Silk Road forums
Discussion => Off topic => Topic started by: hellwillbetoasty on June 09, 2013, 11:24 pm
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I recently went on a trip to Europe, and spent a few days in Amsterdam. First off, I am not slamming Amsterdam at all - I loved the city and definitely will be returning. However, I was not that ultra impressed with the quality of the weed at coffeeshops. Although the whole legal smoking thing is such a crazy experience for an American.
Everyone in the US are always JIZZING about amsterdam, how 'the weed must be amazing there, I gotta go there, bla blah blah'.
But honestly, the 'top shelf' stuff I saw (which was fucking expensive, like 13 euro a gram) was not even as good as what I have seen come out of the west coast. In fact, some of the bud that the coffee shop owners showed us to try and impress was just marginal. - not bad by any means, but not that good.
Did I just not know where to look? Or am I correct in saying the the west coast of US has far better bud than anything in Amsterdam?
This is a pointless thread but I am just fucking bored on a sunday and seeing if anyone else feels the same
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Not directly on topic but they kill it by mixing it with tobacco - ugh. Never understood why you would do that, or the argument that pure weed is a "waste".
Would make direct comparisons on quality but it's been awhile since I smoked weed, and comparing smoked Amsterdam mj to vaped mj from anywhere is just not at all fair...
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yea! ^ the first time I went to a coffeeshop I bought on of those 'prerolled joints'
what a waste, more tobacco than weed didn't even get me high. after that I learned to request pure joints...
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One time I grabbed a few pre-rolled and settled in for the evening. mj was the appetizer with shrooms for the main course - shroom tea, shrooms to munch on. So I'm diving in and having a pretty good time when things go all pear-shaped. There's this stabbing sensation of pain hitting my temple, and I'm getting strobe-like visual flashes of a background pattern like wallpaper, intensely bright, and I'm all like WHAT THE FUUU--- Something is seriously off. Then it hits me. It's the goddamn nicotine, ugh. Extremely unpleasant. I wasn't a smoker, so it hit me painfully hard.
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damn sounds awful! especially while on shrooms, ugh sounds like a terrible experience.
on the other hand, shrooms there are cheap as fuck. we walked into a headshop, inquired about them, he simply took us into his basement and sold us like 25 grams for 20 euro.
we asked him 'didn't shrooms recently become illegal here?' he just replied 'yea. but who gives a fuck'? lol great city
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Not directly on topic but they kill it by mixing it with tobacco - ugh. Never understood why you would do that, or the argument that pure weed is a "waste".
Would make direct comparisons on quality but it's been awhile since I smoked weed, and comparing smoked Amsterdam mj to vaped mj from anywhere is just not at all fair...
All the local's where I live love to "spin" their weed (mix it with tobacco). God it pisses me off, then again they know nothing better than "mids" anyways..
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the mixing with tobacco doesn't really bother me since its mostly about personal preference. what really shocked me was that some coffeeshops have weed that obviously was treated with brixx+.
putting your customers health at risk that way is not what i expect from someone who runs a professional business
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I have to agree with the statement that Amsterdam weed is overhyped. Most likely this is due to the fact that many tourists smoke their first join here and well, the first one is one you always remember :) For the connoisseur though most weed will be overpriced (tourist prices) and not great stuff unless you buy the most expensive top shelf bud (I have seen prices of 35 euro a gram for rare strains which is ridiculous).
Outside of the dam there are much nicer deals. Avoid tourist places and you will get to smoke great bud for a good price!
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I have to agree with the statement that Amsterdam weed is overhyped. Most likely this is due to the fact that many tourists smoke their first join here and well, the first one is one you always remember :) For the connoisseur though most weed will be overpriced (tourist prices) and not great stuff unless you buy the most expensive top shelf bud (I have seen prices of 35 euro a gram for rare strains which is ridiculous).
Outside of the dam there are much nicer deals. Avoid tourist places and you will get to smoke great bud for a good price!
35 euro a gram? sweet jesus that's just fucking insane. that's like what, 50 US dollars? my god.
But as an American smoking a legal joint in an establishment is really such a foreign and exciting experience it creates a high of its own, which probably attributes to the hype
yea I suppose that tourism drives the prices up of everything not excluding weed. The sad thing is that a lot of Americans I tell about Amsterdam only ask me some variation of "woooaaah how much weed did you smoke man" and don't know anything else about a very beautiful and historically rich city.
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the mixing with tobacco doesn't really bother me since its mostly about personal preference. what really shocked me was that some coffeeshops have weed that obviously was treated with brixx+.
putting your customers health at risk that way is not what i expect from someone who runs a professional business
wow that's fucked, reminds me of certain dispensaries I know on the West coast of the US that will buy reclaim oil (hash oil resin) from people and sell it as fresh, unsmoked oil....
