Cannabis Clubs in Madrid

A bit about the law an history

Marijuana is technically still illegal to obtain in Madrid (and Spain at large) however there is a grey area in the law; pertaining to an ancient edict about the growth and sale of mariijuana, that allows for dispensary-style "Cannabis Social Clubs" to work in a non-profit setting to facilitate the procurement of Cannabis for it's member base. In function this means that you can pay a membership fee to a club from where you can then obtain marijuana for consumption on the premises. In recent times these clubs have become more prominent and operating less in secrecy, whether this continues or not is yet to be seen as Madrid's authorities are not as slack on the issue as their Catalonian counterparts.

How to find and join a club

Now comes the harder part. How do I become a member of a club and what club? The best answer to that question is to do some research. There are many reviewing sources, forums, reddits all devoted to Cannabis and it's culture in Spain. Research a club, read it's reviews and quality of products. The good thing is the majority of club's are genuinely good quality and value, there are however some absolutely terrible places. Be cautious! Your next step is to make contact. The traditional option is to contact the club directly. Many have their own facebook, instagram or email. Contact the club through one of these mediums and ask if it would be possible to "Request an invitation to join the social club". Many of the clubs will have English speakers and will respond very quickly. Not all the clubs will allow you to gain membership. Many have strict quotas they have already reached or are solely for residents of certain areas or may even just be slightly wary of unsolicited contact. If this method does not provide any response you can use websites such as Weedmaps etc. However remember to always exercise caution. There are many scammers. 

Once you have contacted a club you will arrange a time and arrive for a meeting to sign all the paperwork, set a daily limit and pay your membership fee.  The marijuana, hash and edibles are then available from a vendor inside the club and your day just got a whole lot better.

**Please note: Clubs with lesser quality product are more likely to charge a higher membership fee. This is not always the case but does help in judging some places**

Do's and Don'ts

• Do not find the address of a social club and just show up unannounced. You will not gain entry. You will not get Cannabis. You will also have blown your opportunity to actually join the club
• Do not speak to street sellers in any part of Madrid. Especially Retiro park. You have more chance of being robbed than anything else.
• Do research your choice of club and always exercise caution.
• Do not leave the clubs with marijuana in your pockets. Always consume inside the club.
• Do not smoke in public places only in your own private property or at the club.
  

I hope this article has helped some people to better understand the conditions surrounding Cannabis sales in Madrid and if you are ever here I hope to see you around.