Is Cannabis Legal in Spain?

Can anyone settle this bar-room ‘discussion’?  The issue of Cannabis in Spain was raised and it was claimed by one party that it was legal grow your own plants for home use as it was decriminalized in Spain

The other side doubted if this was the case as it is an illegal drug throughout Europe and recent arrests had been made for possession of the stuff. It was pointed out that there are cannabis co-operatives that openly cultivate and use it – so who is right?

I hasten to add that Woodbug doesn’t smoke and his old Granny certainly wouldn’t even consider introducing a new ingredient into her famous sponge cake mix!

Perhaps JohnX may be able to qualify the position with the help of his colleagues.

Legality of cannabis by country

I do not know the law,  but I have been personally aware, on a few occasions,  that the police have taken no action against people smoking cannabis in public, but have tried to get each of them to disclose who the suppler was, so they could prosecute that person.

From:-    http://gospain.about.com/od/drugsinspain/f/is_cannabis_legal_in_spain.htm

Current Legal Situation of Cannabis in Spain

The legal situation of cannabis in Spain is a little more complicated than in other countries.

• It is illegal in Spain to traffic cannabis or to smoke it in public places.
• It is legal in Spain to cultivate or smoke cannabis for your own personal use (as long as it is in the privacy of your own home).

Note that, as anywhere in the world, the interpretation of 'personal use' is open to debate. If a policeman takes a disliking to a group of noisy foreigners, he might use any drugs found on you as an excuse to cause you problems. I would therefore advise against consuming cannabis in Spain.

Having said that, cannabis is often sold openly in the streets, especially in Barcelona and Granada. I have also seen people smoking cannabis outside bars without anyone raising an eyebrow.

Note that Spain's cannabis laws are more relaxed than those of Portugal, France and Gibraltar, so do not try to carry the drug across the border.