Buy cannabis in Amsterdam Netherlands

Amsterdam is widely considered the cannabis capital of the world. The city is famous for its coffee shops, which are licensed to sell small amounts of cannabis. Tourists can visit famous coffee shops like The Bulldog, Green House, and Barney’s, which offer a range of cannabis products.

The city also hosts the Cannabis Cup, a famous international event that brings together cannabis enthusiasts from around the world. Amsterdam has been a symbol of cannabis freedom for a few decades already. Long traditions like Cannabis cups and coffee shops created a profile of a city that welcomes tourists from all over the world just because there is no problem smoking weed here. Whether you just want to do some cannabis tasting, or you just like to buy some cannabis seeds to grow at home, Amsterdam is the place to be.

But is it legal?

Is buying and smoking cannabis products in Amsterdam legal? No, and here lies the big misconception. The use and possession of small quantities are tolerated, but this does not mean that smoking in public is legal. The toleration policy just means that the political decision has been taken to not prosecute certain offenses. Simply put, they just took away the profits of cannabis from organized crime and gave them to the coffee shop owners. But still, it is prohibited by law to smoke weed in public (also drinking alcohol in public is not allowed here).

There is a tolerance from the police in Amsterdam to smoke in public now (after so many years of stoned tourists they got used to it). Most of the time they will just give you a standard warning that you should not smoke in the street. Another misconception is that everybody is “Friendly” in Amsterdam. Wrong again. Many locals, if not most of them, just tolerate it or simply don’t care, but that does not mean they share the same values as the stoners. They do not get high and they get annoyed by the stoned crowds of teenagers.

Even though policies by the Dutch government have made a conservative turn, the Cannabis market flourishes in the Netherlands and Amsterdam and is a main point of sale for tourists in the area. This is why there is also a wide variety of strains on offer in coffee shops, to tailor to everybody’s needs and interests.

Amsterdam is, due to its liberal soft drugs policies, known worldwide as the capital of the cannabis culture. The city is notorious and famous for the outright sale, and the free use, of cannabis products. While some experience the coffee shops as an annoying side effect of the Dutch drug policies, others will praise it as an open and tolerant characteristic of the city.

Research by the municipality of Amsterdam shows that about 23% of the tourists who come to Amsterdam will visit a coffee shop during their stay.

Cannabis and coffee shop walking tours

Take an in-depth look into the world of cannabis in Amsterdam. Learn about its legalization and history, and discover the coffee shops that sell the highest quality, cheapest ganja, with cultural and historical discoveries:

• Coffeeshop tour with guide; From €24,00
• Coffee shop walking tour; From €26,50

Coffee Shops

Coffee shops are alcohol-free places where soft drugs (marijuana, hashish, and cannabis) are allowed to be sold and consumed. There are over 160 coffee shops in Amsterdam. Most of them are located in the center of the city.

Top 10 best and most famous coffee shops

1. DampKring, Handboogstraat 29
2. Barney’s, Haarlemmerstraat 10
3. Abraxas, Jonge Roelensteeg 12
4. Bulldog Palace, Leidseplein 17
5. Grey Area, Oude Leliestraat 2
6. Greenhouse, Oudezijds Voorburgwal 191
7. Smokey, Rembrandtplein 24
8. Blue Bird, Sint Antoniesbreestraat 71
9. Amnesia, Herengracht 133
10. Easy Times, Prinsengracht 476

Buying soft drugs

Most coffee shops have a menu. This is often like a book on the bar from which customers can choose from a variety of weed, hash, marijuana, or cannabis. Here you’ll find an overview of the assortment, such as prepared joints, ‘space cakes’, pure weed, and various water pipes. Furthermore, the taste of the product is indicated, and how strong it is.

The following rules apply to coffee shops in Amsterdam:

• Anyone who is at least 18 years of age is allowed to buy and consume cannabis in coffee shops in Amsterdam. The sale of cannabis to persons under 18 is prohibited. To even step inside a coffee shop you must be at least 18 years of age. Also, tourists can still visit coffee shops in Amsterdam. You have to be able to show I.D.
• Sales of large quantities of cannabis to coffee shop customers are prohibited. People may buy up to 5 grams per day.

It is only allowed to buy soft drugs in coffee shops. It is illegal to buy drugs on the street.

Consumption sites

You may smoke your purchased soft drugs both inside and outside the coffee shop. However, inside the coffee shop is the most common – and acceptable place – to smoke cannabis.

Coffee shops should not be confused with the regular catering industry. In hotels, cafes, bars, and restaurants it’s prohibited to use drugs. Although it is very uncommon, the owner of a cafe, bar, or restaurant may allow the use of soft drugs in his/her establishment.