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Ciutat Vella halts the opening of a cannabis shop in a former pharmacy
Ciutat Vella seals off a premises in the Gòtic that was carrying out works without a permit and planned to become a cannabis shop, an activity prohibited by the district's moratorium and usage plan.
The Ciutat Vella district has ordered the immediate closure of a premises located at the intersection of Ripoll and Duran i Bas, right in the heart of the Gòtic neighbourhood, after detecting unlicensed construction work and suspecting that the establishment intended to become a shop selling cannabis products. The intervention is part of the licence moratorium and the municipal use plan, which prohibit this type of business in the area.
The space, which for years operated as a pharmacy and later remained empty, recently began renovation work. Residents and shopkeepers alerted Barna Centre after noticing unusual activity, such as the installation of new shutters and security cameras.
Business owners in the area recognised a familiar pattern seen in other cannabis-related businesses that previously proliferated in the Gòtic by taking advantage of florist licences or other legal loopholes. The new regulations from the City Council aim to curb this phenomenon, which is considered detrimental to the commercial offering of the historic centre.
The district has confirmed the opening of an urban planning disciplinary file, which is why the premises have been sealed and are no longer operating.
Barna Centre highlights the ongoing tension between legal and grey-area activities in the neighbourhood, and argues that it is necessary to attract higher value-added businesses to revitalise the Gòtic. The organisation also laments the gradual disappearance of pharmacy licences, a service considered essential for residents.