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Outside of the dam there are much nicer deals. Avoid tourist places and you will get to smoke great bud for a good price!
That's true, Amsterdam is just for the tourists. If you want better weed, just go to surrounding cities.
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Dam weed is very much overhyped , yeah it can be good but Cali weed and Canadian weed put it shame on average .
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shrooms there are cheap as fuck. we walked into a headshop, inquired about them, he simply took us into his basement and sold us like 25 grams for 20 euro.
we asked him 'didn't shrooms recently become illegal here?' he just replied 'yea. but who gives a fuck'? lol great city
Now that's what I like to hear. I was so sad when I heard about the shroom prohibition (which seems crazy to me - I get that most people associate Amsterdam with mj - or prostitutes - but for me it's shrooms all the way). And killer price, too.
There is something to be said for the "coffeeshop" atmosphere - or atmospheres, take your pick. I like it, and wish the gov there liked it too instead of being ashamed of it and trying to restrict the business however possible. That said, it's probably not always fun being the drug tourist destination of choice for loud mouthed frat boy troublemakers. Amsterdam is also a lovely town in its own right if you check out other sides of it (the art galleries - holy shitballs). Shame about the food.
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oh yea, the coffeeshop atmosphere is very amazing and a completely unique, awesome experience
however as an American I was differently treated poorly at some and given looks by locals who were there, I could already tell that as a country we have made a bad impression on them due to as you say 'loud mouthed frat boys' haha
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You'd think that out of all the drugs in the world that weed would be the least pretentious. Why cant we all just chill the fuck out. Smoke a fat ass joint and have a good time?
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Of course it's overhyped. It's just genetics, growing environment and nutrients. We can have the same genetics, lighting, CO2 and nutrients here in the states. What did you expect? Magic weed?
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Exactly! I have a feeling that me and Mr Jack N Hoff would get along well..
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I have to agree with the statement that Amsterdam weed is overhyped. Most likely this is due to the fact that many tourists smoke their first join here and well, the first one is one you always remember :) For the connoisseur though most weed will be overpriced (tourist prices) and not great stuff unless you buy the most expensive top shelf bud (I have seen prices of 35 euro a gram for rare strains which is ridiculous).
Outside of the dam there are much nicer deals. Avoid tourist places and you will get to smoke great bud for a good price!
+1, exactly!
But you don't even have to leave Amsterdam to avoid the tourist places. Ever been to the coffeeshop "Paradox"? It's fucking amazing.
http://www.paradoxcoffeeshop.com/
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The Dutch have the impression (and rightfully so) that American (and British) tourists smoke to get completely wrecked. The locals smoke to get buzzed, and they mix tobacco in the joints to keep it mild. If you want pre rolled without tobacco, ask. Better yet, buy weed that you can inspect first and roll your own. Regarding the quality of the pot, I would agree that most is disappointing, but the good stuff can be found if you go to the right places. Tourist places like the Bulldog or the Grasshopper are not where you want to go, try the Grey Area, Abraxas, De Dampkring, Tweede Kamer, De Kuil (aka cafe 420), and countless others. Of course if the weed becomes tiresome, you can just buy the hash instead.
As others have stated, the unique experience of exploring a beautiful, historic European city like Amsterdam is something that you will never forget. And being able to pop into a coffeeshop for a smoke and a beer while doing so, priceless!
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Not directly on topic but they kill it by mixing it with tobacco - ugh. Never understood why you would do that, or the argument that pure weed is a "waste".
Would make direct comparisons on quality but it's been awhile since I smoked weed, and comparing smoked Amsterdam mj to vaped mj from anywhere is just not at all fair...
Smoking it with tobacco helps it burn better in my opinion.
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the mixing with tobacco doesn't really bother me since its mostly about personal preference. what really shocked me was that some coffeeshops have weed that obviously was treated with brixx+.
putting your customers health at risk that way is not what i expect from someone who runs a professional business
What is Brixx+ ? Is it some kind of spray that makes the weed look better/weigh more ?
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California has the best weed in the world. (EDIT: I should have said INVENTS the best. Anyone can grow it of course as Jack N Hoff pointed out)
Amsterdam doesn't even come close.
Here is an article I found pretty interesting from the harborside health center (currently the biggest weed shop in the world) that discusses some of the revolutions in the Cali MJ industry in the past 10 years or so.
