Spanish cannabis terms

If you have already read about cannabis social clubs in Spain, you will have noticed the vocabulary is a world of its own. Some words are technical, some are legal, and quite a few are pure Andalusian street language that nobody bothers to translate. Walking into a club without knowing them is perfectly fine, but knowing them makes everything smoother, and it tends to be appreciated.

Terms marked Spanish are the ones you will actually hear spoken in Seville. Where a term needs more than a couple of paragraphs, you will find a link to the page that covers it properly.

The club model

The vocabulary of how cannabis clubs actually work in Spain.

CSC

Short for Cannabis Social Club, the formal international name of the Spanish model. It refers to a private, non-profit association where adults who already consume cannabis access it through shared self-consumption, with no sale taking place at any point.

The term emerged from European activist circles in the 1990s and is now used worldwide to describe the Spanish approach, which is where the model developed furthest. You will see it in documentation, press and legal contexts. On the street, almost nobody says “CSC”. What is a CSC in Seville

Spanish

Aso

Casual shortening of asociación, and by far the word you will hear most in Seville for a cannabis social club. If someone says “nos vemos en la aso”, they mean the club.

It is an insider word, used between members and people around the scene, and it works almost as a cultural password: anyone using it naturally has usually been around a while. It carries no technical or legal weight. It is simply how people talk here. Cannabis association in Seville

Spanish

Socio

Member. Not a customer: a registered member of a non-profit organisation, with rights and obligations set out in the statutes. That distinction is the legal foundation of the entire model.

In practice it means two things. There is an ongoing relationship with the association rather than a one-off transaction, and you accept a set of house rules on joining. A socio can also take part in the life of the association, not just pass through it.

Weed club

The everyday English name visitors use for the same thing. Perfectly understood locally, though you will rarely see it written on anything official.

It is not a different kind of venue or a lesser category. It is the same private association described in casual English, which is exactly why it is one of the most searched terms by people planning a trip. Weed club in Seville

Smoking club

A descriptive term used mostly by people who do not know the technical name and are searching for something that sounds like what they are picturing.

Again, it refers to exactly the same private association. What changes between all these names is who uses them, not what they describe. Smoking club in Seville

Coffee shop

Borrowed from the Dutch model and used mostly by tourists. The resemblance is purely atmospheric: somewhere to sit down, relax and spend some time.

The legal structure could not be more different. In Amsterdam you have a commercial venue open to the public with legal sales; here you have a private association where only registered members can enter and where contributions cover a collective cultivation. This is the single most common misunderstanding among visitors. Coffee shop in Seville

Dispensary

A North American term for a commercial shop selling cannabis to the public, with a counter, a display case and a catalogue of labelled products.

That figure simply does not exist in Spain, because there is no legal sale of cannabis. Anyone searching for a dispensary in Seville ends up at a private association instead: a different format, a different logic, and above all the need to register before entering. Marijuana dispensary in Seville

Spanish

Cultivo compartido

Shared cultivation. The principle the entire model rests on: members contribute collectively to a cultivation they later access inside the premises, so no purchase takes place at any stage.

The underlying logic is that a group of people who already consume organise to supply themselves rather than turning to the illegal market. That reasoning, and nothing else, is what separates an association from any commercial activity. How a cannabis social club works

Spanish

Autoconsumo compartido

Shared self-consumption. The legal phrasing of the concept above: what is cultivated is destined for the members who contributed, never for distribution or transfer to anyone outside the association.

It is the term used in the legal reasoning behind the model, and it explains why consumption has to happen indoors. The moment anything leaves the association’s premises, the framework changes completely.

Spanish

Cuota

Membership fee. A periodic contribution that keeps the association running: premises, maintenance, utilities, services and administration. It is what allows the entity to exist at all.

Do not confuse it with contributions to the shared cultivation, which are something else entirely. The cuota connects you to the association; the contributions cover the cost of the cultivation you access. They are two separate concepts and should appear separately in the accounts.

Spanish

Alta

Registration. The process of becoming a member: proving you are over 18 with valid photo ID and accepting the association’s statutes and house rules.

It is a firm requirement, not a courtesy formality: without prior registration there is no access to the premises. That is why no serious club accepts walk-ins, and why a venue that does not ask for ID should raise your suspicions rather than your hopes. How to become a member

Spanish

Sin ánimo de lucro

Non-profit. The association does not distribute profits among its members; resources go entirely into running it and into the purposes set out in its statutes.

It does not mean no money changes hands. It means that money never becomes anyone’s private profit. This is a structural requirement of the model and one of the things most often misread from the outside.

Spanish

Normas

House rules. The code of conduct every member accepts on joining: respect for other members’ privacy, consideration towards the neighbourhood, an explicit ban on taking anything off the premises, and how to behave inside.

This is not decorative paperwork. Much of why an association survives for years comes down to enforcing these rules without exceptions.

The plant

What lies behind the words used to describe a strain.

Spanish

Cogollo

Bud. The developed, dried and cured flower of the female plant, and the part where cannabinoids and terpenes concentrate. One of the most useful words to learn here.

