Spannabis, Barcelona's premier international cannabis festival, has been called "the mother of all cannabis expos." Given the abundance of innovative brands, breeders, cultivators, and community pioneers in attendance, as well as the backdrop of one of Spain's most beautiful cities and its top-tier social clubs, the label is fitting. But what happens when the U.S. and European cannabis market leaders meet?
Read on to see our highlights from Spannabis 2024, as told through the favorite moments of the cultural tastemakers who in the rooms where it happened. From New Yorkers in Spain to Barcelona natives to the team behind Amsterdam's oldest seed bank, we say muchas gracias for the memories!
What Were Cannabis Tastemakers' Favorite Moments From Spannabis 2024?
Ana Maria Tebar, Founder And Creative Director, HUMO™ Agency (Terpy)
This 2024 was a special one because after years of work at Terpy, we (finally) came to partner with the international brands we admire the most, and the people in the industry that we deeply connect with. Seeing the club FULL HOUSE everyday was amazing. This is the main objective of the Spanish Cannabis Social Clubs: Creating a safe space to bring the community together.
And with the police repression being so hard on clubs during this Spannabis, that commitment meant more than ever.
We were able to show to people from all over the world the model of social club that we are representing, and the feedback was amazing. But we were also able to show that doing that in Spain is not easy for us. That there's still people suffering and fighting everyday to end the hypocrisy and free cannabis in this country.
In order to create awareness during this process of legalization, we launched HUMO™, a creative advertising agency and cannabis lab born to connect people, brands, governments and collectives. We had a launching party with some of the most OG faces in the industry, took dabs and ate paella in the center of the Port of Barcelona. It was super fun!
Nico Pettersson, General Manager, VIBES
The Terps Army announcement at Spannabis marks our ambition and new goal to partner with respected and cool growth brands looking to elevate their paper offering in a synergistic way. The Terps Army collaboration fully showcases the creative edge VIBES can offer other brands wanting to associate premium paper with their premium product offerings.
Josh Schmidt, Vice President of Business Development, Natura
This year's Spannabis holds immense importance as it serves as a pivotal gathering for cannabis enthusiasts, professionals, and advocates alike. A dope pop-up at Clouds offered a unique opportunity for people from around the globe to explore products and network within the cannabis community. Additionally, the annual Hash Holes & Donuts event at Terpy with Fidel, Fran and friends provided a delightful blend of indulgence and terps galore, fostering a sense of camaraderie among everyone that was there. Then we closed out at the legendary HQ with Champelli, Fidel, Juan from Backpack Boyz and so many more! As a nexus of knowledge-sharing, networking, and celebration, Spannabis served as a catalyst for the advancement and normalization of cannabis worldwide. I can’t wait for next year!
Tim Hoebee, Social Media Coordinator And Community Manager, Sensi Seeds
This year’s Spannabis held particular significance for us as we simultaneously launched our Social Club in the bustling center of Barcelona. Leading up to the fair, we meticulously assessed the desires of our community and strived to meet them with utmost dedication. Our latest endeavors in the “Breeding Grounds” project stand as a testament to this commitment, as we forged collaborations with industry legends like Serge Cannabis, Champelli, and Sherbinski’s.
The entire lineup of esteemed breeders journeyed to Spain to announce their participation in the project, serving as a powerful reminder to the industry. With nearly four decades dedicated to both preserving and innovating cannabis genetics, we underscored our enduring influence and unwavering presence in the field.
Fab 5 Freddy, Artist; Filmmaker; Co-Founder, B Noble
This was my first time at Spannabis in Barcelona, Spain, and I had a great time amidst the buoyant shoulder-to-shoulder crowds. Unlike cannabis trade show / business gatherings I've been to in America, the vibe at Spannabis was like being at a cool music festival. The energy was celebratory and every other person was smoking spliffs throughout. It felt like a community of folks that truly love and understand the benefits of the plant. I thankfully didn't see many of the cornball wannabe, get-rick-quick, awkward corporate types that populate similar events in America.
Our brand B Noble, besides being available in 9 states in America through our licensing deal with Curaleaf, has recently gone global now, doing business in Europe with our recent acquisition of German cannabis medical distributor, CanPharma. The licenses that come with the acquisition allow us to import top-grade flower from Canada, Colombia, Portugal, et al for our German patients. Many of the folks we're now doing business with in Europe were all at Spannabis to meet, greet and smoke together. Also with us at Spannabis, and now working with our B Noble Global team was cannabis genetic legend, Mario "Sherbinski" Guzman. The man whose hit strains like Sunset Sherbert, Gelato and Acai Berry are among the most loved. We've got big plans in the works with Sherbinski for new strains from his vault, as well as exploring his "Voice Of The Plant" project, where he's creating dope plant-inspired music.
