General Warning:Generally speaking, it’s really not worth it to smoke in Singapore. Even if you smoke you will not be stoned because of the paranoia level.
Smoking tolerance level [1= very illegal 5=virtually legal]: 1
Legislation: Singapore is one of the strictest countries in the World. Marijuana is illegal in Singapore, and so is ANY related action.
Law enforcement: Trafficking in more than 500 gm of cannabis = Death.
Possession or consumption of cannabis – up to $20,000 fine or 10 years imprisonment or both
Although for foreigners the cops usually lets them go especially if you’re white. Cops are not very smart in Singapore, it’s the Central Narcotics Bureau that you have to actually worry about. It’s not easy to get caught cause most cops don’t know high from drunk so as long as you’re not STUPID, and smoke only indoors or if outdoors, find a place where people rarely go to with multiple escape routes and you should be fine. If cops or guards harrass you but they don’t catch you smoking or actually see any weed don’t bother about them they can’t touch you without evidence.
As a local newspaper said: “…Should the three others be charged and found guilty of trafficking in a controlled drug, they could be sentenced to death if the cannabis, after chemical analysis, weighs more than 500g. If not, they can be jailed for up to 20 years and caned 15 strokes.” Copyright @ 2004 Singapore Press Holdings. All rights reserved.
Where to buy marijuana in Singapore: Drugs in Singapore is one of the hardest things to find. There’s not really one spot that you can hang out on where you can find someone to get buddha from. You have to remember Singapore is one of the strictest countries in the world! However, if you’re really desperate, look around Claymore Hill, Orchard Towers, or Forum Gelaria Shopping Mall. You usually see a lot of young kids under the influence. Try wearing clothes that are marijuana related eg pictures of weed leaves etc.
Singapore Marijuana prices: It really varies.
People usually buy in 50s, which is the minimum amount you can purchase most of the time.
S$50 (approx. 31 US Dollars) – 3 to 5 grams depending on connections.
Brands: There aren’t many pot heads in Singapore and most just smoke shwag which is really sad.
However with the right connections you can get some home grown.
Hindu Kush, Northern Lights, White Widow, Purple Haze, Skunk, etc.
More information: Most of the weed you’ll be able to find in Singapore comes from Thailand or Malaysia. Again grade varies but the good thing is prices stay the same whatever the grade or brand. However it is really hard to find some home grown unless you know people there, and I’m too smart to put my contact on this list, lol…
Smoking tolerance level [1= very illegal 5=virtually legal]: 3
Legislation: Marijuana is illegal in Serbia, but not that hard to find.
Law enforcement: There is no strict rule to how the police will act if they catch you smoking or in a posesion of marijuana. Some of them will just tell you to go somewhere else while the others will arrest you. So try and keep out of their sight, better not to take any chances with them.
Where to buy marijuana: You can see many teenagers in the city centre, try asking any of them and they will hook you up. You can also try the “Radijalac”, it is very near the city centre, ask someone where it is and they will show you. There you can see many teens sitting on benches, approach them and some will help you find what you need.
Marijuana prices: Prices vary, depending on quantity and quality.
1 gram of high-quality weed = 10 euros
3-5 grams of Albanian weed = 5 euros
theese prices may vary
Marijuana brands: Foreign weed, also called “holes”.
Domestic weed, called “domatjica”, “domaja”.
Albanian weed, called “shiptar”, “shipac”.
Smoking tolerance level [1= very illegal 5=virtually legal]: 3.5
Legislation: Marijuana is illegal in the Serbia, and so is any related action 🙁 but it’s not difficult to find 🙂
There is a marijuana parade in Belgrade every year, people are usually chill when it comes to cannabis.
Law enforcement: As long as you are not obvious, the police will not give you a hard time. Many are known to smoke themselves. Just light up at a local park or indoors. Downtown belgrade where there is a lot of traffic/people I do not recommend smoking there.