Beginning in the 1960s with the legendary Panama Red, and continuing through the '70s and '80s with Thai Sticks, Colombian Gold, Afghani Hashish and California Sinsimillia, there are trends in cannabis buying just as in other forms of commerce. The 1990s brought strain-specific cannabis like Skunk #1 and White Widow from Holland. These strains had originally come from the U.S. to Holland in the 1980s, where the climate for cannabis breeding was much more relaxed. The Dutch strains were the beginning of the modern cannabis market as we know it. When voters passed Prop 215 in 1996 and the first dispensaries opened in San Francisco, Berkeley and Oakland, choices were somewhat limited to White Widow, Blue Dot, Northern Lights and a small variety of unknown strains. Sixteen years later, the variety of cannabis available now boggles the mind.
White Widow was one of the early popular strains. Whether this was due to its ubiquitous availability or its powerful uplifting effects is hard to say. The Widow fad lasted from the late '90s to the early part of the 21st century. The next trend was Trainwreck, which hit the medical scene just like a train wreck in about 2003. Medical patients and dispensaries couldn't get enough Trainwreck to supply the demand. Everybody wanted the "wreck." Growers all over the Bay and state started growing this sought-after strain to supply the demand. Within a relatively short time the amount of Trainwreck available exceeded the demand. The medical cannabis industry had seen its first of many boom/bust cycles involving a specific strain.
The next wave was a monster. Who ever knew that cannabis could be purple? The Purps-specifically, Grand Daddy-slammed into the Bay like a tsunami. The year 2003 brought Grand Daddy Purple, a.k.a. GDP, to the medical cannabis industry looking for something different. Within a short time there were hip-hop artists name-checking GDP. This led to a massive explosion in popularity. The demand for Purple in 2004-2005 so far exceeded the supply that dispensaries would pay up to $5000 per pound for the coveted flowers. By the time Harborside Health Center opened in 2006, GDP, Purple Erkle, Purple Kush and just about anything Purple ruled the East Bay like a kindly and well-medicated king. In Oakland and certainly at Harborside Heath Center, GDP continues its position of prominence nearly six years in. Many of our patients find continued effective relief from a variety of conditions from these noble, Purple strains.
One of the goals set from the beginning of Harborside Health Center was to diversify the genetic pool. Our clone department worked tirelessly to bring new and original landrace strains to patients; the sheer diversity of our selection is a testament to the success of this work. What subsequent strain would dominate? This time the next wave would roll in from an unlikely place-Los Angeles.
Beginning in 2006 people started talking about this strain from the South. OG Kush was the name and it rolled in like a rogue wave. The clones were so rare then, they fetched very high prices. Was the herb really that good? Well, yes! OG, as anyone who smokes it knows, is powerful medicine. Harborside Health Center began to see little bits in 2007. Most of the OG grown in the Bay at the time sold for inflated sums per pound. Eventually, as more clones got around, prices dropped and it became more readily available. We worked hard to convince vendors to bring their OG to Harborside so patients in the North could experience the sour Pine-Sol funk of this extraordinary strain. OG has also shown staying power similar to GDP; these two strains continue to be top choices at Harborside Health Center.
The latest fad-after we've passed through Sour Diesel and Blue Dream, both of which remain popular but not titanic-is the "Cookies." This strain is a cross of Cherry Pie Kush (OG Kush x Purple Kush x Durban Poison) and OG Kush. Patients drive many miles to any dispensaries fortunate enough to have this strain, which has gained popularity in the last year. It took a short while but in the last few months Harborside Health Center has seen a steady supply. Not daily, but usually weekly, you will see the Cookies on our menu.
What's next? Who knows! That's one of the wonderful aspects of working in the medical cannabis industry. The passion and dedication of the breeders and growers is limitless, as is the amazing variety this incredible plant can express.
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+1, exactly!
But you don't even have to leave Amsterdam to avoid the tourist places. Ever been to the coffeeshop "Paradox"? It's fucking amazing.
http://www.paradoxcoffeeshop.com/
Paradox is the best coffeeshop in Amsterdam. Great burgers.
One of the real joys of NL (apart from the obvious thing about being able to smoke openly in public) is the selection of foreign, traditionally grown weeds and hashes. You can get modern bud everywhere, and yes there is great bud in NL and lots of mediocre bud too.
But the best thing about NL is to be able to go into a coffeeshop like Paradox and be able to ask yourself "hmm shall I have some Thai sativa today, or perhaps some Indian charas. The Moroccan pollen could be good, but ah yeah I know, I'll go for the yellow Leb."
There's nowhere else in the world you can do that.
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^ yea that was beautiful, the hash was definitely what I enjoyed the most in amsterdamn
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All weed is overhyped.
Weed is a mediocre drug.
