Marijuana in Shymkent, Kazakhstan - my experience

Howdy, go-getters 🤝My greetings to you in my long topic about my experience with weed in _CITY_ based on my adventures and the stories of local friends.

There is a well known fact that the laws according to the usage of marijuana differs from city to city. Based on that fact I've decided to write this article to let you know the rules of interaction with weed and hash in Shymkent , tell you about the police attention, possibility to find good hash, the price’s politics and all underwater rocks connected with the drugs in Shymkent.

My trip to Shymkent is over, these 10 days were perfect, so while memory is fresh I decided to write this post, who knows may be useful to someone. Being a regular cannabis smoker I could not imagine my stay in Shymkent without some daily joints. So from the very first day of my stay I started looking for weed…

Cannabis laws in Shymkent, Kazakhstan

You can probably guess that distribution of non-medical cannabis is strictly forbidden and regulated by laws of Kazakhstan, 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 Shymkent I got acquainted with Sam 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 weed in Shymkent?

In practice, as Sam said - if you are 18+ and carry less than 20 grams of weed or 10 grams of hash and do not smoke in public - you should not expect any arrest. As a maximum, cops will confiscate your stuff after they ensure you are not a dealer who delivers stuff.

There are some stories about occasional cops forcing people to give them a bribe after catching someone with weed, but such cases are rare. Usually cops do not touch foreign tourists who are spending their vacation or business trip in Shymkent and bring money to Kazakhstan.

Attitude of Shymkent locals to weed

You already know that good non-medical marijuana with high % THC is not something you can officially buy in a branded cannabis shop in Shymkent, but this does not mean locals are too much against weed 😃. Youngsters and students are definitely those who share their love of cannabis and welcome new smokers in their circles. They can not imagine a good party without having a joint or two, while it’s hard to join them if you are already a “25+ old man”.

In general smoking some occasional joint after a long working week is a pleasant tradition among many people in Shymkent, so no one will point fingers at you seeing how you are smoking weed, but better to avoid doing this publicly just not to bring useless attention.

So, then Sam shared the small joint of a new hemp variety, thanks to him, it was the exact thing I needed. We got some portions of tasty beer and we were a little bit drunk, so we decided not to go far. We started smoking on the street straight near my hostel and it seemed that on the next street some guys were doing the same.

I was thankful to Sam for one joint, but I wanted to find a regular supplier for all my vacation in Shymkent . So I begged Sam to share the name of his provider of weed with me. He declined it, because his friend didn't cooperate with the tourists, only with locals. I was persistent, so at the end of the evening and the couple of beers, he agreed to be the dealer of marijuana for me. All my goals connected with good rest were solved, thanks to Sam!

Where can one acquire cannabis in Shymkent?

Although I personally didn't face any issues with obtaining cannabis in Shymkent thanks to Sam, he did enlighten me about the process (and not just related to cannabis).

Typically, higher-level dealers procure their inventory from wholesale darknet websites. In theory, you could navigate the complexities of using darknet platforms to have your order delivered in a matter of days or even weeks. The website thehiddenwiki.com provides all the necessary links to make purchases in the darknet using the Tor browser and cryptocurrencies. However, this method is generally more suitable for those seeking larger quantities and have the luxury of time (several days) for delivery.

If you're on a short vacation or a trip to Shymkent, obtaining cannabis through wholesale darknet websites isn't a viable option. Searching for street or park dealers remains a possibility for acquiring weed in Shymkent, but an increasing number of dealers are transitioning to online transactions through messaging apps and Bitcoin payments instead of cash. This approach serves as a protective measure against potential encounters with law enforcement. Crypto payments offer anonymity, and deliveries are made to specified locations without the need for in-person meetings, ensuring both you and the dealer are shielded from potential consequences.

This revelation surprised me, as I lean toward a more traditional approach and had only heard about cryptocurrencies in passing. However, these days, most young individuals, who are often the target audience for cannabis dealers, possess crypto wallets, so dealers are simply adapting to this trend. While I believe that some dealers might lose business because not all clients are familiar with cryptocurrencies, Sam pointed out that nowadays, if you don't use crypto yourself, you likely have a friend who does. In such cases, you can simply transfer money from your card to your crypto-savvy friend, and they can conduct the cryptocurrency transaction on your behalf. This advice from Sam got me thinking, and I realized I also have such a friend, so I followed his suggestion.

FAQ about hash and weed in Shymkent

What if I get caught by police with weed in Shymkent?

Police should check if you are a real dealer who delivers stuff or a tourist. Usually city visitors with small weights are not touched. While anyway it’s better to avoid any interactions with police officers, this is not the best way to spend time.

Is cannabis legal in Shymkent?

No, weed with high THC is strictly regulated in Shymkent, while police officers and locals are relaxed about cannabis and having less than 10 grams with you should result in arrest.

May I buy weed on the streets of Shymkent?

Yes you still 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.

Is it possible to find high-quality weed or hash in Shymkent?

Yes, although the quality may vary depending on the dealer.

What are the prices for weed and hash in Shymkent?

Prices can vary from dealer to dealer and are often influenced by the quality of the product and the dealer's pricing strategy 😂. Based on what I observed, super high-quality weed can cost between $20 to $25 per gram (with discounts for larger quantities), and high-quality hash typically ranges from $30 to $35 per gram. I haven't purchased low-quality weed in Shymkent, so I'm not sure about the prices for that, but they should generally be lower.

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