In a 15th century palace in the Gothic district of Barcelona is a museum. Not an art or history museum, no, but one dedicated to the curious (not to mention controversial) cannabis plant. Yes, the Hash, Marihuana & Hemp Museum which took its roots in Amsterdam, recently opened in Barcelona's Palau Mornau.

The aim of the museum is to showcase not just the history of cannabis, but also its future potential. Ben Dronkers, founder of the museum (along with Sensi Seeds and HempFlax), always wanted to show the world that the cannabis had value beyond the recreational, in industry, medicine, nutrition even. The Hash, Marihuana & Hemp Museum is his mouthpiece to spread the word.

The collection itself is staggering. With over 6000 cannabis-related items and artifacts, every aspect of cannabis culture and its historical use is depicted in this unique museum.

From rare paintings to multimedia exhibits, the museum is an exhaustive kaleidoscope of the cannabis heritage. Add to that the setting of the Gothic patios and sprawling palace grounds and you have quite an enjoyable experience on your itinerary. The Palau Mornau is a national monument in its own right, so a visit to the museum is like shooting two birds with one stone.

The Cannabis Culture Awards 2012 held at the Hash, Marihuana & Hemp Museum saw notable figures like Sir Richard Branson, author Todd McCornick, Harvard professor Lester Grinspoon and Spanish cannabis activist Fernanda de la Figuera together.

Similar to the Hash, Marihuana & Hemp Museum in Amsterdam, the one in Barcelona also has a Sensi Seeds bank where you can get different kinds of strains, both popular and new, along with smoking paraphernalia.

Prices:

- Admission: €7.50 per person.

- Groups of 10 persons or more receive a discount of 20%, if paid in full.

- Children under 13 are admitted free of charge if accompanied by an adult.

Opening Times:

The Hash, Marihuana & Hemp Museum is open daily from 10 am till 10 pm. On 31st December and 1st January, however, the museum changes its schedule to 10 am - 5:30 pm and 1:00 pm - 9 pm respectively.