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You'd think that out of all the drugs in the world that weed would be the least pretentious. Why cant we all just chill the fuck out. Smoke a fat ass joint and have a good time?
yea I won't deny that I'm a pot snob but after you smoke for a certain period of time it isn't even worth your time to bother w/ anything less than the goods when it comes to pot...wouldn't call it being pretentious
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I have not been to Amsterdam for 2 years- things may have changed even more so than I've seen in the last 5. However, there is still plenty of good weed there, and as someone else mentioned, the fact that you can smoke in public, commonly, etc.... Waking up, rolling a j laced w/ hash, eating space cake & drinking cappuccino...in a beautiful, quaint city no less, is a great experience. the windows, legal truffles, and night life scene also help paint the picture of paradise for people on these forums...
Anyway, here is my personal list of the best coffee shops. it's easy to stumble upon a tourist coffee shop and get a disgusting(imo), weak, spliff.
Paradox
The Grey Area *
Old Church COffee Shop
Katsu
Abraxas
de kuil
Tweede Kamer
Amnesia
Dampkring
free i
kadinsky
I hope I can travel back before Amsterdam is tarnished for good
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Europe in general doesn't have the genetics that American and Canada do. America is the king of creating strains at the moment and all the crazy cross straining is happening there. Amsterdam in particular is so expensive and they are full of shit. Best going to Copenhagen, Austria, Germany, Spain, Morocco, imo.
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Europe in general doesn't have the genetics that American and Canada do. America is the king of creating strains at the moment and all the crazy cross straining is happening there. Amsterdam in particular is so expensive and they are full of shit. Best going to Copenhagen, Austria, Germany, Spain, Morocco, imo.
I think you're right. I've heard (rumors, not factual information) that very, very little of the cannabis breeding actually takes place in NL. Many of the serious European breeders are in Austria, Spain and Germany. The Czech Republic also has a rapidly growing and very auspicious cannabis scene.
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I think its overhyped aswell. Dont waste your money, grow your own weed, there are tons of good sources for amazing seeds ;)
If you visit Dam anyway, i recommend Barney's.
http://www.barneys.biz/?s=coffeeshop
try the strain LSD ;) http://www.barneysfarm.com/?l=en&i=18
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Europe in general doesn't have the genetics that American and Canada do. America is the king of creating strains at the moment and all the crazy cross straining is happening there. Amsterdam in particular is so expensive and they are full of shit. Best going to Copenhagen, Austria, Germany, Spain, Morocco, imo.
I think you're right. I've heard (rumors, not factual information) that very, very little of the cannabis breeding actually takes place in NL. Many of the serious European breeders are in Austria, Spain and Germany. The Czech Republic also has a rapidly growing and very auspicious cannabis scene.
Yes I forgot to mention Czech Republic which is the European capital for cannabis research and also the current home of Rick Simpson. I would recommend anyone visiting Europe to go to these countries above Amsterdam.
And you're correct about NL not growing their own strains. The big seed breeders rent land from farmers in Chaouen, Morocco where the laws are laxed and the climate is perfect. And also the countries you've mentioned.
All in all you can find much nicer/ cleaner cities in Europe to visit for cheaper and better weed.
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No i reckon it is not over hyped. Sure there are some tourist orientated shops that are but there are some great places with great bud and prices.
the way i always explain it to people that have never been is this.
It's not some magical land where Bud is somehow better, bud can be grown anywhere , what would make it better just because it was grown in amsterdam? It's the fact that because of the leniency etc they grow it well, dry it well and cure it even better. The result is an amazing smoke. They cure it for 2 weeks minimum after it has been dried for the same period beforehand.
The bud really is good if you go to the right places. next time i go im defo stealth packaging myself a good few g's home.
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Europe in general doesn't have the genetics that American and Canada do. America is the king of creating strains at the moment and all the crazy cross straining is happening there. Amsterdam in particular is so expensive and they are full of shit. Best going to Copenhagen, Austria, Germany, Spain, Morocco, imo.
this is the conclusion I inevitably have come up with, and I would say the europe pot vendors accurately represent this...higher prices and lower - quality (at least it looks so in the pictures)
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North America does have a very good reputation for growing and breeding.
I do think there is excellent bud to be found in Europe/UK though. In general in the UK I think we're less interested in new strains and pushing the boundaries of breeding. I know plenty of dealers who don't bother to mention strain names when they're selling. They probably do know what strain they're selling (though maybe not sometimes) - it just isn't necessarily information they feel they need to pass on to the majority of their customers, most of whom just call it 'skunk' and don't really care beyond that.
I wonder if this is because we have a long tradition of importing hashish, where strain is irrelevant. Some of the best smoke in Europe isn't bud/weed at all - it's traditional hash and it comes to us from all over the Middle East and Asia.
I don't say this to offend anyone - I know bud is good etc etc - but in my circle of friends at least really strong buds are seen as a bit of a kid's smoke. Hash is generally preferred, though there's definitely some crap hash around too like soap bar, and then lots of commercial grade from Morocco which is OK but not that great.
