Weed in Almaty, Kazakhstan: my experience

Hi, smokers! You probably know that cannabis laws and regulations vary from one county to another, so let’s go deeper and try to understand what is going on with weed in Almaty. My post covers info about weed laws, regulations, general attitude of locals and cops, hash VS weed availability and pricing, failures and success in searching weed in Almaty.

So, I just touched down back home from Almaty a couple of days ago, still got that fresh buzz in my head as I’m sparking up this joint of girl scout cookies strain. Man, Almaty was lit — couldn't have had a better time without those dank buds keepin' me company.

Where to buy weed in Almaty

John shared his experience on the weed purchase process in Almaty. As he said - big dealers purchase everything via darknet - there are services or “onion sites” like DrChronic or Bitpharma where they purchase big portions (via Tor browser and crypto) or cooperate with local cannabis growers.

After that they simply resell weed to tourists and locals in Almaty. In fact you may also go this way, while for tourists this is usually not acceptable - you need to know how do onion sites and Tor browsers work, have corresponding accounts on darknet websites, too long to wait for your package (2 - 7 days), high risks at all steps of this chain, etc etc.

If you are just having a short vacation or a trip to Almaty - purchasing weed via wholesale darknet websites is not an option. Looking for dealers on the streets and in parks is still something you may do to find some weed in Almaty, but more and more dealers are shifting to online orders done via messengers and payments in bitcoins instead of cash. This simply protects them from ever being caught by cops. Crypto payments are anonymous and delivery is done to selected location without any personal meetings, so both you and the dealer are secured from any possible consequences.

This was a surprise for me cause I am more old school and just “heard something about crypto”. While now all youngsters (who are usually a target group for cannabis dealers) have crypto wallets so dealers simply follow the trend. I think dealers are losing money anyway because not all clients know crypto, but John commented that nowadays if you do not use crypto - you 100% have a friend who uses it, so you may just send him money from card and he does crypto transaction for you. After that I remembered I also have such a friend, so I agreed with John.

Local Attitudes Toward Cannabis in Almaty

Just because cannabis is strictly regulated in Almaty doesn’t mean the locals are strongly opposed to it. In fact, most people in Almaty don’t seem to care too much about marijuana use. Of course, it’s wise to follow some basic rules, like not smoking in public. But even if someone notices you, it’s unlikely they’ll see it as a big deal.

As I was actively asking and discussing weed - John invited me to his apartment for a small party that very first evening - just a couple of his rasta friends, beer, weed and PS5 - exactly what I do love😁😁😁. How lucky I was😁 John told he will be my weed dealer while I am here in Almaty so I had no issues with great stuff all that time.

John also confirmed locals are OK with weed in Almaty if you behave yourself correctly, while it’s better to avoid cops and not to have more than 10 grams in your pocket.

Marijuana laws in Kazakhstan

It is important to outline that high % THC cannabis, weed, and hash are forbidden in Almaty. You can not officially purchase marijuana strains with high at least some reasonable THC % concentration in some coffee shops like in the Netherlands. Medical cannabis may be available for purchase at dispensaries, but you will never get high with CBD buds you may find.

In the bar of my hotel I met John who has lived here in Almaty for a while, so knows a lot about 4:20 movements😁. He said that strict official regulations are not so tough in practice.

What Happens If You Get Caught with Weed?

In Almaty, if you have a little bit of weed with you (less than 10 grams), you probably won’t get into big trouble. The police might take it away, but they usually won’t arrest you. It’s still a good idea to be careful and not smoke cannabis in public in Almaty.

Question / Answer session about marijuana in Almaty

Is high % THC weed forbidden in Almaty?

Yes, non-medical cannabis is regulated and restricted in Almaty, while police is relaxed about marijuana and having less than 10 grams with you should not result in imprisoning anything serious.

Anyway what if you get caught with some THC cannabis product in Almaty?

Depends on the situation, but if officers think you are a drug dealer for some reason who delivers stuff - you should get punished problems. In general tourists with small amounts of hash or weed are not touched at all, only dealers with large amounts.

Can I find weed in Almaty in some oldschool way?

Of course you can! While sniffing dark streets / parks and pinging taxi drivers is an outdated approach for searching marijuana already - a big bunch of dealers migrated to online sales via messengers and crypto, but hustling parks and central streets in searches for weed may still give you some successful results.

Top quality weed and hash in Almaty - truth or myth?

Yes, truth, but complex to find. Quality differs among different dealers.

Is it possible to find hash in Almaty?

Yes, a lot of dealers sell both weed and hash, so hash is also popular and can be found in Almaty. Not always available, but rather popular.

Price for weed / hash in Almaty?

Prices vary from dealer to dealer and usually depend on quality and anything else. From what I saw - super high quality weed may go up to $20 - $25 per 1 gram (while the more you buy - the lower price you get), and high quality hash was around $30-$35 per 1 gram. Have not seen low quality weed in Almaty so do not know the prices, but should be lower.

Five random facts about cannabis

1. Endocannabinoid System

The human body has an endocannabinoid system (ECS) that naturally interacts with cannabinoids from cannabis, playing a role in regulating mood, pain, and appetite.

2. Religious Use

Cannabis has been used in religious rituals in various cultures, notably in Hinduism and by Rastafarians.

3. Cannabis in the U.S.

Cannabis was classified as a Schedule I drug in the U.S. in 1970, making it illegal at the federal level despite its growing medical acceptance.

4. Hemp for Victory

During World War II, the U.S. government encouraged farmers to grow hemp for materials needed in the war effort, launching the "Hemp for Victory" campaign.

5. Terpenes

The distinctive smell of cannabis comes from terpenes, aromatic compounds that also contribute to the plant's effects.