The police usually do not disturb you as long as you are not causing trouble, but of course, this is not a rule. Try to keep out of their sight.
They will (in worst case), check your passport and let you leave. Just don’t let them see you smoking around and you be fine. Be careful for cops in jeeps they are the most serious, the cops who are walking around the city are not trouble makers, they wont touch you. If you want to be 100% safe just keep your weed in some safer place(I mean not in your pocket). For smoking in pubs I would recommend only hash, never weed. And one more thing, cops like chill people so if they stop you just be friendly.
Where to buy marijuana in Belgrade:
Our local reporter tells us: “There are no streetsellers in Belgrade, best way to find some weed is to go to Trg Republike and ask any younger people for phone nomber of dealer. Also try place called Akademija in Knez Mihajlova street, plastic club in centre of Belgrade, Barutana trance club on Kalemegdan park, or look for informations for some trance party and just go there.”
Other say: Look for younger people, everyone is very friendly and most speak English fairly well. Just ask and they will help you out. Lots of the local parks are great places to find people that smoke weed. There are many high-tier dealers in Belgrade that supply whole of Serbia and Bosnia. You must have a contact to buy from them.
You can try to go near “splavovi” the clubs on the river near the tram bridge. Around midnight just walk there and someone will smoke it. The Belgrade is safe to wander around after dark. The other place is “Studentski trg” near fortres “Kalemegdan”. A few years before it used to be easy to find something near club “KST”, easy found near tallest building in Belgrade “Beogradjanka”. However, it seems that first options will yield more fruit. Also, if you go and take a cab with (and only with) younger driver, ask him freely. They do not have connections with law enforcement whatsoever and do not like them. It is possible you’ll pay more, but there is a high chance he’ll provide you with phone number… If you are lucky, it could be a good Albanian import !
Try to find a normal (you will recognize 🙂 ) looking guy and ask if he has any, or knows where to buy some… a Good place for that would be night clubs with house/techno music… Do not buy from gangsta style persons or in the streets.
Belgrade marijuana prices:
Mersh:
International weed-10e max, gram Serbian weed- 7e max, gram
Hash- 7e max, gram
On one 5 grams bag you should ask dealer to give you one more gram bonus, and for 10, 2 grams bonus, and so it goes….
10-20 dollars an eighth.
35- quarter
95- Ounce
Beo-White (Local belgrade dro) very high quality
45-eight
Marijuana Strains/Brands: Domacica – Serbian weed is brand for weed but, don’t waste your time on that,its hard to get it. Better try to get some Rakia or Pelinkovac alcohol drinks, Serbian people love it……..
Vutra, Ganja – names for marijuana Domacica – name for domestic cultivate marijuana, it’s more expensive than others and hard to find, but good 🙂
More information: Pretty easy to find weed in Belgrade. A lot of high-level dealers keep marijuana distributed throughout the city. Talk to the younger crowds. When you smoke, just don’t make a big deal out of it and you will be fine……
Smoking tolerance level [1= very illegal 5=virtually legal]: 4
Legislation: drug use is not an offense in the United Kingdom, but possession and purchasing are illegal.
Latest updates: currently class B which is a shame cause it got moved down to C and against all scientific evidence and recomendations the goverment moved it back up to B.
Changes to the law: For supply, dealing, production (including cultivation) and trafficking The maximum penalty is 14 years imprisonment. This has increased from 5 years for all class C substances including GHB and Valium.
For possession: The maximum penalty has been reduced from five years to two years imprisonment.
Possession – the law for adults: Most offenses of cannabis possession would result in a warning and confiscation of the drug. However if there are aggravating factors, such as smoking in a public place or repeat offending, they may be cause for arrest and prosecution.
Possession – the law for young people under 18 For a first offence of cannabis possession, young people under 18 will be arrested, taken to a police station and given a formal warning or reprimand. Further offences will lead to a final warning or charge.