In my opinion a good charas from the Himalayas beats any bud in the world for flavour and character though!
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North America does have a very good reputation for growing and breeding.
I do think there is excellent bud to be found in Europe/UK though. In general in the UK I think we're less interested in new strains and pushing the boundaries of breeding. I know plenty of dealers who don't bother to mention strain names when they're selling. They probably do know what strain they're selling (though maybe not sometimes) - it just isn't necessarily information they feel they need to pass on to the majority of their customers, most of whom just call it 'skunk' and don't really care beyond that.
I wonder if this is because we have a long tradition of importing hashish, where strain is irrelevant. Some of the best smoke in Europe isn't bud/weed at all - it's traditional hash and it comes to us from all over the Middle East and Asia.
I don't say this to offend anyone - I know bud is good etc etc - but in my circle of friends at least really strong buds are seen as a bit of a kid's smoke. Hash is generally preferred, though there's definitely some crap hash around too like soap bar, and then lots of commercial grade from Morocco which is OK but not that great.
In my opinion a good charas from the Himalayas beats any bud in the world for flavour and character though!
This is an excellent way of explaining it, +1 to you! I totally agree, all the brown lovers I know tend to be older and smoking far longer than the green lovers (unless the older peeps are American). This is exactly spot on dude and I totally agree that good hash trumps good weed. It's the glorious smoke of the summer with good company, good weather and good booze. Proper UK back in the time lol
I'm going to remember this everytime someone tells me they prefer green over brown... It's explained by the number of years the person has been smoking. Priceless. (althought I agree our us counterparts will not understand this)
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High five Sharon!
Don't get me wrong though, I do fully accept that there's great skill and knowledge in breeding and growing good buds, and our North American friends are very, very good at it.
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North America does have a very good reputation for growing and breeding.
I do think there is excellent bud to be found in Europe/UK though. In general in the UK I think we're less interested in new strains and pushing the boundaries of breeding. I know plenty of dealers who don't bother to mention strain names when they're selling. They probably do know what strain they're selling (though maybe not sometimes) - it just isn't necessarily information they feel they need to pass on to the majority of their customers, most of whom just call it 'skunk' and don't really care beyond that.
I wonder if this is because we have a long tradition of importing hashish, where strain is irrelevant. Some of the best smoke in Europe isn't bud/weed at all - it's traditional hash and it comes to us from all over the Middle East and Asia.
I don't say this to offend anyone - I know bud is good etc etc - but in my circle of friends at least really strong buds are seen as a bit of a kid's smoke. Hash is generally preferred, though there's definitely some crap hash around too like soap bar, and then lots of commercial grade from Morocco which is OK but not that great.
In my opinion a good charas from the Himalayas beats any bud in the world for flavour and character though!
This is an excellent way of explaining it, +1 to you! I totally agree, all the brown lovers I know tend to be older and smoking far longer than the green lovers (unless the older peeps are American). This is exactly spot on dude and I totally agree that good hash trumps good weed. It's the glorious smoke of the summer with good company, good weather and good booze. Proper UK back in the time lol
I'm going to remember this everytime someone tells me they prefer green over brown... It's explained by the number of years the person has been smoking. Priceless. (althought I agree our us counterparts will not understand this)
I think that part of the disconnect comes from something else mentioned in this thread- Europeans tend to mix their weed/hash with tobacco. I personally find that disgusting since I hate tobacco but if I were to be of that mentality then I would probably opt for hash as well.
When smoked in pure form, I would always opt for green over hash. It just tastes so much better and the smoke is so much less harsh. And yes I am older and have been a smoker for quite a long time. Have tried hash in amsterdam, UK, barcelona, and plenty of hash from the medicinal shops all over Cali but just not my cup of tea.
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It's all good. It's not like I'd refuse a skunk spliff if someone offered one to me.
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It's all good. It's not like I'd refuse a skunk spliff if someone offered one to me.
I would most of the time. 8)
I don't like joints because they smell/taste harsh like paper in much the same way I don't like the hash because of the different taste/smell.
Pretty much only glass or vapor is the way I enjoy my green.
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I recently went on a trip to Europe, and spent a few days in Amsterdam. First off, I am not slamming Amsterdam at all - I loved the city and definitely will be returning. However, I was not that ultra impressed with the quality of the weed at coffeeshops. Although the whole legal smoking thing is such a crazy experience for an American.
Everyone in the US are always JIZZING about amsterdam, how 'the weed must be amazing there, I gotta go there, bla blah blah'.
But honestly, the 'top shelf' stuff I saw (which was fucking expensive, like 13 euro a gram) was not even as good as what I have seen come out of the west coast. In fact, some of the bud that the coffee shop owners showed us to try and impress was just marginal. - not bad by any means, but not that good.
