By Regina Winkle-Bryan
Pot Plants on Patios in Barcelona, Spain
In August, most of Barcelona, and most of Spain for that matter, goes on holiday. Some people worry, and rightfully so, about leaving their flats unattended for a month to three weeks at a time. Crime and burglary of homes is common in August, when crooks know that no one will be about.
This fear of robbery keeps some people home during the hottest summer month. Like me, they are on Stay-cation. Others have to stay home to take care of their plants. Their marijuana plants. Sown in the early spring, Barcelona’s marijuana users now proudly display full grown plants on balconies and patios. The first time I saw one, I thought, ‘Wow! They sure are out in the open about their habits!’ Then I saw more plants. I started walking down the street looking up at balconies to see if I could spot 10 marijuana plants in a single stroll through the neighborhood. (side note: walking through the streets of Barcelona is risky business…you can run into people, get tangled up in a dog leash, or worse, step in Fido’s poo! Thanks for cleaning up after your dog!)
It is unclear what the law on using and growing marijuana in Barcelona is. Is it legal? No. No entirely. However the police seem to turn a blind eye, and there are many bars where people smoke marijuana quite openly and without fear. Then there are all these plants everywhere, which means that it must be legal to grow it (though perhaps not sell it) or that people just do not give a damn. I’ve asked around about what the exact law is, and the word on the street is that everyone has a different story. I guess if I was really interested I could call the police and ask them, ‘Excuse me sir, what are the laws concerning marijuana cultivation in you fine country?’, but the truth is that I am not going to grow it, so for the moment it will be a mystery.
Stay home to protect the harvest!
Yesterday on my walk with the dog I counted 6 plants. I saw one on a first floor balcony and wondered how often marijuana plants are stolen in Barcelona? Surely, it is not a crime one could report to the authorities. Indeed, August is a risky month in Barcelona.
Questions? Something to share? Send up your scoop! We’re all ears!
More on The Scoop’s Summer here.
Picasso Plunder – Barcelona Arts
The Picasso Museum contains over three thousand
paintings by the Big Guy.
If a Picasso original isn’t in your budget, The Picasso Museum Store, located in the same group of medieval buildings, has a large stock of framed and unframed prints. Regina and I, your Scoopettes, love shopping museum stores. This diverse Barcelona shop is worth a stop just to view the arched stone ceilings with their wooden beams. If George Bush decides to travel outside the U.S., he would shop here. The long wiggly pencils, key chains, and magnets would appeal to him.
Fine jewelry, scarves, and an excellent selection of books for children and adults are for sale. You get to buy cool stuff and support the arts. No admission charge to go to the Museum Store. Bathrooms down the hall. Lines are long. Get there early. Need hotels in Barcelona? Check out this Scoop.
Where: Montcado, 15
Metro: Yellow Line, Jaume I
Hours: Tuesday – Saturday, 10 – 7.30
Sunday and holidays, 10-2