Law Enforcement:
They mostly ignore the smoking going on blatantly around them unless there’s kids nearby or someone has complained
In practice, the courts usually impose a fine in cases involving cannabis products.
In October 2001, Scotland’s first Drug Court was established in Glasgow Sheriff Court. Its introduction followed the report of a Working Group on Piloting a Drug Court in Glasgow, which concluded that the establishment and operation of a Drug Court was feasible within the current legislation.The Pilot can only cater for 150 to 200 orders per annum and so there will be many people who might seem suitable but who cannot be accommodated. We cannot deal with every drug-related crime in Glasgow.
In order to limit numbers certain criteria must be met.
The offender must be over 21 and there must be an established relationship between a pattern of serious drug misuse and offending. We will not be dealing with first offenders. The nature of the drug misuse must be susceptible to treatment and cannabis abuse alone will not qualify.
No case on Indictment will be considered and the existence of outstanding matters on Petition will exclude an offender as will the existence of current Drug Treatment and Testing Orders from the High Court or Stipendiary Magistrate. Persons with a dual diagnosis of drug misuse and mental health problems will generally be excluded.
The “trigger” case ( which need not itself be drug-related ) must have started life in the Custody Court and must involve a substantive offence (not, for example, a failure to appear) committed after 15th October 2001 although if it fulfils these criteria other complaints can be rolled up and dealt with. Cases involving more than one accused will not be considered by the screening group before calling in the Custody Court but will thereafter be dealt with according to circumstances.
It is expected that most cases will proceed on the basis of Pleas of Guilty although we will not rule out referrals after trial and the manual deals with various alternative scenarios. It should be borne in mind, however, that international experience has shown that early intervention can be crucial and the longer the gap between the commission of the offence and the commencement of treatment the less likely it is that treatment will be successful.
The offender will normally have been identified as potentially suitable by the police, who will inform the dedicated member of the Procurator Fiscal’s staff. The defence agent may also alert the Fiscal to potential cases if the police have missed them. If the Fiscal agrees, she will convene a pre-court screening meeting with the offender’s solicitor, the police and representatives of the Social Work Department and if they agree and a suitable plea is negotiated then this will be intimated to the Custody Court Sheriff who will be invited to defer the case for a full assessment, including drug testing, for a period of four weeks to call before one of the Drug Court Sheriffs and to admit the offender to bail.
Whether or not the Sheriff agrees will be entirely a matter for him or her.
Assuming the case is so deferred it will call in the Drug Court where the full range of Summary sentencing options will be available.
Types of marijuana: Soap Bar, Bud, Weed, Hash.
Hash is much more common than grass, and usually has better quality. If you’re a grass fan, you will be able to find some White Widow ,Purple Haze,Buble gum, Mango if its growing its their, Glasgow has a variety of grasses ranging from pretty bad to amazing.
Hash is more hard to come by but when you find the person with it they always have it, its dear but worth it. its mostly Indian hash.
polm over hear is good its almost as well spread as soap bar.
plenty of good green, the hash like most in the U.K varies from home made (excellent) to soap bar (shite cut with everything from vetinary products to melted down records
Where to Buy Marijuana in Glasgow:Latest reports say “You can Marijuana in Kelvingrove park, many people smoke it there. Just ask for it, they wont bite you. If not, in Townhead near Buchana Bus Station, ask some neds, they’ll help you out. Please play it cool with them. Also in the Barras, the place is full of it….just ask around. You will probably smell it too. Good luck!”
You may ask around at of the city’s vivid nightclubs or nightly cafes.
even on the street ask most people and they will sort you out or know some one who can. Via good friends don’t buy from dealers in street as they are often very dangerous in Glasgow.
Glasgow Marijuana prices: £60 ounce
if not u can get it for £20 or £40 depending on the dealer
1/8 mid/high £25
city id:
Country: Scotland, United Kingdom
Time Zone: No UTC/GMT offset
Telephone Area Code: + 44 (U.K.) Area code: 141
webehigh city’s tale
Old men drinking whiskey by the bottle. Rowdy young men jostling each other in pubs. Women and children screaming obscenities during football games. These are some of the images once commonly associated with Glasgow.
