Cannabis in Arequipa, Peru - my story

Hi there, hustlers 🤝Welcome to my longread about weed in Arequipa, done from my own experience plus some local stories.

As you all know cannabis regulations differ in different countries, so the point of this article is to cover marijuana laws in Arequipa, attitude of police and local inhabitants, weed VS hash availability and price range, my own experience related to weed in Arequipa.

My trip to Arequipa 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 Arequipa without some daily joints. So from the very first day of my stay I started looking for weed…

Weed turnaround rules in Arequipa, Peru

Everybody knows that cannabis with low THC and high CBD is widely used for the treatment, you need only the doctor's prescription. But the realization and keeping of non-medical cannabis is highly controlled by the government of Peru. For you it means that you can't obtain high-level weed in the store, like in Canada.

When I'm traveling, I'm always trying to make new friends. This time I did it on my first evening in Arequipa, I met Joe. He relocated to Arequipa two years ago. As I'm a lucky man - Joe was a good rasta guy and loved weed as much as I am. He shared a joint with me and some points about the local dealers. For the beginning he calmed me down by saying that despite the fact that cannabis is strictly controlled by law and prohibited in Arequipa - police are not so straight at this.

What are the consequences of being caught with marijuana in Arequipa ?

In reality, as Joe pointed out, if you're over 18 and possess fewer than 20 grams of cannabis or 10 grams of hashish and refrain from public consumption, you shouldn't anticipate any legal trouble. At most, law enforcement may seize your belongings once they confirm you're not involved in distribution.

Typically, law enforcement officers do not interfere with foreign tourists who are enjoying their vacation or conducting business trips in Arequipa and contributing to the economy of Peru.

Where can one acquire cannabis in Arequipa?

Although I personally didn't face any issues with obtaining cannabis in Arequipa thanks to Joe, 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 are the person who doesn't want to wait or you vacation in Arequipa is too short for waiting, only the local dealer can save your time and help with weed. Of course, you can just use the familiar way many people find it to wander around the city looking for a stranger who can offer you a small variety of joints for cash. But I think it's not the best manner to waste your time in Arequipa. In our time almost all sellers work online and use cryptocurrency, so walking around the streets may not bring you any results. Now the way of buying cannabis has become more convenient - you get some contact of a dealer, write to him via messenger, choose what you want to buy, pay via crypto and get the delivery to a hotel or previously discussed place. If you don't know any contact of a dealer just ask some barmans or just use google. One more point you should notice that dealers try not to have a personal meeting with the buyer, so the package of weed is just placed in the previously discussed place and you get the photo and GPS tag of the exact place of your purchase.

I was really surprised because I was totally sure that “cash rules the roost”. But now when you can easily convert cryptocurrency to real cash and this point excludes personal meetings thereby, cash started to lose their positions in the drug business. Joe also advised me if you are not familiar with the crypto world, just ask your friends. He was totally sure that everyone nowadays has at least one friend who is close to the crypto and likes smoking as well. So you can just ask him to make the transaction for you. It is absolutely safe for both sides.

Perception of Cannabis Among Residents of Arequipa

It's worth noting that high-THC non-medical cannabis isn't officially available for purchase in licensed cannabis stores in Arequipa, but that doesn't mean the locals are strongly opposed to it 😃. It's primarily the younger crowd and students who openly enjoy cannabis and are open to welcoming new enthusiasts into their social circles. They consider a couple of joints an essential part of a good party, although it might be a bit challenging to fit in if you happen to be over 25.

In general, indulging in the random joint after a long workweek is a cherished tradition among many residents of Arequipa. People tend to be tolerant, so there's no need to worry about judgment when it comes to your cannabis consumption. However, it's advisable to avoid doing so in public to avoid unnecessary attention.

Joe shared with me a small joint of some unknown indica strain that evening, this was exactly what I needed. We were a little bit drunk and were smoking near my hotel directly on the street near trash containers, and it seems I saw other guys doing the same on the opposite side of the street.

One joint is good - but I needed weed for the whole period of my stay in Arequipa , so asked Joe if he could share contacts of his cannabis dealer. The answer was negative, simply because his dealer did not accept new people. But as we became close after the joint - Joe agreed to become my dealer for the nearest days, so all my issues with weed were resolved, thanks to Joe!

Frequently asked questions about weed and hash in Arequipa

Is weed and hash legal in Arequipa?

No, cannabis with high THC is not legal in Arequipa, 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 Arequipa?

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 Arequipa?

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.

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

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

What are the prices for weed and hash in Arequipa?

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 Arequipa, so I'm not sure about the prices for that, but they should generally be lower.

Interesting facts about weed