Brief update on the history of cannabis user associations in Spain.
Many of you may be wondering when cannabis user associations started to operate? Let's try to give you a brief summary.
Although in 1987 an association of cannabis users was created in Madrid, called ACDC, and in 1990 the Association for the Legalisation of Drugs was created in Navarre, it was not until 1991 that what is really the first private non-profit association of cannabis users, the Ramón Santos Association for Cannabis Studies, better known by its acronym ARSEC, was legally constituted in Barcelona.
This first association was initially made up of 10 founding members, although in 2001 it grew to more than 1,000 members. The association announced its creation through an article in the graphic humour magazine Makoki and during the 1990s new associations were created that copied its statutes, changing the location and founding members to register them in other cities throughout Spain. More than a dozen associations appeared in the following years, such as ARSECA (Malaga), Kalamudia, ARSECSE (Seville), ACAC (A Coruña), ARSEK, AMEC (Madrid), SECA (Zaragoza), AECA (Huelva), AMIC (Mallorca), Amigos de María (León) and Alacannabis (Alicante), among others.
The associations are created on the basis of shared cultivation for personal use. They are associations of people of legal age and cannabis users, who supply and distribute among their own members in a private environment, ensuring a closed circuit that does not reach third parties and reducing the risks associated with marginal environments. Over the years, at the same time as the persecution of cannabis users intensified with the appearance of the Law on Citizen Security (the first "Gag Law" in 1992), associations continued to create and organise themselves into action groups to demand that the government legalise the plant and regulate the associations, and in 2001 they even presented a petition to Congress for its decriminalisation. On behalf of the associations and users, Martín Barriuso, Fernanda de la Figuera and Jaume Prats (Director of the magazine Cáñamo), among others, went to Congress to present this petition to the members of the Mixed Commission. The deputies paid little attention and since then there have been new public safety laws that continue to criminalise users, as well as other petitions in Congress from pro-cannabis associations and collectives, without having achieved any change in the laws. Between 2011 and 2013, associations began to become more popular and new ones were created in the main cities throughout Spain, with Barcelona, Bilbao and Madrid being the main focal points at that time, with dozens of associations being created in a short time in these cities alone. Only by word of mouth among friends of those who were already members soon these associations were increasing the number of registered users. Airam, TheResinClub, Private, Pannagh, Raices, ElOsoYElCogollo, Charas, ElClubVerde, Ganjazz, ... numerous associations to which more and more cannabis users were flocking, grateful to be able to find in these private spaces places of relaxation where they could consume products legally and without having to worry about bothering anyone or being watched. Likewise, the proliferation of associations and the increase in the number of cannabis users who have registered as members has led to an evolution in the knowledge they have about the plant, qualities and varieties of products. Currently, members demand products depending on whether they want sativa or indica, sweeter and fruitier varieties or with earthy tastes, indoor or outdoor, dry extractions or even varieties rich in CBD. Cannabis users' associations currently number around 2,000 and have become a daily reality for many users in most cities and towns in Spain who are trying to avoid the "black market" and have access to quality products in the best health conditions. Although growing at home for personal use is always the most advisable option, one does not always have the space or time to do so, and these associations are a quality alternative for users. Although the Spanish model of associations has been copied in other countries such as England (UKCSC) or Belgium and even regulated by a government as in Uruguay, in Spain they are still waiting for a state regulation, which would promote the creation of associations throughout the territory, limiting the access of minors and only allowing users over 18 to enter these private spaces as is already happening in cities such as Barcelona, Madrid, Las Palmas or Seville, where their development has been accompanied by work with their city councils and social organisations.
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