But while there is some truth in the stereotypes, this Scottish city on the River Clyde has blossomed beyond its blue-collar roots to become one of the United Kingdom’s most popular party spots among students, travellers and stoners of every ilk.
Glasgow native Steven said that hash, which he has found for 10 British pounds ($14 American) per gram, is “much more popular than grass” because marijuana can be hard to find. “Generally hash is gotten from home-based dealers, but you can get it in some of the more in die and grunge scene bars/clubs,” he said.
Another source said he bought an eighth of an ounce of hash for 15 pounds ($21), noting that there is “plenty around if you know where to look” but “you never know if you’re getting the right weight.” But visitors should be warned that Scottish police are not a tolerant lot when it comes to controlled substances.
“One of the central planks of our drugs strategy is cutting availability of drugs in Scotland,” said Deputy Justice Minister Angus MacKay. Marijuana legalization group NORML said drug use is not an offence in the United Kingdom, but possession and purchasing are illegal. “Cannabis and cannabis resin are grouped into [legal] Category B. The penalty for possession and/or acquisition of a Category B substance is a summary offences of six months imprisonment and/or a fine,” NORML said. “In practice, the courts usually impose a fine in cases involving cannabis products.”
Chief Constable John Orr of the Strathclyde Police, the law enforcement body in Glasgow, was unequivocal in his view on dealers and the drug trade. “There will be no respite in our pursuit of you and your activities,” he said. “You are being sought and you will be caught.”
Steven noted that, except at certain times, public smoking is not advised. “If the cops see you chances are you will be busted, unless you happen to be at a festival such as Glasgow Gig on the Green or T in the Park,” Steven said, referring to a pair of annual concerts. “Cops are much more laid back at these things and don’t bother you at all.” He said the authorities also loosen up considerably around Hogmanay, the Scottish term for New Year’s Eve. “Anything goes at this time,” he said, suggesting visitors join the thousands of revellers who count down the year’s final minutes on George Square.
But visitors don’t have to schedule their trip around a holiday. With its numerous pubs and clubs, Glasgow is a year-round party. Steven said King Tut’s Wahwah Hut is a great spot for
live music and friendly to stoners. “Many big bands have played here and many more have
started their career here. It is quite small but very cool and attitudes to hash in here are pretty
relaxed,” he said, noting that the regulars are open to soft drugs but ultimately loyal to Scotland’s traditional intoxicant. “Of course alcohol is the mainstay and Tennents Lager tends to be the choice of the masses.”
Mark, who also lives in Glasgow, made numerous nightlife recommendations including Planet Peach and Archaos on Queen Street, Glasgow School of Art’s club on Renfrew Street, The Arches on Midland Street, Cathouse on Union Street, Nice ‘N’ Sleazy on Sauchiehall Street and 13th Note Café on King Street. “I highly recommend buying a copy of The List,” Mark said. “It is a fortnightly publication featuring everything that goes on every night of the week at every club in both Glasgow and Edinburgh. It’s available from any news agent or any place where magazines are sold.”
The Tunnel off Argle Street is one of Glasgow’s best dance clubs while Bier Halle Republic on Gordon Street has over 160 beers. Waxy O’Connors on West George Street offers six different bars inside a complex of halls and stairways that could simultaneously confuse and entertain those under the influence. For late-night munchies and pints try Cafe 24-7 on Sauchiehall Street. Several locals suggested Tuesday and Thursday nights at the Strathclyde University Student Union on John Street for its cheap drinks and lively collegiate atmosphere.
The students could also be a source of information on where to find soft drugs. “With five bars and an extra dance floor on Saturday night, there is something for everyone,” said Karen, a Strathclyde student. She added that visitors should also try a club called The Garage because “the music is really cheesy, the atmosphere is booming, the drinks are cheap.”
