Pubdate: Tue, 05 Aug 2014
Source: Guardian, The (UK)
Copyright: 2014 Guardian News and Media Limited
Contact:  http://www.guardian.co.uk/guardian/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/175
Author: Ashifa Kassam
Page: 22

CATALONIA PLANS STRICTER RULES ON CANNABIS CLUBS

Madrid - Catalonia's public health agency has proposed strict new 
measures to regulate cannabis clubs in the region amid claims that 
Barcelona is on its way to rivalling Amsterdam as a smokers' haven.

Amsterdam has tightened restrictions on cannabis sales just as the 
number of clubs in Spain has proliferated, from around 40 in 2010 to 
more than 700, say smokers' groups. The Catalan capital is home to 
more than half of these clubs.

 From swanky clubs to others with a small room and a few chairs, the 
clubs take advantage of a provision in Spain's drug laws that allows 
marijuana to be grown and consumed by private users.

The clause has turned Spain - especially Barcelona - into what the 
media call the "Holland of the south". But unlike Amsterdam's coffee 
shops, which are open to the public, Spain's clubs are for members only.

Skirting the membership policy is fairly easy; while many clubs 
require new members to be sponsored by existing ones, a number allow 
prospective members to register online or by phone. Some have 
employees who hand out promotional flyers in the street, promising to 
ease the registration process.

The past two years have seen hundreds of clubs spring up in 
Barcelona, creating a thriving industry. Catalonia's cannabis clubs 
now have around 165,000 members, racking up an estimated euro5m 
(UKP4m) in sales each month, according to El Pais.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom