stressed that the fight against cannabis and drugs is a concern shared by both society and institutions. Although the City Council does not have the power to ban these clubs directly, Martí insisted on the need for legislative intervention to provide legal clarity and prevent the uncontrolled expansion of these associations.