Smoking tolerance level [1= very illegal 5=virtually legal]: 4
Legislation: Like anywhere else in Scotland, the most you can be given if caught is a caution, provided you have under 2 ounces.
Law enforcement: As long as you aren’t asking a police officer there is a pretty low chance of getting caught.
Where to buy marijuana: If you go the church (steeple) you will find a lot of teenagers there, they will generally have a hook-up to buy weed and should help you get some.
Marijuana prices: £20 sterling (do not have coins, always have notes or you won’t get anything) for a “half q” which is half of a quarter of an ounce. (eighth)
Marijuana brands: I have never bought anything besides medium quality weed, though you can ask the dealer if they have any better brands as hey sometimes do. Do not expect to get hash resin, as this is rarely available.
More information: Do not always expect there to be people hanging at the steeple, but the best time to check is around 5-6pm onwards on weekends.
Smoking tolerance level [1= very illegal 5=virtually legal]: 3
Legislation: No information yet.
Law enforcement: watch out fore regulare chek points ,and the police might stope you in your car just 2 chek licensc validation. dont hot box the car and youll be fine..
trust me.
Where to buy marijuana: go to karanteenah or al ballad between old houses, youll finde plack pepole ask for some hash but try to look cool. and smile like u dont give a shit..
or ask some pepol we call khadam thay have no teast in any thing ,but good conections thats baisiklly it
Jeddah marijuana prices: 250 half a finger 500 a finger , but your better of with half a kilo witch iz 4500 sr
Brands: all kindes of hash changez every week or month
Smoking tolerance level [1= very illegal 5=virtually legal]: 2
Legislation: No information yet.
Law enforcement: Saudi Arabia isn’t the place you want to get caught with shit because you’re probably asking to get yourself into serious shit. However, as long as you’re not a local you can probably pay your way out of the jail cell but you’ll definitely be at the station for at least a night and you’ll see some pretty sketchy shit there, not cool.
Where to buy marijuana: You actually won’t be able to find pot but hashish is everywhere. There are two pretty easy ways to find hash: 1- spend a lot of time on the corniche and just walk around, eventually you’ll find someone that looks like they blaze and if they don’t sell everyone knows who to get shit from…2- if that too hard the easiest thing in the world is aramco camp, find someone who can sign you on to the aramco compound and look for kids anywhere from ninth grade through college years. The only way they’ll get you shit is if you ask and don’t be a sketchball about it or they’ll rip the f*** out of you.
Dhahran marijuana prices: It’s awkward, weight has no significance and if you talk in grams people will think you’re a dumbass…for about 100 riyals you can get a piece of hash just a bit longer than your pinky finger…there is a small problem with some dealers, they only sell by 250 riyals and so they get to make more shit off of you. when you ask for a piece just be like “yo, do you have shit cuz i need a 100” something like that.
Brands: Most the stuff you find is going to be from saudi (another city called qatif). Also, its pretty common to find afghani shit and sometimes moroccan hash is available too. Try to stay away from “shegra” it’s blonde looking instead of brown but I’ve bought shegra that didn’t even get me buzzed so stay away from it, its too easy to get shitty stuff.
More information: The good thing about hash that isn’t possible with weed is the quality is easy to tell by the smell. When you get the piece break it open in the middle and check to make sure its not dark black and give it a little sniff, even if you can’t tell what the shit is its a good idea to do that because most likely you’ll make your hookup think that you know something about what you’re getting. However, no matter what you get never seem too pleased because its very common to rip people off and being pleased is like consent to letting people jip you.
Smoking tolerance level [1= very illegal 5=virtually legal]: 4
Legislation: In Russia possesion, growing or any other activity is officialy prohibited.
