Barcelona Shopkeepers Demand Action as CBD Shops Allegedly Pose as Florists

Shopkeepers in Barcelona's old city are expressing their concerns over the increasing number of CBD shops that they claim are operating under the guise of florists to bypass strict zoning regulations. Over 100 "weed shops" have appeared throughout the city, with a notable concentration in the tourist-favored Ciutat Vella district.

Within the past six years, an astounding 118 new "florists" have sprung up in Ciutat Vella, compared to just 21 in the rest of Barcelona. The Barcelona Florists' Association has stated its lack of awareness regarding such a surge in flower-selling businesses, as the number of traditional florists in the city has remained steady for years.

The issue lies in the suspicion that these seemingly innocent florist establishments are actually fronts for selling cannabis paraphernalia. It is estimated that as many as 250 weed shops exist in Barcelona, offering products such as bongs, hookahs, cannabis seeds, and CBD oil.

The Barcelona Shopkeepers' Association, known as Barna Centre, alleges that these shops not only sell legal CBD products but also illegal items with significant levels of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the psychoactive compound found in cannabis. They are urging local authorities to implement a specific licensing system for weed shops to prevent them from masquerading as florists. Barna Centre believes that these deceptive practices, along with the fact that some shops have taken over premises left vacant due to pandemic-related closures, are tarnishing Barcelona's image.