Weed in Istanbul, Turkey: 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 Istanbul. My post covers information about weed laws, regulations, general attitude of locals and cops, hash VS weed availability and pricing, failures and success in finding weed in Istanbul.

Just finished my vacation, stayed 2 weeks in Istanbul, and as a heavy weed smoker I can't imagine a vacation without some sativa joint during the day and indica buds with some beer before heading to sleep. Below you will find info on what I found out while searching for tasty non-medical weed in Istanbul.

How to get weed in Istanbul?

I did not need a dealer in Istanbul because I had Olaf, anyway it was interesting for me how gears work in Istanbulin relation to cannabis.

High-level wholesale Istanbul dealers purchase weed and hash on the darknet websites. Usually these sites are about wholesale multi-kilo orders, but some also work with small amounts. So in fact this may be an option #1 for you - under the condition you know how to use darknet features of Tor browser and .onion sites + ready to wait 3-5 days for the delivery. If yes - you may find all the info about darknet websites on thehiddenwiki.com - darknet wikipedia.

But if you have a short trip to Istanbul or vacation + need not too much weed and right now - only small local dealers may help you. Walking dark streets in a search for a strange-looking person who will sell you something that looks like weed for cash is still an option, but this is not the best way to spend time in Istanbul and does not guarantee you any success. Today almost all dealers went online already, so they arrange the delivery of stuff after taking crypto instead of cash. They try to avoid meetings in person so you just select the approximate drop off point, and get a photo where exactly to take your stuff after the delivery. Stuff is usually masked and looks not suspicious (may be a pack of juice or cigarettes you just take and continue walking).

I was surprised, really. Looks like I am too oldschool already - thought cash rules the world. While nowadays you may anonymously exchange crypto to cash - so for all illegal payments this became option #1. So now the dealing process looks like this - you find some messenger contacts of a local dealer (ask google or local barman), contact him and choose what you want to order, pay in crypto and get your stuff delivered to some pre-selected place (that may be your hotel). Personal meetings are something dealers try to avoid - so weed is usually dropped at some approximate point you firstly discuss, and you get photo and GPS coordinates where to take your package after delivery.

Attitude of locals to cannabis in Istanbul

Even though high THC cannabis is strictly regulated in Istanbul - local inhabitants of Istanbul are not against it at all. Young people and tourists are top target audiences for weed dealers. This does not mean you may walk and smoke joints on the streets, but also no one will be too surprised seeing someone smoking weed.

As Olaf told - even local cops in Istanbul sometimes use cannabis. So in general we may conclude that the atmosphere in Istanbul is relaxed when we speak about cannabis. Just behave correctly and watch your back - and everything should be cool.

Generally, the local stance on cannabis is quite laid-back, so you might start feeling at ease in Istanbul after enjoying a single quality joint, and I can attest to this from my own experience. Olaf graciously shared a wonderfully satisfying sativa joint with me, even though he wasn't sure about the specific strain. We were indulging outside a bar and noticed other individuals across the street doing the same 😁. It's safe to say that cannabis consumption is quite prevalent in Istanbul.

I inquired with Olaf about the possibility of obtaining his dealer's contact information because the quality of the product was exceptional. He explained that his specific dealer doesn't take on new clients, so he graciously offered to be my supplier during my vacation, which turned out to be an ideal arrangement. I hope everyone has the chance to encounter their own Olaf in one of Istanbul's bars.

Cannabis laws in Istanbul, Turkey

You can probably guess that distribution of non-medical cannabis is strictly forbidden and regulated by laws of Turkey, so you can not purchase high THC weed in some official shops like you may do in the Netherlands for example.

On my very first day in Istanbul I got acquainted with Olaf who has lived here for 3 years already and who is also a regular cannabis smoker. He shared a joint with me and told some stories. As he told that despite non-medical weed being prohibited - cops are relaxed and calm in everything related to cannabis, with some rare exceptions.

What if I get caught with marijuana in Istanbul?

In fact, according to Olaf - if you have less than 10g of weed or 5g of hash and behave correctly + do not smoke joints in public - nothing critical should happen. Cops will check if you are not intending to sell the stuff being a real dealer, they should just confiscate weed after a short talk.

People say sometimes police officers try to get some material benefits from catching you with weed in Istanbul. These stories are rare, but mind that some cops may force you giving them some money to leave you alone. But never try to offer them anything yourself, this may be treated as a separate crime. Easier just to watch your back not not get caught with weed in Istanbul.

Frequently asked questions about weed and hash in Istanbul

Is weed and hash legal in Istanbul?

No, cannabis with high THC is not legal in Istanbul, while police officers and locals are relaxed about cannabis and having less than 10 grams with you should lead to arrest.

What if I get caught with cannabis in my pocket in Istanbul?

Officers will check if you are a tourist or a real dealer who delivers weed. Usually tourists with small packs of hash or weed are not touched, only dealers should worry. While anyway better to avoid any interactions with cops.

May I buy weed in parks of Istanbul?

Yes you may, while this is oldschool way already and a lot of dealers are shifting to online orders, but searching parks and streets may still give you some results. While much easier would be to find dealer’s contacts and order online with further delivery.

Weed and hash pricing in Istanbul?

Prices may vary from one dealer to another and depends on weed quality and dealer’s greediness😂From what I heard from Olaf - high quality weed may go up to $20 - $25 for 1g (the more you buy the cheaper price you get), and high quality hash should be around $30 - $35 for 1g.

Can I find top quality weed in Istanbul?

Yes, while quality may differ, it depends on many factors. Usually quality depends on the price, but this is not a rule.

Can I find hash in Istanbul?

Yes, almost all cannabis dealers sell both weed and hash, so hash is also popular and can be found in Istanbul.

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