Cannabis is completely illegal in Russia, although it is formally not a crime (only administrative violation of the law) to have less than 6 grams with yourself. Anyway, it will cause LOTS of problems if you get caught
Law Enforcement: Cities other that Moscow and St. Petersburg have corrupt police, who usually just take the pot, and will ask to pay a 20-60 dollar ‘fine’ which is really a bribe.
If you don’t pay they will take you to the local police station, where you will get a lot of problems. So better off to just pay the police.
Where to buy marijuana in Voronezh: At any VUZ(college) just ask young people where to get some TRAVA(grass) PLASTILIN(hashish) or SHISHKI(buds) People of Armenian or Asian appearence usually can help you out too.
But you have to know people to get the very good stuff.
Brands: Usually its wild weed, which can be very good.
Voronezh Marijuana Prices: 30 grams will cost from 10 dollars for bad grass and up for good grass
More information: Many other Russian cities of around 1 million population are similar.
Smoking tolerance level [1= very illegal 5=virtually legal]: 3.5
Legislation: Cannabis is completely illegal in Russia, although it is formally not a crime (only administrative violation of the law) to have less than 6 grams with yourself. Anyway, it will cause LOTS of problems if you get caught,
As put by another report on russia as a whole: “Possessing weed under 6 grams is decriminalized, with low fines, up to 30 is a heavier fine (and possible community work), but still no imprisonment.
Our Latest reports tell us: Cannabis is completely illegal in the Russian Federation, punishment can include 4 months to a year in prison.
Law Enforcement: Fortunately the police here all take bribes, but be prepared to pay a lot for getting caught with cannabis, usually 300-500 U.S. dollars. The Police can stop and search you or demand a drug test for any reason, so walking around with dreadlocks and a Bob Marley shirt is a fast way to having to pay a stiff bribe. Citizens in Russia usually have far to many problems on their plates to really care about you smoking, so as long as you aren’t being a huge nuisance no one will call the police on you just for smoking up. In general be inconspicuous and try to blend in and you won’t have problems.
Where to Buy Marijuana in St. Petersberg: Any park (called Ploschad) is worth checking out, and asking either younger people. Another possibility if around the rynoks (markets), but stay clear of train stations, and metro stations.
To ask, you should ask “vui s’nyet gdye mozhna kupit anasha” this translates roughly to” do you know where I can buy marijuana”. Anasha is the word for grass, but usually this refers to leaf, which is of an exceptionally BAD quality. Better to substitute the word “anasha” for “shishki” which means means “flowers”, of to those who know what you are after, “buds”. Hashish is probably more widely available, and this is referred to as “gashish”…just substitute a “g” for the “h” in hashish. It will be black hash, so check to make sure that you are not being sold a bit of black rubber. If you come across deaf & mute people in public places, who are well known to be involved in the street tra de for hash, get eye contact, and give them a signal. The signal that you want to buy hash/buds is to close your hand in a fist, then extend ing your thumb and little finger outwards away from each other, and touch your mouth with your thumb, this means you want smoke. This is a hand gesture understood by all nationalities in the former soviet union.
Travelling throughout Russia, provides plenty of opportunity for buying. I have bought in locations all sorts of locations from tashkent, to Yuszhno sakhalinsk….always by asking friendly locals, or in some cases, by asking the pimps who were trying to sell me prostitutes. Just be careful, and street wise…don’t go out to parks at night, etc, and always keep an eye out for the cops. never hand over money first, or show how much money you have…Most dealers will prefer to receive us dollars rather than local roubles.