A well-handled cogollo is recognisable by its density, its pronounced aroma and that faintly frosted look the trichomes give it. The drying and curing after harvest shape the final result as much as the genetics do.

Spanish

Flor

Flower. The more technical and neutral word for cogollo, used in formal contexts and documentation.

It is also the term used internationally to distinguish the plant material in its original form from any subsequent preparation or derivative.

Cannabinoid

The family of chemical compounds specific to the cannabis plant. THC and CBD are the best known, but well over a hundred have been identified, present in far smaller proportions.

Every strain has its own cannabinoid balance, and that balance is one of the reasons two different plants can produce noticeably different experiences even when their THC percentage looks similar.

THC

Tetrahydrocannabinol, the main cannabinoid responsible for psychoactive effects. Its proportion varies enormously from one strain to another.

It is also what roadside saliva tests detect, and they do so long after the effects have worn off. That gap between “having detectable THC” and “being under the influence” causes a great deal of confusion, and no small number of fines.

CBD

Cannabidiol. A cannabinoid with no appreciable psychoactive effect, commonly associated with relaxation and central to the debate around therapeutic uses.

It is what CBD shops sell legally, always with very low THC content. The fact that a CBD product is legal does not make it equivalent to what is consumed in an association: they are different things with different effects.

Terpenes

Aromatic compounds that make each strain smell different: citrus, pine, earth, fruit or fuel. They are not exclusive to cannabis; you will find them in lemons, hops and rosemary.

And they are not only aroma. They are increasingly credited with shaping how the whole experience is perceived, which is why a terpene profile is now as valid a basis for choosing as a THC percentage. Cannabis terpenes

Trichomes

The tiny resin glands covering the bud that give it its frosted, sugar-dusted appearance. Visible to the naked eye, though a magnifier helps.

This is where cannabinoids and terpenes are produced and stored, so their condition is one of the indicators growers use to decide when to harvest.

Resin

In Spanish, resina. The sticky substance secreted by the trichomes, containing most of the plant’s active compounds.

It is the basis of traditional derivatives such as hash, which is essentially resin separated from the plant material and pressed.

Sativa

One of the two broad strain types, traditionally linked to more stimulating, cerebral and sociable effects, and therefore often suggested for daytime use.

Treat it as a guide rather than a rule. The overwhelming majority of strains today are crosses, and a terpene profile explains the differences far better than the old sativa/indica label. Sativa, indica or hybrid

Indica

The other broad type, usually associated with heavier, more physical and relaxing effects, which makes it the standard suggestion for the end of the day.

Its origins lie in the mountainous regions of central Asia, and that is where its characteristic traits come from: shorter, more compact plants with broader leaves.

Hybrid

A cross between sativa and indica, and what you will find in practically every case. Pure genetics are now the exception rather than the norm.

People usually speak of sativa-dominant or indica-dominant hybrids depending on which way the result leans, though any given phenotype can drift some way from what you would expect.

Strain

In Spanish, variedad or cepa. Each specific plant type with its own name and distinguishing characteristics.

Worth knowing: strain names are not regulated in any way, so two plants sold under the same name can differ considerably depending on where they came from.

Phenotype

How a given genetic expresses itself in one particular plant. Two seeds of the same strain can produce plants with noticeable differences in aroma, appearance or density.

It is why an experienced grower selects and keeps the phenotypes that perform best, rather than relying on the strain name alone.

Consumption

Words you will hear inside the club.

Spanish

Porro

Joint. The standard word across Spain and understood anywhere in the country.

It goes by many other names depending on the region and the generation. In Andalusia it coexists with peta, which is probably what you will actually hear day to day.

Grinder

The small metal or wooden mill that breaks the bud down evenly. The English word has taken over in Spanish too, so no translation needed.

Beyond convenience it serves a practical purpose: an even grind burns more consistently, which makes the whole thing more predictable.

Vaporiser

In Spanish, vaporizador. A device that heats cannabis until its compounds are released as vapour, without burning it. They come as portable or desktop units with temperature control.

With no combustion the aroma is cleaner, far less persistent on clothes and in a room, and the terpene nuances come through more clearly.

Spanish

Papel or librillo

Rolling paper, and the little booklet it comes in. Available in different sizes, weights and materials, from rice to hemp.

The format matters more than you would think: a thin, good-quality paper burns more slowly and evenly, and contributes less flavour of its own.

Spanish

Boquilla

The cardboard tip or filter placed at one end. Also called cartón, or tochito in some areas.

It does not filter in any real sense: it gives structure, keeps loose material out and makes things more comfortable. Pre-cut ones exist, though plenty of people still make their own.

Spanish

Calada

A draw or puff. It is also the practical unit of dosing when inhaling, since the effects appear within minutes.

That immediacy is the great advantage over edibles: you can gauge as you go and stop whenever you want, instead of committing to a whole dose up front and waiting to see what happens.

Tolerance

The body’s adaptation to regular consumption, meaning the same amount produces less effect over time.

It explains why two people can react so differently to exactly the same thing, and why anyone returning after a long break should be reminded that their tolerance is no longer what it was. A few days off is usually enough to notice the difference.

