Kiev

Law Enforcement

Kyiv police were described as tolerant in some encounters. US$50 was the figure mentioned for a bribe involving about two joints.

Where to Buy Marijuana

Good bud was around in Kyiv, even Amsterdam-quality flower, though some of it was rather dry. Downtown metro stations had a reputation for matchboxes of shake, and sex workers sometimes knew where to find it. Other visitors had the opposite experience near the metro, with little real weed, lots of scams aimed at foreigners and police nearby. Checking the quality first mattered.

A matchbox, or “pocket,” meant about 5 g. The more popular half-box was called “polowina.” It was quoted at US$10–30 and was once described as carrying no criminal risk. See Marijuana Laws for the separate legal overview on unauthorized possession.

Marijuana Prices

• About US$20 per 5 g matchbox of marijuana
• US$10–30 for a half-box in a separate account
• Up to US$20 per gram for hydroponic flower
• Over US$30 per gram for imported Moroccan hash, described as hard to find locally

More Information

Kyiv’s younger crowd had taken to weed, though for plenty of people a drink was still the usual choice. There were lots of Ukrainian growers and some very good flower, with ruderalis often mentioned.

The street vocabulary mixed Ukrainian and Russian. “Chi chasom ne znayete de mozhna namutyt’ doobasa / gashyka?” meant “Do you happen to know where to get weed or hash?” “Skilki koshtuye paket doobasa?” asked the price of a matchbox. “Davayte spochatku pabookhayem a potim poshmalym” meant “Let’s have a drink first, then smoke.” “Shoto ne pryot, dich’ka!” meant the weed was no good.

A hit was napas, benyk or banka. A roach or cigarette was papirosa or papira. “Mozhe kelishnyom?” meant “Mix it with tobacco?” “Khapay druzhe” was “Your turn, buddy,” and “Shya dokurim y poydyom” meant “Let’s finish smoking and go for a walk.”