Did I just not know where to look? Or am I correct in saying the the west coast of US has far better bud than anything in Amsterdam?
This is a pointless thread but I am just fucking bored on a sunday and seeing if anyone else feels the same
There are a lot of coffee shops that are oriented for tourists--mid grade weed/hash. It's like any other retail service, quality is highly variable.
The Grey Area typically stocks with Cannabis Cup winners, along with their own strains (Americans own it). There are a few other places throughout Amsterdam that are top notch. You get to know the city, and the decent coffee shops. I can't remember all the places I went, but only a hand full out of the 20-30 coffee shops I visited were superb.
Overall, the love Americans have for Amsterdam is the legality over Cannabis and psychedelics. Personally, the history and culture of Amsterdam is breathtaking.
Peace.
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North America does have a very good reputation for growing and breeding.
I do think there is excellent bud to be found in Europe/UK though. In general in the UK I think we're less interested in new strains and pushing the boundaries of breeding. I know plenty of dealers who don't bother to mention strain names when they're selling. They probably do know what strain they're selling (though maybe not sometimes) - it just isn't necessarily information they feel they need to pass on to the majority of their customers, most of whom just call it 'skunk' and don't really care beyond that.
I wonder if this is because we have a long tradition of importing hashish, where strain is irrelevant. Some of the best smoke in Europe isn't bud/weed at all - it's traditional hash and it comes to us from all over the Middle East and Asia.
I don't say this to offend anyone - I know bud is good etc etc - but in my circle of friends at least really strong buds are seen as a bit of a kid's smoke. Hash is generally preferred, though there's definitely some crap hash around too like soap bar, and then lots of commercial grade from Morocco which is OK but not that great.
In my opinion a good charas from the Himalayas beats any bud in the world for flavour and character though!
This is an excellent way of explaining it, +1 to you! I totally agree, all the brown lovers I know tend to be older and smoking far longer than the green lovers (unless the older peeps are American). This is exactly spot on dude and I totally agree that good hash trumps good weed. It's the glorious smoke of the summer with good company, good weather and good booze. Proper UK back in the time lol
I'm going to remember this everytime someone tells me they prefer green over brown... It's explained by the number of years the person has been smoking. Priceless. (althought I agree our us counterparts will not understand this)
I think that part of the disconnect comes from something else mentioned in this thread- Europeans tend to mix their weed/hash with tobacco. I personally find that disgusting since I hate tobacco but if I were to be of that mentality then I would probably opt for hash as well.
When smoked in pure form, I would always opt for green over hash. It just tastes so much better and the smoke is so much less harsh. And yes I am older and have been a smoker for quite a long time. Have tried hash in amsterdam, UK, barcelona, and plenty of hash from the medicinal shops all over Cali but just not my cup of tea.
We were talking more about the divide of hash and weed users within the UK. On a cultural level though I think you're right to an extent, I did start smoking joints with tobaccy and hash. I have since given up cigarettes and I vape my hash in a volcano baby 8) Shit is awesome and doesn't knock me the fuck out like weed does (because it's always high grade weed these days, I'll happily take mid grade anyday).
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North America does have a very good reputation for growing and breeding.
I do think there is excellent bud to be found in Europe/UK though. In general in the UK I think we're less interested in new strains and pushing the boundaries of breeding. I know plenty of dealers who don't bother to mention strain names when they're selling. They probably do know what strain they're selling (though maybe not sometimes) - it just isn't necessarily information they feel they need to pass on to the majority of their customers, most of whom just call it 'skunk' and don't really care beyond that.
I wonder if this is because we have a long tradition of importing hashish, where strain is irrelevant. Some of the best smoke in Europe isn't bud/weed at all - it's traditional hash and it comes to us from all over the Middle East and Asia.
I don't say this to offend anyone - I know bud is good etc etc - but in my circle of friends at least really strong buds are seen as a bit of a kid's smoke. Hash is generally preferred, though there's definitely some crap hash around too like soap bar, and then lots of commercial grade from Morocco which is OK but not that great.
In my opinion a good charas from the Himalayas beats any bud in the world for flavour and character though!
This is an excellent way of explaining it, +1 to you! I totally agree, all the brown lovers I know tend to be older and smoking far longer than the green lovers (unless the older peeps are American). This is exactly spot on dude and I totally agree that good hash trumps good weed. It's the glorious smoke of the summer with good company, good weather and good booze. Proper UK back in the time lol
I'm going to remember this everytime someone tells me they prefer green over brown... It's explained by the number of years the person has been smoking. Priceless. (althought I agree our us counterparts will not understand this)
I think that part of the disconnect comes from something else mentioned in this thread- Europeans tend to mix their weed/hash with tobacco. I personally find that disgusting since I hate tobacco but if I were to be of that mentality then I would probably opt for hash as well.
