Cannabis in Ust-Kamenogorsk, Kazakhstan - my story

Hi there, hustlers 🤝Welcome to my longread about weed in Ust-Kamenogorsk, 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 Ust-Kamenogorsk, attitude of police and local inhabitants, weed VS hash availability and price range, my own experience related to weed in Ust-Kamenogorsk.

I have just finished my trip to Ust-Kamenogorsk, stayed there for 10 days, now got back home, writing this post while memory is fresh and with a solid joint in my left hand. As a regular weed smoker I could not imagine my stay in Ust-Kamenogorsk without having some weed in my pocket. Below I will outline information I found out while looking for some good smelly green buds in Ust-Kamenogorsk.

Weed turnaround rules in Ust-Kamenogorsk, Kazakhstan

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 Kazakhstan. 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 Ust-Kamenogorsk, I met Simon. He relocated to Ust-Kamenogorsk two years ago. As I'm a lucky man - Simon 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 Ust-Kamenogorsk - police are not so straight at this.

How not to be arrested with marijuana in Ust-Kamenogorsk?

As Simon told me - for not to be arrested you can carry less than 10g of cannabis or 5g of hash. For the same purpose you should be sane and not use drugs in public places. Cops can just check if you are going to sell marijuana or not and confiscate it.

There are some possibilities that cops could try to get money from you if they catch you with weed in Ust-Kamenogorsk. It is not a frequent story, but you should keep in mind that some cops prefer to force you to pay some money for your calmness. But not to propose money first because it can be regarded as a separate crime. So the easiest way is not to be caught with weed in Ust-Kamenogorsk 😉.

Where can one acquire cannabis in Ust-Kamenogorsk?

Although I personally didn't face any issues with obtaining cannabis in Ust-Kamenogorsk thanks to Simon, 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.

But if you have a short trip to Ust-Kamenogorsk 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 Ust-Kamenogorsk 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 Ust-Kamenogorsk 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 Ust-Kamenogorsk, 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 Ust-Kamenogorsk, 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.

We were a little drunk already when Simon offered a joint of some noname sativa strain, of course I agreed. We were smoking not far from my hotel and it seems I saw other guys doing the same near another cornet 🙂So may say locals are not against weed, I saw this myself.

I liked the weed Simon shared, not the best one I’ve ever tried, but good enough. So I asked Simon to share contacts of his dealer, while he refused telling me his dealer works only with an old trusted set of clients. So I simply asked Simon if he could be my dealer during the nearest days - he agreed. I wish everyone to find his own Simon in Ust-Kamenogorsk🙂

Can I smoke cannabis on the streets in Ust-Kamenogorsk ?

In some places, smoking marijuana in public, on the streets, or in parks may be illegal and subject to administrative sanctions. My advice is to try to avoid smoking marijuana in public places.

What will happen if I get caught with cannabis in Ust-Kamenogorsk ?

Usually, law enforcement tends to be lenient with tourists, and if they don't suspect you of dealing, they will most likely let you go.

Can you recommend a place to buy weed in Ust-Kamenogorsk ?

As I mentioned before, I was fortunate to meet Simon. If I were you, I would look for Telegram channels and avoid interacting with street dealers.

Weed and hash pricing in Ust-Kamenogorsk?

Prices may vary from one dealer to another and depends on weed quality and dealer’s greediness😂From what I heard from Simon - 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 Ust-Kamenogorsk?

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 Ust-Kamenogorsk?

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

Interesting facts about weed

1 - Weed Was The First Online Sale
Of course, it was illegal back then. In the early 1970s, Stanford students bought a bag of weed from MIT students. This means that the first product ever sold online was cannabis!

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 - Shakespeare Smoked Cannabis
Maybe his source of inspiration? Marijuana residues were found in William Shakespeare’s home, which we believe could have been an enormous aid in writing all the screenplays and poems.

4 - Cannabis Can Both Relax & Invigorate You
This mainly depends on the type of strain you use to consume. Indica is more relaxing and sedating, while Sativa is more uplifting and energetic. You can choose either or a mix or both for interesting results!

5 - LA Is Weed Wonderland
Los Angeles, aside from being the city of stars, has more marijuana dispensaries than Starbucks. Welcome to LaLa Land.