Spain (Cannabis Clubs) & Netherlands (Coffeeshops) - Compare and Contrast
Posted: Fri 18th May 2018 01:30 pm
So folks, as I'm just back from my third Barca trip this year and I've been going to the Netherlands since 2003, I feel I'm now in a position to articulate my thoughts on this a bit better and wanted to start a thread on it. I've spoken to a few people on ACD about this at length and would be interested to hear the views of others. This thread is just my opinions, obviously everyone has a different experience and I've no experience with clubs outside of Barca so anything I write about that will be anecdotal and if you disagree or have had another/different experience, please share.
I realise this is mainly an Amsterdam/Netherlands website so it will always be more focused towards that but I would say that I think even the most staunch Amsterdam fan would benefit from a visit to the clubs in Barca in that it would give them something else to compare and contrast with as I said in the subject.
Obviously after my January trip (with a friend), second trip (for Spannabis) and third trip (solo) each time I had different experiences and I've got to experience the clubs more, first trip just two clubs and increased that to four on the second trip and visited all four again on the third trip. I had hoped to join a 5th, but with some of the sightseeing etc. time didn't permit.
Access: In the Netherlands access is much easier as there is no membership and you can simply get off a train and head to the nearest coffeeshop anywhere, with the exception of the few places holding out with the wiet pass (e.g. Breda, booooooo Breda!). In Spain you will need to plan ahead, especially for access to better places with more reasonable prices (contacting them on Insta or getting a referral via a member depending on club policy etc). It's also a pain as while there recently with Kenshiro we only had one common membership which makes things hard compared to Netherlands where you can go to any coffeeshop for a smoke with others you meet. While the access generally speaking is a plus for the Netherlands, I will say in defense of the membership system, I've never met a stag party in a cannabis club, though I'm sure they make it to some near La Rambla. Outside of Barca, access seems to be easy on the Canary islands and some of the other more tourist resorts, but less so in other Spanish cities where tourists seem to be more shunned though Madrid does seem to have a scene. Would be interested to hear from people signed up to clubs outside of Barca.
Cost: While I suppose cost does vary widely Barca is generally cheaper. In my experience I've found great strains at half the Dutch prices
Quality: I find the quality in Barca to be much higher, but I've been very lucky in that I've never been to a shit Cannabis Club. It has to be said Papi and others did a good job at joining many initially and weeding out a lot of the shit! Kudos
Variety: Again my experience is limited to better clubs, but I've found the selection to be better in Barca than Amsterdam, I've got to try out a lot of newer US strains (Spanish grown) and the amount of extracts as well is a big plus over Amsterdam. Outside of Barca again I'm not sure and would be interested to hear, recent vids from Tenerife and Mallorca show great selection, but I'm sure a lot of smaller clubs have more limited strain selection like neighbourhood or small town coffeeshops in the Netherlands
Acceptance: So this is a wierd one, in my opinion young Spanish people are way more embracing (which is better than accepting) of cannabis than the Dutch, but there's still more issues smoking when out and about than in the Netherlands so at the moment I would score the Netherlands a bit higher on acceptance generally, but I think in the next few years that will change with Spain overtaking it.
Supply Chain: Both have very illegal supply chains, Cali and Moroccan import being sold is only there due to many laws being broken in many countries to get it there. I think that's a risk in the long term as those who don't like clubs and CSs will lean on this, though I realise many clubs in Spain supply all their own and don't sell import and I know in Netherlands now some local authorities will have community grows, but overall the supply chain would not hold up well under any scrutiny in either country.
Establishment layout: Clubs are way more spacious, there's no pressure to buy and you can bring in your own food, in fact they've given me plates, cut fruit for me etc. etc. in the clubs so they are beyond helpful, drinks are usually all around a euro versus coffeeshop rip off prices. Also while the clubs do feel like a business to an extent you feel way more at home and less rushed than in a CS and for example while a rude bud tender is common I find the staff in the clubs to be fantastic. Barca wins here, but due to access you don't get to experience as many clubs unless you fork out lots on memberships.
City layout: This is specific to Amsterdam vs Barca, but I think 420 made me realise I prefer Amsterdam as a city and it being so compact, compared to the more expansive Barca, makes rambling about as a melting mess much easier. The canals and the architecture appeal to me more too as much as I'm enjoying my Gaudi journey. After my recent trips though I'm now much more comfortable with Barca and making my way around and being able to make it between clubs on auto-pilot is so helpful when you're in bits. Also getting to know where eateries, toilet stops, parks etc. are in between your clubs makes for a more enjoyable trip. The park game in Barca is pretty good too, the surrounding hill parks are something the poor lowlands could only dream of
Anyway folks, just wanted to throw a few thoughts out there and would like to hear the views of others.
