Monthly legal advice for cannabis associations
A legal retainer for cannabis social clubs in Spain: a dedicated lawyer who reviews your association’s paperwork every month and is there when you need them, including during an inspection or a police visit.
Ongoing legal advice for cannabis clubs on a monthly retainer (known in Spain as an iguala) is a continuous legal service for a fixed monthly fee. It covers day-to-day questions, regular reviews of member admissions, consumption forecasts and internal records, and an immediate response to an inspection or police action. At S&F Abogados we have 14 years of experience working with cannabis clubs. We advise you in Spanish, English, German, Italian, French, Dutch and Portuguese, and we travel anywhere in Spain.
Quick summary
- A retainer for a cannabis club is an ongoing legal advice agreement with a monthly fee, instead of hiring a lawyer for one-off matters.
- It includes legal questions, regular document reviews, assemblies and board changes, inspections and priority criminal assistance.
- It starts with an initial audit of the association and continues with a review every month.
- Well-kept records are the best evidence that the association works as a shared-consumption model and not as a point of sale.
What we do
What your cannabis club retainer covers
Ongoing legal questions
We answer the board’s day-to-day legal questions: members, cultivation, transport, premises, supplier contracts and dealings with third parties.
Member admissions and consumption forecasts
We check that every new member meets the bylaws and the internal admission rules, and that members’ consumption forecasts are consistent with what is grown.
Internal books and records
Membership register, minutes book, cultivation and collection records, inventory and accounts: we check that they are up to date and consistent with each other.
Assemblies and board changes
We prepare notices, agendas and minutes, and help you notify the register of associations of changes to the board or the bylaws.
Inspections and police actions
We explain how to act during a municipal inspection or a police visit and, if needed, we step in immediately by phone or in person.
Priority criminal assistance
If an investigation is opened against the association or its board members, we take it on as a priority from the very first moment: arrest, search or first statement.
What else the monthly legal advice includes
Beyond the six areas above, the retainer covers the issues that cause cannabis associations the most trouble when nobody reviews them regularly:
- Legal-level tax and accounting coordination: we work with your accountant or tax adviser so that fees, contributions and expenses are documented in a way that is consistent with a non-profit entity.
- Communication, website and social media: we review texts, signs, profiles and messages to avoid any form of advertising or promotion of consumption, which counts against the association.
- Registrations and licences kept up to date: we make sure the registry details, the registered board, the registered office and the licences or permits for the premises are current.
- Internal protocols: we give you clear instructions for reception, member access control and how to act during a police visit.
How the retainer with S&F Abogados works
- Initial audit: we review the bylaws, founding deed, registration, books and the admission, cultivation and collection protocols, and give you a prioritised list of changes.
- Getting up to date: we help you fix anything missing or inconsistent, starting with what creates the most risk.
- Monthly review: every month we go through new and departing members, consumption forecasts, internal records and any changes in the association.
- Availability: the board has a dedicated lawyer by phone, WhatsApp and video call, and we travel to your premises when needed, anywhere in Spain.
Why legal advice reduces the association’s risk
No Spanish law specifically regulates cannabis associations. Whether they are lawful depends on the Supreme Court’s case law on shared consumption: cultivation and consumption within a closed group of adult consumers is not treated as trafficking, whereas supplying cannabis to third parties can be a crime against public health under Article 368 of the Spanish Criminal Code.
The leading judgment is STS 484/2015 of 7 September, handed down by the full Criminal Chamber of the Supreme Court in the case of a Bilbao association with 290 members that was open to new members. The court convicted its board members because the activity, given its volume, organisation and openness to third parties, went beyond shared consumption. The judgment did not set a closed list of requirements: courts assess each case and look at factors such as the number of members, control over admissions, the quantities grown, the absence of advertising and whether the cannabis stays within the circle of members.
That is why, in criminal proceedings, the association’s records are the main evidence of how it operates. A consistent membership register, well-justified admissions, consumption forecasts that match the cultivation and up-to-date minutes help show that there is no sale to third parties. In addition, Organic Law 1/2002 on the right of association requires every association to keep an up-to-date list of members, keep accounts, make an inventory of its assets and record the minutes of its governing bodies in a book (Article 14). Reviewing this every month is simpler, and far safer, than trying to rebuild it after a search.
Who this service is for
- Established cannabis associations and clubs that want a dedicated lawyer, rather than only calling one when there is a problem.
- Newly created associations that want to start operating with their books and protocols in order. If you have not set it up yet, see our service for setting up a cannabis association.
- New boards taking over the management of a club who want to know the legal situation they are inheriting.
- Associations that have had an inspection, a fine or a police action and want to reduce future risk, together with a criminal compliance plan for the cannabis sector.
Monthly retainer or one-off matters
If you only need a specific task, such as amending the bylaws or a defence in proceedings, you can hire it separately through our service for cannabis social clubs. A retainer makes sense when you want someone to review the association continuously and respond quickly. To learn about the day-to-day obligations, read our guide on the legality and legal management of cannabis social clubs.
You may also be interested in: How a cannabis association works · Requirements to open a cannabis club · How to manage a cannabis club
Would you like a dedicated lawyer for your association?
Tell us how your club works and we will explain how we can work with you. Call us on +34 919 532 802, message us on WhatsApp or send us an online enquiry.
What our clients say
I cannot recommend this law firm highly enough! From the very first consultation, their team demonstrated an exceptional level of professionalism, knowledge, and genuine care. They were not only incredibly thorough in their approach, but also made sure I felt supported and informed every step of the way. Their expertise is truly unmatched, and they go above and beyond to deliver results. If you're looking for a firm that treats you like a priority and fights relentlessly on your behalf, look no further. Absolutely outstanding service from start to finish!Solo tengo palabras de agradecimiento para esta empresa, me acompañaron todo el proceso de manera muy cercana, siempre disponibles. Al final del proceso el resultado fue muy positivo para mí. Silvia fue la letrada que me llevó todo y el trato no pudo ser mejor. Muchísimas graciasMuy buena experiencia. Trato cercano y profesional desde el primer momento, resolvieron todas mis dudas con claridad y me hicieron sentir acompañada durante todo el proceso. Se nota que saben lo que hacen. Totalmente recomendables.Frequently asked questions
Frequently asked questions about legal advice for cannabis clubs
What is a retainer for a cannabis club?
It is an ongoing legal advice agreement with a monthly fee. In return, the association has a dedicated lawyer who answers its questions, reviews its records every month and acts as a priority if there is an inspection or police action.
What is the difference between a retainer and hiring a lawyer only when there is a problem?
With a retainer we review the association before the problem arises: admissions, consumption forecasts, books and communication. When an inspection or proceedings arrive, the records are already in order and we know the club, so we can react much faster.
Does the retainer include criminal defence if proceedings are opened?
It includes priority criminal assistance from the very first moment, for example during an arrest, a search or a first statement. The scope of the defence in full court proceedings is agreed in writing when you sign up, so you know from the start what is included.
Can you advise an association that is not in Madrid?
Yes. We work with associations all over Spain: the monthly review and questions are handled by phone, WhatsApp and video call, and we travel to your premises or the court when needed.
Is a well-documented association safe from criminal proceedings?
No lawyer can guarantee that, because there is no law regulating these associations and courts assess each case. But consistent records are the best evidence that the club works as a shared-consumption model among members and not as a point of sale.