Our Latest info says: The best and safest way to buying as in city where cannabis is illegal, is to get to know some locals. People in their late teens to mid twenties tend to know how to hook you up with some good hash. Russians are very a very friendly and kind people once you get past the cold veneer and will generally smoke you out for free once they realize that your alright. If you don’t have the benefit of local friends go to clubs and ask around, look for young people. If you ask off the bat people will usually say they don’t know anything, you need to converse for a bit and drop mentions of your own smoking history to get them relaxed enough to talk about weed. Also, taxi drivers can sometimes hook you up, but be careful and never go alone! In Russia it is generally expected that if someone hooks you up, you either smoke them out or pay them some money, maybe 10-15 percent of the price, they will usually just tell you it cost more then it did to get there cut. Russian terms for cannabis include, Kanabis, Ganja, Trava, Gash Hish, gedroponiks, terms for smoking include, pokoritz, koritz (can refer to tobacco as well)
Marijuana Prices: Generally prices are high (compared to the cost of living), and availability is low.
Quite expensive…Expect to pay USD100 for a 5 gram piece of hash…a little less for equivalent in buds. Unless you love grass clippings, stay away from the anasha, it’s not worth it, and will probably give you more of a headache than a buzz.
If your buying on your own without local help be prepared to pay a lot more. Once people realize you are foreign they tend to try and get more money out from you. Hash can go for anywhere between 8 and 25 dollars a gram, depending on quality and who you buy from. Weed is usually 50 or 60 for an eighth, although they measure by volume (matchboxes, glasses).
Brands: All pot sold in Moscow is imported from other nearby countries. Weed quality varies between very good weed, and poor low end pot.
Marijuana brands: Weed here is generally hard to find and if found is usually expensive and poor quality, however you can get lucky. Hash is much more popular, the quality is usually very good, straight from Afghanistan or central Asia.
More information: Never give money to someone without at least getting their number. Be careful and never go with people who seem shady or untrustworthy and never indicate that you have a fair amount of money on you. The ways to smoke here are often very improvised but very effective, they tend to focus on economy of usage while getting very baked. A basic water bottle pipe called a plushka (Russian for cannon) is used frequently. Russians are ingenious and know how to smoke with just about anything. The nice thing about hash is you can easily cook it into butter and get very stoned if you have no smoking devices. Any joints you are offered will almost definitely contain tobacco. In general St Petersburg is a beautiful city with a lot going on and is very interesting and eye pleasing to tour when stoned.
WeBeHigh city tale:
While Moscow is Russia’s political heart and symbolic head, St. Petersburg is considered the nation’s cultural capital. “Moscow has a much more active nightlife as far as the bar scene goes, while St. Pete is a little more Bohemian in nature,” said Mike Scollon, a 30-year-old American writer who lived in St. Petersburg for 2 ½ years.
Spanning a delta of the Neva River, the many waterways have earned St. Petersburg the moniker, “Venice of the North.” But Russians have had trouble settling on an official name. Since it was established in 1703 as St. Petersburg, in honour of St. Peter, the city has undergone three name changes. In 1914 it became Petrograd, and then in 1924 it was renamed Leningrad to honour the father of the Communist Revolution. But when the Soviet Union crumbled in 1991, the Russians felt a surge of nostalgia and restored the city’s original name. Often called the “Northern Capital of Russia,” over 4 million people dwell in this community on the shore of the Baltic Sea. And like in many other Russian cities, “you can get anything you want,” Scollon said.
“The drug choices run from Heroin, Ecstasy and coke to traditional happy stuff like grass put through a shredder; stems, seeds and all,” he said, noting that mushrooms are also very popular with the locals when they are in season.
Scollon explained that Marijuana is “sold in a ‘stakan,’ or glass, which is measured by filling
matchboxes and putting them in the glass.” He said pot and Hashish smokers in St. Petersburg commonly use a plastic bottle with a hole cut in the bottom. “They put Hash on the cherry of a cigarette, insert the cigarette into the hole, let the smoke build up, grab the bottle, twist off the top, let go of the carb and inhale more Hash than you ever got in one go,” he said.
He added that Papierosi, traditional Russian cigarettes, are used to roll joints. “They have a little, white paper filter and tobacco at the end,” he said. “Russians blow out the tobacco,
bend the paper filter and insert pot. No need for Zig Zags.” Jen, another American who lived in St. Petersburg, agreed that Papierosi are “a ready made shell for a joint.”