Effect profile

In Spanish, perfil de efectos. A description of the kind of experience a given strain tends to produce: more stimulating, more relaxing, more physical, more creative.

It is the information used to guide a member towards what suits them and the time of day, and it is usually far more useful than looking only at a THC percentage.

Local slang

The words no phrasebook will teach you, heard daily in Seville.

Spanish

María

One of the most common Spanish words for marijuana and thoroughly at home in Andalusia. It comes from the plant’s own name, shortened and hispanicised.

It is a neutral term with no negative charge, used by consumers and non-consumers alike. You will hear it constantly, in phrases like “cuánto cuesta la maría”.

Spanish

Verde

Literally “green”. A casual way of referring to flower, as opposed to hash. Extremely common in the south, where context does the rest.

The distinction matters. If someone asks whether you prefer “verde o costo”, they are asking flower or hash, which are two quite different things.

Spanish

Hierba

The direct equivalent of “weed”, and probably the most generation-spanning term of all.

It works in any register: neither technical nor closed-off slang, which makes it a safe bet if you are unsure which word to use.

Spanish

Costo

Hash. A distinctly Spanish word, particularly rooted in Andalusia given the region’s proximity to North Africa.

It is a word with history, part of everyday Andalusian vocabulary for decades and understood by everyone, consumer or not. If someone mentions costo, they are not talking about flower.

Spanish

Chocolate

Another word for hash, from its dark colour and compact texture, which genuinely do resemble a bar of the stuff.

It is used interchangeably with costo, with no real difference in meaning. Choosing one over the other is more a matter of generation and area than anything else.

Spanish

Peta

A joint, in southern Spanish, and in Seville probably the most common of all in everyday conversation.

It gives us the expression “echar un peta”, roughly “to have a smoke”. If you are visiting and want to sound like you have been here before, this is the word.

Spanish

Fumeta

A regular consumer. Depending on tone it can be dismissive, simply descriptive, or worn with a certain pride by the person describing themselves.

It is a good example of how much context changes things: the same word can be a family reproach or a cheerful self-introduction among friends.

Spanish

Amarillo or pálida

The local name for greening out: dizziness, cold sweat, pallor, a racing heart and an anxiety that can be genuinely frightening, especially the first time.

It is very unpleasant but it passes on its own with time, calm, a quiet space and steady company. Knowing the word and knowing what it is takes away much of the fear. If genuinely worrying symptoms appear, seek medical attention without hesitating.

Legal terms

The concepts worth understanding before your visit.

Spanish

Ley Mordaza

The popular nickname, literally “gag law”, for the Citizen Security Law passed in 2015. The nickname comes from the public debate around its passage.

Among many other things, it governs the administrative penalties for cannabis consumption and possession in public places. When someone here talks about “la multa”, this is almost always the law they mean.

Spanish

Tenencia

Possession. Carrying cannabis. Not penalised in private, but an administrative offence in public regardless of the amount or the reason.

It is the concept that explains why the journey is always the delicate part: you can be somewhere nothing happens and somewhere it does, with nothing changing except where you are standing. The fine for carrying marijuana

Spanish

Espacio privado

Private space. Somewhere not open to public use, such as a home or the inside of an association. It is the only setting where consumption is not sanctionable.

A hotel room counts as one during your stay, though that does not mean you can smoke there: the establishment’s own rules and Spain’s smoking regulations are a separate matter entirely. Is it legal to smoke in Seville?

Spanish

Vía pública

Public thoroughfare. Streets, squares, parks, public transport and any common-use space.

Here is the detail most visitors miss: hotel lobbies and corridors, the entrance hall of a building, a shared courtyard or a venue’s terrace all count too. Being indoors does not automatically make somewhere private.

Spanish

Sanción administrativa

An administrative fine, carrying no criminal record and no court proceedings. This is how consumption or possession in public places is handled, and it starts at 601 euros.

There is a possibility of suspension if the person undertakes a treatment programme, though it is not automatic and depends on the circumstances of each case.

Spanish

Drogotest

The roadside saliva test used at traffic checkpoints to detect the presence of substances.

It picks up THC long after consumption, when the effects are already gone, so testing positive does not mean driving while impaired. The penalty applies all the same, which catches a lot of people out. Travelling with cannabis in Spain

Spanish

Autocultivo

Growing for personal use. Spain has no express authorisation covering it, and how it is treated depends heavily on the specific circumstances.

Three factors weigh most: visibility from outside, the quantity relative to what one person could plausibly consume, and any indication that it is destined for someone else. The widespread belief that “you are allowed three plants” is a myth with no legal basis.

Spanish

Derecho de asociación

Freedom of association, a fundamental right under article 22 of the Spanish Constitution, covering the creation of private non-profit entities for lawful purposes.

It is the legal basis on which cannabis social clubs constitute themselves, and the reason they are organised as associations rather than companies. The whole model rests on this pillar and on the privacy of consumption.

This glossary is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Green City is a private, non-profit association for adults who are already consumers. We do not promote cannabis consumption: we promote that those who already consume do so responsibly, with good information and within the law.