Spain bans sale of cannabis-infused sweets

Spain's Ministry of Health has banned the sale and distribution of cannabis-infused sweets and candies.

The order was published in Spain's Official Gazette (BOE) on April 22 and the measure came into effect the following day.

The new regulation updates a 1977 law on psychotropic substances and related medicinal preparations to include substances commonly found in cannabis edibles.

The sweets in question do not contain THC – the main psychoactive compound in cannabis – but do include semi-synthetic derivatives that can produce similar or even more intense effects.

The ministry, therefore, has moved to classify them as cannabinoids without authorised medical use and subject to "control mechanisms."

Barcelona to intensify inspections

Barcelona City Council announced it will intensify inspections at establishments to prevent the sale of cannabis sweets, in coordination with the Public Health Agency and local police, the Guàrdia Urbana.

The deputy mayor for security at the city council, Albert Batlle, said on Friday that they have already contacted the prosecutor's office and the Ministry of Health to confirm when criminal proceedings can be initiated if the sale of these sweets is detected.

Once the Spain-wide order came into force, Barcelona City Council wanted to act quickly, the councilor for Health, Marta Villanueva, told the media.

It has already approved a mayoral decree that reinforces inspections of establishments to detect, punish and prevent the sale of these products.

Currently, the council estimates that there are a hundred establishments that sell cannabis-infused sweets, including cannabis shops ('grow shops') but also establishments that sell food products.

Until now, the city council only acted against the sale of these products when sold under the guise of food products.

They carried out 45 inspections last year in 30 establishments.

Tourist souvenirs

Earlier this month, the Clinical Toxicology Unit at Barcelona's Hospital Clínic reported that cases of poisoning linked to cannabis-infused sweets have doubled in the past two years, with 24 cases recorded in 2024 alone.

In most instances – 58% – the affected individuals were middle-aged female tourists who had purchased the products as souvenirs from cannabis shops.

The hospital warned of a lack of regulation over these sweets containing lab-modified substances, which were being sold legally. The health ministry's new regulation is intended to close that regulatory gap.