When smoked in pure form, I would always opt for green over hash. It just tastes so much better and the smoke is so much less harsh. And yes I am older and have been a smoker for quite a long time. Have tried hash in amsterdam, UK, barcelona, and plenty of hash from the medicinal shops all over Cali but just not my cup of tea.
We were talking more about the divide of hash and weed users within the UK. On a cultural level though I think you're right to an extent, I did start smoking joints with tobaccy and hash. I have since given up cigarettes and I vape my hash in a volcano baby 8) Shit is awesome and doesn't knock me the fuck out like weed does (because it's always high grade weed these days, I'll happily take mid grade anyday).
see im the opposite, I smoke to get blazed, High quality cured fruity bud is all im after i wouldn't even get high on any mid grade gear.
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see im the opposite, I smoke to get blazed, High quality cured fruity bud is all im after i wouldn't even get high on any mid grade gear.
Yah seriously fuck mid grade weed. Headache city. And seeds!
I havent smoked that since high school.
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see im the opposite, I smoke to get blazed, High quality cured fruity bud is all im after i wouldn't even get high on any mid grade gear.
Yah seriously fuck mid grade weed. Headache city. And seeds!
I havent smoked that since high school.
yea fuck mids, gives me a headache
as for hash vs weed when we are talking about bubble hash, well that shits gets me blasssted...but in a weird more clear headed way than regular weed
dabbing, however, just skyrockets me into a nice very sedating high
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North America does have a very good reputation for growing and breeding.
I do think there is excellent bud to be found in Europe/UK though. In general in the UK I think we're less interested in new strains and pushing the boundaries of breeding. I know plenty of dealers who don't bother to mention strain names when they're selling. They probably do know what strain they're selling (though maybe not sometimes) - it just isn't necessarily information they feel they need to pass on to the majority of their customers, most of whom just call it 'skunk' and don't really care beyond that.
I wonder if this is because we have a long tradition of importing hashish, where strain is irrelevant. Some of the best smoke in Europe isn't bud/weed at all - it's traditional hash and it comes to us from all over the Middle East and Asia.
I don't say this to offend anyone - I know bud is good etc etc - but in my circle of friends at least really strong buds are seen as a bit of a kid's smoke. Hash is generally preferred, though there's definitely some crap hash around too like soap bar, and then lots of commercial grade from Morocco which is OK but not that great.
In my opinion a good charas from the Himalayas beats any bud in the world for flavour and character though!
This is an excellent way of explaining it, +1 to you! I totally agree, all the brown lovers I know tend to be older and smoking far longer than the green lovers (unless the older peeps are American). This is exactly spot on dude and I totally agree that good hash trumps good weed. It's the glorious smoke of the summer with good company, good weather and good booze. Proper UK back in the time lol
I'm going to remember this everytime someone tells me they prefer green over brown... It's explained by the number of years the person has been smoking. Priceless. (althought I agree our us counterparts will not understand this)
I think that part of the disconnect comes from something else mentioned in this thread- Europeans tend to mix their weed/hash with tobacco. I personally find that disgusting since I hate tobacco but if I were to be of that mentality then I would probably opt for hash as well.
When smoked in pure form, I would always opt for green over hash. It just tastes so much better and the smoke is so much less harsh. And yes I am older and have been a smoker for quite a long time. Have tried hash in amsterdam, UK, barcelona, and plenty of hash from the medicinal shops all over Cali but just not my cup of tea.
We were talking more about the divide of hash and weed users within the UK. On a cultural level though I think you're right to an extent, I did start smoking joints with tobaccy and hash. I have since given up cigarettes and I vape my hash in a volcano baby 8) Shit is awesome and doesn't knock me the fuck out like weed does (because it's always high grade weed these days, I'll happily take mid grade anyday).
Isn't hash almost purely indica, especially from the Middle East? I'm not sure if I want near-pure indicas all the time; one of the amazing things about high grade pot is that you can tell the difference between strains.
As to the OP, I can think of a few reasons why this may be the case:
1) They can produce it en masse; the more you can push, the more money you can make. For a variety of reasons, once legalization occurs, quality goes down, primarily because there's more of an urge to produce product in quantity.
2) Most people go to Amsterdam for the freedom of being high as well. If people wanted the best hash, they'd go to Afghanistan, but there laws inhibit this. Why should I shell out my top grade bud when most tourists are going to be excited to just see weed in a store without cops patrolling?
3) They don't only sell weed. As they diversify their products, they tend less to the individual product.
