First Time in Amsterdam and Limited Smoking Experience

[Untalented]

Hi,

Wife and I are planning a trip to Europe. We're visiting Amsterdam a few days in August and have found a wealth of information here on the site. I just had a few general questions.

1. I'm a very casual smoker and typically am given something directly to smoke. From what I understand I shouldn't buy pre-rolled joints. So if I go to a coffee shop and they give me the weed, do they also give me everything to grind and roll it?

2. I know they are trying to pass this ban on foreigners from entering coffee shops. They are still open to foreigners currently right?

3. Any recommendations on places to go/see for a couple in their 20's?

4. Any other tips for someone less experienced would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks much!

[Mr_Gav]

Have your first joint in the hotel, the last thing you want is to be sat in a busy coffeeshop if it's too strong for you, lol. Don't buy cheapest outdoor weed, just get the good stuff and use small quantities, cheap weed tastes bad.

[Densha]

The proposed ban has been delayed for around 5 years, so no need to worry about that.

Most coffeshops have free rolling paper available at the budtenders stand. They won't provide you with a grinder, it's worth asking though.

Best thing to do in Amsterdam is soak in the atmosphere. Walking around the Jordaan district at sunset would be advisable.

[redeyezman]

Most shops will sell you small weight. This is nice if you want to sample a lot without smoking a lot. Half a gram will give you 2 decent joints.

[matty223]

[quote="redeyezman"]Most shops will sell you small weight. This is nice if you want to sample a lot without smoking a lot. Half a gram will give you 2 decent joints.[/quote

2 decent joint froma 1/2 gram , i would say 1 joint

[Densha]

This type of advice is why casual smokers are having a whitey in coffeeshops regularly. Serious facepalm moment.

[notsofasteddie]

I'll let others make recommendations with regard to specific Coffeeshops. I would just suggest that you let the budtender be your guide and go slowly. Be careful mixing weed and alcohol!

For sights to see, I would recommend Dam Square, Vondel Park, the Amstelkring, and the Van Gogh museum. I would also suggest that you take a tour of the Red Light District. It's a place that doesn't appeal to everybody, but it is a unique component of Amsterdam. I also would suggest that you walk along the canals starting with the Singel and moving out (West) canal by canal. I'm an old fart so I can't make any suggestions concerning the clubs.

As for getting around town, you need to spend some time orienting yourself to the tram system as it is the best way to move from place to place in the city. Learn about the various OV-chipcarts to find the one best suited to your stay. They can save you a lot of money as you move around the city.

[Untalented]

Should we buy a pipe or grinder beforehand then and take with us or how do you typically get it cut up to roll? Thanks for the info on the ban I guess we're safe for our trip then.

This type of advice is why casual smokers are having a whitey in coffeeshops regularly. Serious facepalm moment.

Which comment exactly are you referring to? All the talk about weight and number of joints?

[Badonkadonk]

This type of advice is why casual smokers are having a whitey in coffeeshops regularly. Serious facepalm moment.

This is so true. I have a friend who used to toke heavily, everyday, but then he married and raised a family and quitted smoking completely (ten years ago). However, now he started to smoke again, occasionaly, and all he needs are some puffs of that chronic marijuana. He smokes 0.05-0.1 and that is enough, he gets perfectly stoned!

For someone that is a casual smoker with low tolerance, it is so undertandable to have a whitey from smoking something like half a gram of strong weed in one joint...

[notsofasteddie]

You should have no problem finding supplies in Amsterdam. One place to check out is the Hempshopper. I'm old fashion and lack magic fingers so I use a cigarette rolling machine (Rizla), 1.25 papers, and finger nails for grinding, which works well enough for my joint by joint approach. My finished products aren't pretty, but they are functional. Almost any corner grocery store will have a large section devoted to these kinds of items. Just look for one that is close to your hotel.

[redeyezman]

When I visited I just left a job where I couldn't smoke. I smoke maybe 3 grams a year so my tolerance was very low, and I found that half a gram was the right amount to slowly smoke throughout the day. Roll 2 joints with it and puff on them when you want. Stop when you are high. Eat well at the Irish pub in the entertainment district and you should both be whitey free.

[geekymonkey]

Before I became a serious joint-roller, I would buy a small glass pipe (available at almost every corner, even the shops that sell misc. tourist gear usually have a shelf of glass pipes), a lighter, and a small grinder is optional. (You can totally break the weed up with your fingers, but a grinder is nice.)

Coffee shops all have papers and filters at the counter that you can take for free to roll your gear. Some budtenders have grinders they can lend you. Some coffee shops have bongs and vaporizers that you can use in the shop. (Check out the travelogues for a sense of what's where or ask and people will tell you.)

If a shop is not busy, and the budtender is nice, they will sometimes roll a gram of something that you purchase for you right in front of you, but a full gram joint may be a lot for you at once, you may prefer to roll 1/3-1/2 gram j's yourself.

Paradox and Yo-yo both sell interesting selections of 5E bags, if you want to smoke a wide variety of things.

Have a great time!

Peace,
Geeky

Should we buy a pipe or grinder beforehand then and take with us or how do you typically get it cut up to roll? Thanks for the info on the ban I guess we're safe for our trip then.

Oh, and the best way to avoid having a whitey is to make sure you keep a steady stream of calories going into your body (Eat regularly, get sugary drinks along with your smoke, etc.) If you start feeling lightheaded or queasy- sugar right away even if that seems counter intuitive. Plus some fresh air and some time.

[StonedSince67]

First Time in Amsterdam ... 4. Any other tips for someone less experienced would be greatly appreciated.

welcome to the forum

i just want to double-check that both you and your wife have read the document How not to get hit by a bike from the excellent S G Collins website recommended by FlyByNite

if both of you have already read the document, then thanks, but if not, then please please read before you arrive to ensure your safety in the crazy amsterdam traffic, and thanks

have a great trip ...

[Joshuadrooney]

Hi,

Wife and I are planning a trip to Europe. We're visiting Amsterdam a few days in August and have found a wealth of information here on the site. I just had a few general questions.

1. I'm a very casual smoker and typically am given something directly to smoke. From what I understand I shouldn't buy pre-rolled joints. So if I go to a coffee shop and they give me the weed, do they also give me everything to grind and roll it?

2. I know they are trying to pass this ban on foreigners from entering coffee shops. They are still open to foreigners currently right?

That has been delayed and may not even become law, so no need to worry about that

3. Any recommendations on places to go/see for a couple in their 20's?

4. Any other tips for someone less experienced would be greatly appreciated.


Thanks much!

1) Pre rolled joints can be very good, try one and form your own opinion. I expected the worst and was blown away most times but it is down to the individual.

2) That has been delayed and may not even become law, so no need to worry about that

3) There are loads of museums in Amsterdam, look on TripAdvisor for reviews and listings

As for tips:
- be mindful of your valuables and pickpockets, just as you would in any capital city.
- carry ID with you, as coffeeshops are required to ask for it if you look under 18, and the police will want to see it if they decide to carry out a shop inspection.
- If you have the time, visit a town outside of Amsterdam for the day, such as Haarlem (20 minutes on the train from Centraal station). You will see a different side of the Netherlands, and it's coffeeshop culture (the prices tend to be cheaper too)
- Take Amsterdam for what it is; it's not pretentious like Paris or as modern and clean as Berlin, and the transport system is much, much smaller than any of those cities, but it has so much more energy, life and soul than any other capital you will visit in Europe. Enjoy your trip, and post a travelogue when you are done

Josh

ps: definitely read the link that StonedSince'67 provided, it's full of useful information

[Untalented]

This has all been very helpful thanks a lot.