What do the cannabis terms used in Barcelona actually mean? Many of the words visitors meet here were imported from other countries, where they describe different models, and some are local slang that does not appear in any guidebook. Using them precisely avoids most of the misunderstandings we describe elsewhere on this blog. Here is a short glossary, grouped by theme.
The associative model
- Association (asociación, Catalan associació): a private, non-profit entity of adult members. It is the model that exists in Barcelona. Not a shop, not a bar, not a venue open to the public.
- Cannabis social club (CSC): the international name for the same model. “Club” is used colloquially, but legally the entity is an association.
- Member (socio, Catalan soci): an adult registered with the association, on their own account. Membership is individual.
- Application (solicitud, Catalan sol·licitud): the request to become a member. It comes before any visit. See how far in advance to request it.
- Endorsement (aval): in some associations, an existing member vouches for a new applicant. Not all associations require it. We cover it in how invitations work.
- Membership fee (cuota): the contribution members make to the association under its own rules. Each association sets its own.
- Identification (DNI, NIE, passport): Spanish ID card, foreigner identity number and passport, the documents usually requested. See what identification you need.
Words borrowed from other models
- Coffeeshop: the Dutch model of tolerated venues open to adults. In Barcelona it is a search term and sometimes part of a brand name, not a description of how anything works here. The comparison is in Barcelona social club versus Amsterdam coffeeshop.
- Dispensary: a licensed shop in North American legal markets. There are none in Spain; see are there dispensaries in Barcelona.
- Budtender: a term from North American dispensaries for the staff behind the counter. Visitors use it in Barcelona too, loosely, for the people who welcome members and answer their questions about the space and its rules.
- Growshop: a shop selling cultivation equipment, open to the public and unrelated to the associative model. See what a growshop is.
Local slang
- Porro, peta, canuto: a rolled joint, usually with tobacco. See joint, spliff or blunt.
- Kifi: colloquial for cannabis herb, from the Moroccan kif. See what kif is.
- Hachís, chocolate, costo: hash, the pressed resin, and two of its common slang names.
- Colocado: high. Blanca / blancazo: a green out, the sick, pale feeling after too much; see what to do.
For the vocabulary you may need when contacting an association in Spanish or Catalan, our piece on languages spoken in Barcelona associations includes a few more useful words.
Frequently asked questions
1. Is a “club” the same as an “association”?
In everyday speech, yes. Legally, the entity is an association of members.
2. Why do Barcelona places use the word “coffeeshop”?
Because it is what visitors search for. It does not mean the Dutch model applies.
3. What is an aval?
An endorsement from an existing member, required by some associations and not by others.
4. What does kifi mean?
Spanish slang for cannabis herb, as opposed to hash.
In short, this Barcelona cannabis glossary separates the words that describe the local model, association, member, application, from those borrowed from elsewhere, coffeeshop, dispensary, budtender, and from everyday slang. Kush Weed Coffeeshop is a private association of adults on Carrer de Freixures, in the Santa Caterina area, with access restricted to registered members on prior application and identification. If you would like to know how the membership application works, get in touch and we will explain it.