I realise this is mainly an Amsterdam/Netherlands website so it will always be more focused towards that but I would say that I think even the most staunch Amsterdam fan would benefit from a visit to the clubs in Barca in that it would give them something else to compare and contrast with as I said in the subject.
Obviously after my January trip (with a friend), second trip (for Spannabis) and third trip (solo) each time I had different experiences and I've got to experience the clubs more, first trip just two clubs and increased that to four on the second trip and visited all four again on the third trip. I had hoped to join a 5th, but with some of the sightseeing etc. time didn't permit.
Access: In the Netherlands access is much easier as there is no membership and you can simply get off a train and head to the nearest coffeeshop anywhere, with the exception of the few places holding out with the wiet pass (e.g. Breda, booooooo Breda!). In Spain you will need to plan ahead, especially for access to better places with more reasonable prices (contacting them on Insta or getting a referral via a member depending on club policy etc). It's also a pain as while there recently with Kenshiro we only had one common membership which makes things hard compared to Netherlands where you can go to any coffeeshop for a smoke with others you meet. While the access generally speaking is a plus for the Netherlands, I will say in defense of the membership system, I've never met a stag party in a cannabis club, though I'm sure they make it to some near La Rambla. Outside of Barca, access seems to be easy on the Canary islands and some of the other more tourist resorts, but less so in other Spanish cities where tourists seem to be more shunned though Madrid does seem to have a scene. Would be interested to hear from people signed up to clubs outside of Barca.
Cost: While I suppose cost does vary widely Barca is generally cheaper. In my experience I've found great strains at half the Dutch prices
Quality: I find the quality in Barca to be much higher, but I've been very lucky in that I've never been to a shit Cannabis Club. It has to be said Papi and others did a good job at joining many initially and weeding out a lot of the shit! Kudos
Variety: Again my experience is limited to better clubs, but I've found the selection to be better in Barca than Amsterdam, I've got to try out a lot of newer US strains (Spanish grown) and the amount of extracts as well is a big plus over Amsterdam. Outside of Barca again I'm not sure and would be interested to hear, recent vids from Tenerife and Mallorca show great selection, but I'm sure a lot of smaller clubs have more limited strain selection like neighbourhood or small town coffeeshops in the Netherlands
Acceptance: So this is a wierd one, in my opinion young Spanish people are way more embracing (which is better than accepting) of cannabis than the Dutch, but there's still more issues smoking when out and about than in the Netherlands so at the moment I would score the Netherlands a bit higher on acceptance generally, but I think in the next few years that will change with Spain overtaking it.
Supply Chain: Both have very illegal supply chains, Cali and Moroccan import being sold is only there due to many laws being broken in many countries to get it there. I think that's a risk in the long term as those who don't like clubs and CSs will lean on this, though I realise many clubs in Spain supply all their own and don't sell import and I know in Netherlands now some local authorities will have community grows, but overall the supply chain would not hold up well under any scrutiny in either country.
Establishment layout: Clubs are way more spacious, there's no pressure to buy and you can bring in your own food, in fact they've given me plates, cut fruit for me etc. etc. in the clubs so they are beyond helpful, drinks are usually all around a euro versus coffeeshop rip off prices. Also while the clubs do feel like a business to an extent you feel way more at home and less rushed than in a CS and for example while a rude bud tender is common I find the staff in the clubs to be fantastic. Barca wins here, but due to access you don't get to experience as many clubs unless you fork out lots on memberships.
City layout: This is specific to Amsterdam vs Barca, but I think 420 made me realise I prefer Amsterdam as a city and it being so compact, compared to the more expansive Barca, makes rambling about as a melting mess much easier. The canals and the architecture appeal to me more too as much as I'm enjoying my Gaudi journey. After my recent trips though I'm now much more comfortable with Barca and making my way around and being able to make it between clubs on auto-pilot is so helpful when you're in bits. Also getting to know where eateries, toilet stops, parks etc. are in between your clubs makes for a more enjoyable trip. The park game in Barca is pretty good too, the surrounding hill parks are something the poor lowlands could only dream of
Anyway folks, just wanted to throw a few thoughts out there and would like to hear the views of others.