Smoking Tolerance Level
[1= very illegal 5=virtually legal]: 4
Marijuana Laws & Legislation for Marbella
As of February 2025, Spain is advancing toward the regulation of medical cannabis. In September 2024, the Spanish Ministry of Health published a draft royal decree outlining the framework for medical cannabis use. This proposed legislation permits only specialist physicians to prescribe cannabis-based treatments for specific conditions, including severe refractory epilepsy, multiple sclerosis, chronic refractory pain, and chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting. The prescribed cannabis preparations will be available exclusively in hospital pharmacies as magistral formulas, excluding raw plant materials like cannabis flowers. The list of qualifying conditions may expand as scientific evidence evolves.
Recreational cannabis use in Spain remains illegal; however, personal cultivation and consumption in private spaces are decriminalized under certain conditions. Individuals are permitted to grow cannabis for personal use, provided it is not visible to the public and not intended for sale. Public possession or consumption can result in administrative fines ranging from €600 to €30,000. Cannabis Social Clubs operate within a legal gray area, allowing members to collectively cultivate and consume cannabis in private settings. These clubs must function as non-profit organizations and adhere to strict regulations to avoid legal issues.
In December 2024, the Community of Madrid announced plans to implement new regulations aimed at protecting minors from cannabis-derived products, such as CBD-infused vape oils and edibles. The proposed measures include prohibiting sales to individuals under 18, restricting vending machine sales, and limiting advertising within 300 meters of educational institutions. These initiatives reflect ongoing efforts to balance public health concerns with evolving cannabis policies.
Law Enforcement
The local cops are usually extremely relaxed, and often quite friendly. They will often let you go on a warning or even ignore any light offenses. However, the guardia civil – the military police – are not so, and will most likely make things hard for you. In the end, they’re all pretty corrupt, and the right amount of money can get you out of any situation. It helps to speak Spanish, or at least try to.
Where to buy marijuana:
The one thing to keep in mind if you’re a tourist is to not go up to the Spanish gypsy kids. These are the ones dressed in trackpants with strange haircuts (basically chavs) who drive scooters, etc. Nearly all of them will act ‘unfavorably’ to tourists.
A lot of the time people will come up to you – mainly Moroccans or Spanish. Enough time walking around Plaza Naranjos in Marbella or Puerto Banus at night and someone will fish you out. As with the cops, attempt to speak Spanish – it’s better than speaking in English, as you’re implying they should adapt to you and they might take it offensively.
The safest bet is to go to Puerto Banus and ask any 15-19 year old who looks middle-class. When everyone’s wasted enough, the whole thing is just a big mashup and you can pretty much find what you want.
Marijuana Prices
Hash is cheap as it comes straight from Morocco. It is generally called pollen or chocolate, with white hash being called pollen or pan de igo (the highest quality). Darker hash is usually called Pakistani.
The weight system is NEVER used, except with upper class weed, which is extremely difficult to get your hands on.
Overall, it’s pretty hard to get weed, as hash is so popular, but if you do manage to get your hands on some, expect a premium, and dont expect anything special. Only the English kids ever actually use strain names, so don’t bother asking unless they tell you.
It’s a bit of luck, as sometimes you’ll get nothing and sometimes you’ll get completely hooked up. No weed economy is really established here – everyone just does their own thing.