In Spain, drug trafficking is considered a crime. In the Penal Code: selling cannabis can be punishable by up to three years in prison. However, there are ways to make a legal living from marijuana, the most widely used illegal drug in the European Union. These alternatives are: grow shop and CBD stores, which represent "an increasingly interesting niche market," according to lawyer Helena Echeverri. "In times of crisis, many people are considering new ways to make money.", Echeverri points out.

STORES MOVING TO THE CBD

The truth is that there are more and more stores, on-line or physical stores, which specialize in selling cannabis derivatives such as CBD, the relaxing, non-psychotropic component, or even seeds and all kinds of tools for germinating them. However, the sector is somewhat contradictory: neither CBD products can be sold for human consumption nor can seeds be marketed for planting.

A grow shop is an establishment where you can find everything you need to grow any plant you want. However, they have a unique feature: they sell marijuana seeds, something difficult to find in a local flower shop. "We sell them for collection, as if they were stamps." Buying cannabis seeds is similar to buying knives because "you can have them to cut ham, but not to kill someone." In other words, "you can have them at home, in your bag, but you can't grow them."

But if seeds can't be marketed for planting, why is equipment sold for this?

"Obviously, people who sell seeds saying they are for collectors may suspect that they are not bought for that purpose," but "once the law is made, the trap is set." However, even though the purchase of cannabis seeds is not permitted, private marijuana use is not illegal in Spain. Nor, in principle, is it illegal to have a cannabis plant at home.

The success of CBD, the non-psychotropic compound

Cannabis has several components, including THC, which produces psychotropic effects, but also CBD, which has been gaining buzz in recent years for containing all the benefits of marijuana without causing the famous "high." "There are many people who have long used cannabis for its relaxing effect, but no longer want to get high, and so this has been a great help." According to various studies, CBD has multiple medicinal properties such as improved sleep, muscle recovery, and reduction of pain and inflammation. In fact, in 2020, the UN removed cannabis from Schedule IV of the Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs, where it was listed alongside addictive and lethal opioids like heroin, paving the way for recognition of its therapeutic potential.

CBD STORES CANNOT SELL FOR HUMAN CONSUMPTION

CBD specialty stores sell the compound in the form of flowers, oils, and other products such as creams, but none of these can be sold for ingestion. The flower, for example, which is the top seller, is sold as an aromatic plant to use in your living room as an air freshener.

Currently, there are many businesses in Spain that sell CBD, but the price is still not affordable for everyone. We have dedicated all our efforts to giving CBD what it deserves: a price that is affordable for everyone, while maintaining good quality.

A VERY VARIED CLIENTELE

Both grow shops and CBD stores notice a very diverse clientele; customers are in their 20s and 20s, but the majority are older. As for business profitability, we can assure you that they will have higher returns than the products currently sold in your grow shop.