Right after Spannabis and while we were still in the EU, Germany, Europe's largest country, announced its adult-use legislation which [went into effect on April 1, 2024]. It [wasn't] an April Fool's joke, but for sure I'll [have had] an April 1st smoke!
For more about B Noble, visit b-noble.com!
New Yorkers In Spain: What Are New York Cannabis Community Leaders' Favorite Moments From Spannabis 2024?
What happens when industry stakeholders and advocates from the world's cannabis consumption capital (NYC, if you please) travel across the pond to a global consortium of connoisseurs? You get these magic moments.
Wolf Stoner Queen
Awooo Spain was an amazing experience. To see the many different consumption lounges and the community was so welcoming; hands down will be one of my top experiences. If you go to Spain visit WeedYou, Terpy, Fire House and WeFlowers!
Kait Caridi, Social Media Manager, BudsFeed; Social Media Director, The CannaDiva
Spannabis was epic this year because New York was outside! Something about seeing my friends thrive worldwide is special. Plus all the Terpy hash!
Divine RBG, Artist, dead prez And The D.E.Y.
I must say I truly love and enjoy Spannabis a great deal. It was my fourth time flying down for the big, big, big event alongside Mario from Sherbinski's helping spearhead "The Voice Of The Plant," a new and true brand design for our culture. It was great to see legacy brands fly down from the U.S. for the epic global cannabis explosion. Shouts-out to all the shops that show me love time after time. Love you all!!! Tio Divino. When in Barcelona, check out Divine's new club, The Station, [opened on] April 1! @thestationbcn
Grizzly Bocourt, Founder And Executive Director, Cannaware; Founder And Creative Director, Rebel Minded Media
My favorite moment from Spannabis 2024 was attending The Grand History of Cannabis: The Dutch Chapter Art Exhibit, which was designed by Dutch artist Mossy Giant and presented by Barcelona Social Club La Crème Gràcia. It was insightful to learn about the role the Netherlands played in cannabis history that evolved into the global cannabis culture that exists today.
Frankie Flowers, Founder, StayLiftedNYC; Brand Manager, FlowerHouse NY
It’s so hard to choose a favorite moment; the whole trip was my favorite! But some of my favorite moments were visiting the social clubs, i.e.: Weed You, Fire House, Terpy. They are truly unique to themselves.
Pari Patel, Founder, Farmacy NYC
My favorite moment from Spannabis was the joy of strengthening old connections and forging new ones from around the world within the vibrant community, creating a network of like-minded individuals united by a shared passion for cannabis and the Fruitella from Uncle's Farm!
Tosin Ajayi, Senior Policy Analyst, Cannabis NYC
My favorite moment in Spain was immersing myself in the captivating cannabis club scene. The thrill of approaching hidden doors and discovering a whole new world behind them, like the underground club I visited, was super dope!
Vladimir Bautista, Co-founder And CEO, Happy Munkey
I think the first thing was just really seeing the European market, how different it is from the U.S. market and all the different players out there, how seeds play a big role out there, how hash plays a big role out there. They’re like four or five years behind us here, but the enthusiasm is there. The people are really passionate. It felt like our era, the golden era where people were just really passionate about getting it legalized.
Me personally, it was my first time in Spain, Barcelona. The food, the architecture, the people, the way they value the quality of life. They’re not all hustle and bustle. They really value family, food, and their time and happiness is essential. It was really eye-opening.
[I also went to International Cannabis Business Conference, held the same week in Barcelona.] Spannabis is more like Hempfest in [Seattle], and ICBC was more like Benzinga kind of style, just a European version. So Spannabis had all the culture, it was based more around seeds, seed breeders. ICBC was more like the bigger players from the U.S., South America and Europe on the higher corporate level, Germany, etc.
I don’t think [the European market] will compete with the United States because we’re like King Kong consumers of all things, but I think that they’re going to really, really open up the market. First it was us, now it’s them, and they’re going to open it up and be the bridge to the Eastern part of the world. Be an example for the Eastern part of the world, and show how it can help people medically, financially, economically, the benefits of it. I think the trend will continue East and they’re going to be like the bridge between the U.S. and the East.
For more about Spannabis, visit spannabis.es.
*A version of this article originally appeared in Honeysuckle's 18th print edition. Get your copy now at dispensaries nationwide, or click here to order and choose your element - Fire with Bun B or Ice with Queen P!
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Featured image: Spannabis 2024 (C) Sam C. Long / Honeysuckle Media, Inc. @tissuekulture