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“Belomorkanal cigarettes are a repulsive blend of the worst tobaccos and there is no filter,” she said. “They cost about five cents a pack and their simple cardboard shells are great for refilling with grass. The elderly generation is the only one to buy them for the tobacco and the younger generation only buys them for the shell.” Jen said, “soft drugs are pretty easy to find if you know someone.”
“It’s usually a matter of meeting a young Russian in a local bar. Pot is pretty cheap, and, for the most part, of the shake variety,” Jen said. “Russians like to measure it in matchboxes and carry it around in folded up pieces of newspaper. A stakan is basically what we would consider a QP.” But Scollon warned that the country’s Draconian substance laws could spoil the party. “Russia is not a fun place to use drugs. One joint can find you in prison for a long, long time,” he said.
In 1998 the Russian legislative branch, the Duma, passed laws making possession of any drug – no matter how small the amount – subject to stiff prison sentences. Even looking like you are under the effects of a drug is an infraction and police can force blood or urine tests on suspects. Yearly drug arrests run in the low six-figure range. “At the very least you might get your teeth kicked in at the police station,” Scollon said, “but that can happen at any time anyway.”
A June 2000 amendment has even outlawed media such as newspapers, television and Web sites from disseminating information about “producing, preparing and using” drugs. But Jen noted that corruption could work in a drug user’s favour. “Like everything in Russia, police act arbitrarily, rendering pretty much irrelevant if you walk around with a joint in your pocket or not,” she said. “In most situations, a $10 bribe or a nice bottle of cognac can get you out of pretty much everything.” Kurt Vinion, a photojournalist who has worked in St. Petersburg, said the fun quotient is high there. “If there was ever a city where a good time could be had, it is St. Pete,” he said. “You can have anything in Russia, if you’re willing to pay for it.”
But he warned that travellers seeking drugs have to “live dangerously.”
“The police are merciless, the drugs are hard to find – unless you know the right person – and even then it harkens back to the days of covert operations,” Vinion said. “If you get caught. you will be looking at some hard prison time.”
He suggested that visitors looking to buy “try the local cabbies at the Metro or Hollywood Nights,” two bars popular with foreigners. But he warned that without Russian language fluency “you will probably be spending a harrowing ride with those same cabbies as they try to pinch every last dollar or ruble from you as they show you off to their gun-toting friends.”
Vinion said that for those who don’t want the risk, the bar scene is energetic. “Beer is the choice amongst the new generation, as vodka is quickly becoming passe amongst the in-crowd,” he said. “You can expect to pay western prices for beer and drinks, $2.50 to $3 seems to be the norm at the typical clubs like the National Hunt.”
Smoking tolerance level [1= very illegal 5=virtually legal]: 2
Legislation: Cannabis is completely illegal in Russia, although it is formally not a crime (only administrative violation of the law) to have less than 6 grams with yourself. Anyway, it will cause LOTS of problems if you get caught
Marijuana is illegal in Russia, and so is any related action (growing, purchasing, smoking etc.). Possession of any amount of drugs – even one dose – or being under the effects of an illegal drug can cost the user several years in prison.
Law enforcement: If caught offer bribe. I would guess that 2000 rubles or $100 could be a starting point here, but this isn’t confirmed in practice.
Where to buy marijuana: Look for the smoking youth. Not too hard to find them, maybe they’ll find you first. Stick to the downtown area and people watch until you find the right crowd.
Marijuana prices: 300 ($12) rubles for a ‘box’. In Russia, they sell by the ‘box’ [ka-ROB-ka : accent on O, long O-sound as in oh] which is a few grams. Quality varies, but generally, in Murmansk, the quality is higher since the buds are coming from Norway.
More information: Words for pot:
1) tra-VA
2) a-na-SHA
Trava is the new word that the youth use, anasha is known, but used by the old Soviet citizens.