Weed in Atyrau, Kazakhstan: A Simple Story

Hi there! This is a story about a trip to Atyrau, Kazakhstan, where I learned some interesting things about cannabis, or in other words weed or ganja. It’s a magic plant that people use to feel relaxed or happy. But in Atyrau, it’s not so easy to find, and there are some important rules about it.

I just got back from Atyrau a couple of days ago, and as I sit here enjoying a small joint of white widow, I can’t help but reflect on the great time I had in Atyrau — thanks in part to the cannabis that accompanied me on my adventures.

Cannabis Laws in Kazakhstan: What You Need to Know

First things first, it’s important to understand that high-THC cannabis is illegal in Atyrau. Unlike in Amsterdam, you won’t find any coffee shops selling potent marijuana strains. While medical cannabis is available, it’s typically low in THC and won’t give you the high you might be looking for.

During my stay, I met a local named Simon in the hotel bar. He’s lived in Atyrau for a while and knows a lot about the cannabis scene. According to him, while the official regulations are strict, enforcement isn’t always so rigid in practice.

What Happens If You Get Caught with Weed?

In Atyrau, 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 Atyrau.

Where to buy weed in Atyrau

Simon shared his experience on the weed purchase process in Atyrau. 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 Atyrau. 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.

But if you are just visiting Atyrau for several days (or up to 2 weeks) and need some weed - dealing with wholesale darknet websites looks like not the best way to spend your time. This is the point where local dealers rush into this game. But if you think you can easily find street dealers with good stuff nowadays - do not hurry so much, the situation with weed in Atyrau has changed already.

Now dealers switched to another approach - you simply find their messenger contacts from someone who purchased weed in Atyrau already or on some forum comments, choose stuff from menu, discuss drop off area (this may be some hotel or approximate area), after you pay in crypto (yes, now this is #1 payment option for all “dark” payments) - and stuff gets delivered and dropped where you agree. Package with weed is usually masked, you get a photo and coordinates where to pick up your stuff. As a result - no official payments and no meetings in person (you choose just the approximate package drop area, not the exact place where you meet) - so both you and the dealer stay secure and anonymous. This was a little surprise for me, at home I simply buy directly from my trusted dealer via cache, but we have what we have. How happy I was that I met Simon so I do not need to go through all this 🙂

What Do People in Atyrau Think About Weed?

Even though weed is against the rules, a lot of people in Atyrau don’t mind it too much. They just think you should be polite and not smoke it in front of everyone.

Simon was cool enough to invite me to a low-key sesh at his spot — just some homies, beer, weed, and the PS5. Straight up, I felt like I hit the jackpot. Dude even became my plug in Atyrau while I was in town, so I was never dry and had my weed handy. He told me as long as you keep it cool, the locals are down with the herb. But like he said — don’t be stupid, and don’t carry more than 10g unless you’re lookin’ to have a bad day.

Weed in Atyrau: Your Questions Answered

Is high-THC weed illegal in Atyrau?

Yup, you won’t find high-THC bud legally unless it’s medical, but the cops aren’t usually trippin' if you’re packin' less than 10 grams.

What happens if you get caught with weed in Atyrau?

Depends. If you’re lookin' like you’re movin' weight, you could catch some heat. But most tourists with a small stash aren’t bothered much.

Can you still find weed the old-school way in Atyrau?

For sure! While the darknet and encrypted messengers are where it’s at now, you can still hustle around parks or chat up the right taxi driver and might get lucky.

Is top-shelf weed and hash a myth in Atyrau?

Nah, it’s out there, but you gotta know the right people. Quality varies, so do your homework.

How about hash? Can you find it in Atyrau?

Yep, plenty of dealers got both weed and hash. It’s not always on deck, but it’s out there.

What’s the price of weed and hash in Atyrau?

Prices swing depending on the plug and the quality. Top-tier bud can run you about $20 - $25 a gram, and hash could hit $30 - $35 a gram. The more you buy, the better the deal.

And that’s the lowdown on gettin' lifted in Atyrau. Stay safe, stay chill, and keep that stash tight.

Five random facts about cannabis

1. You Can Eat Cannabis Raw

Granted, it tastes a lot better when prepared with yummy edibles like brownies, bread, or cake. But cannabis can be consumed raw. One more thing is that if you eat it raw, it won’t get you high, but it will provide you with all the medicinal benefits.

2. Not All Weed Gets You High

You read that right. THC is not the same as CBD, which means that the type you choose to consume will have different effects on your body. One will provide all the relaxing and medicinal benefits, while the other will provide the psychoactive effects of the high.

3. Cannabis Has Over 100 Active Cannabinoids

In fact, over 120. The most famous ones are (you guessed it!) THC and CBD.

4. LA Is Weed Wonderland

Los Angeles, aside from being the city of stars, has more marijuana dispensaries than Starbucks. Welcome to LaLa Land.

5. Paradoxical Effects

Cannabis can have different effects on different people; it can make some feel relaxed and others anxious or paranoid.