4) There's less demand for strains. People want to get high in general; I'd wager that a good 85% of pot smokers don't even know that different strains produce different effects. Some people think that Sativas are "laced" due to there energetic and trippy character, for example.
I don't agree with the sentiment of "Americans smoke to get fucked up." Sure, that could be true, but it isn't an explanation as quality anything will last longer.
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North America does have a very good reputation for growing and breeding.
I do think there is excellent bud to be found in Europe/UK though. In general in the UK I think we're less interested in new strains and pushing the boundaries of breeding. I know plenty of dealers who don't bother to mention strain names when they're selling. They probably do know what strain they're selling (though maybe not sometimes) - it just isn't necessarily information they feel they need to pass on to the majority of their customers, most of whom just call it 'skunk' and don't really care beyond that.
I wonder if this is because we have a long tradition of importing hashish, where strain is irrelevant. Some of the best smoke in Europe isn't bud/weed at all - it's traditional hash and it comes to us from all over the Middle East and Asia.
I don't say this to offend anyone - I know bud is good etc etc - but in my circle of friends at least really strong buds are seen as a bit of a kid's smoke. Hash is generally preferred, though there's definitely some crap hash around too like soap bar, and then lots of commercial grade from Morocco which is OK but not that great.
In my opinion a good charas from the Himalayas beats any bud in the world for flavour and character though!
This is an excellent way of explaining it, +1 to you! I totally agree, all the brown lovers I know tend to be older and smoking far longer than the green lovers (unless the older peeps are American). This is exactly spot on dude and I totally agree that good hash trumps good weed. It's the glorious smoke of the summer with good company, good weather and good booze. Proper UK back in the time lol
I'm going to remember this everytime someone tells me they prefer green over brown... It's explained by the number of years the person has been smoking. Priceless. (althought I agree our us counterparts will not understand this)
I think that part of the disconnect comes from something else mentioned in this thread- Europeans tend to mix their weed/hash with tobacco. I personally find that disgusting since I hate tobacco but if I were to be of that mentality then I would probably opt for hash as well.
When smoked in pure form, I would always opt for green over hash. It just tastes so much better and the smoke is so much less harsh. And yes I am older and have been a smoker for quite a long time. Have tried hash in amsterdam, UK, barcelona, and plenty of hash from the medicinal shops all over Cali but just not my cup of tea.
We were talking more about the divide of hash and weed users within the UK. On a cultural level though I think you're right to an extent, I did start smoking joints with tobaccy and hash. I have since given up cigarettes and I vape my hash in a volcano baby 8) Shit is awesome and doesn't knock me the fuck out like weed does (because it's always high grade weed these days, I'll happily take mid grade anyday).
Isn't hash almost purely indica, especially from the Middle East? I'm not sure if I want near-pure indicas all the time; one of the amazing things about high grade pot is that you can tell the difference between strains.
As to the OP, I can think of a few reasons why this may be the case:
1) They can produce it en masse; the more you can push, the more money you can make. For a variety of reasons, once legalization occurs, quality goes down, primarily because there's more of an urge to produce product in quantity.
2) Most people go to Amsterdam for the freedom of being high as well. If people wanted the best hash, they'd go to Afghanistan, but there laws inhibit this. Why should I shell out my top grade bud when most tourists are going to be excited to just see weed in a store without cops patrolling?
3) They don't only sell weed. As they diversify their products, they tend less to the individual product.
4) There's less demand for strains. People want to get high in general; I'd wager that a good 85% of pot smokers don't even know that different strains produce different effects. Some people think that Sativas are "laced" due to there energetic and trippy character, for example.
I don't agree with the sentiment of "Americans smoke to get fucked up." Sure, that could be true, but it isn't an explanation as quality anything will last longer.
yea this was a wonderful breakdown of the question I posed at the beginning of this topic +1 to you
and yea, Americans smoke good pot just like most of the rest of the modern world for the same reasons; TO GET HIGH!!! if you put it in the terms 'just to get fucked up' it makes it sound like us atrocious, uncultured, frat boy party animal americans just want to go to amsterdam and get out oof our minds as possible.
though they may ring partially true in some cases, this gross stereotyping of americans needs to fucking stop. how about obnoxious fuckheads from other countries? I have some fuckin' stories about some DOUCHEBAG canadians lemme tell ya just to start...
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While amsterdam was the trailblazer of commercialized weed, it is falling behind due to the limitations place on it for international tourists and their lack of development of new strains. They seem to always go with the classic strains and growing techniques (although they are starting to move along now to catch up). The marijuana boom in the western U.S. has blown weed into a new stratosphere because of the amount of people interested and experimenting with new strains, growing techniques, and the fact that they have millions of critics. Just an opinion, LOVE amsterdam still. It thrives in other categories than weed :)