Manchester

Law Enforcement

“You get an on-the-spot warning and they nick your stash, bastards.” That was the expectation for an adult with a small amount. Prior warnings or suspicion of dealing made things more serious. And if the police thought you’d smoked before driving, you were in for trouble. Take public transport instead.

The account below comes from the period when cannabis was being moved to Class C. The newer Marijuana Laws section reflects the later return to Class B and the separate rules for prescribed cannabis.

Where to Buy Marijuana

Manchester had plenty of hash. For bud, there were the student areas downtown and Piccadilly Gardens, a two-minute walk or one tram stop from Piccadilly Station. Near the big statue, benches and phone boxes, two or three groups might hang around most of the day and night. Make eye contact and you might hear “How much?”

Street sellers usually offered eighths, with bigger amounts harder to get unless you were a regular. Look at what’s in the bag. The kids in baseball caps and shell suits had a reputation for selling oregano.

Marijuana Prices

• Medium-quality cannabis: £18–£20 per eighth-ounce.
• Higher-end skunk: up to £30 per eighth-ounce.
• Hash: approximately £15 per eighth-ounce.

A “street eighth” of good skunk could mean about two grams for £20. Soap bar was cheaper, about £15 for three grams, “but there is a reason :)”

Types of Marijuana

Strong hydro was around, alongside weaker weed and hash.

United Kingdom, UTC/GMT+1 as recorded, calling code +44 and Manchester area code 161.

A student city after dark

“I'm a student in Manchester, and ever since I came here I've been smoking a lot,” said a young man calling himself Bob. “Every day I get very stoned!” His enthusiasm matched the original writer's picture of a city powered by students, clubs and live music.

At the time, cannabis was being moved to Class C, alongside tranquilizers and steroids. A government official said senior police saw possession as trivial and expected fewer arrests so officers could focus on serious crime and harder drugs. Dr. Hemp pictured skunk plants everywhere from Home Counties bunkers to empty warehouses in central Manchester. Homegrown Northern Lights, Durban Poison and Purple Haze were being talked up as rivals to the Dutch originals.

Little Amsterdam?

The Dutch Experience opened in September 2001 on Hooper Street in Stockport Village. Police busted it at opening, but it was back in business and going strong when people visited.

“I traveled up from Suffolk and was amazed by the Experience,” said Steve Wallace. A Dutch visitor saw a perfect mix of Amsterdam and Manchester without an extra plane ticket: “Everybody was just sitting back and smoking, just like in Holland. The place is overloaded with people. More coffeeshops need to open soon!”

Holland Hydroponics and Hydrotops were in the basement of the Coliseum shopping center, where people went for growing gear and sometimes for contacts.

Music and munchies

For a band, there was Manchester Academy, the Boardwalk, the Apollo or G-Mex. For a drink, Revolution, Barça or the Swingin’ Sporran. Then duck into the Frog and Bucket and laugh at the comedy after a bowl or two.

When the munchies strike, there’s Rusholme’s Curry Mile. At the time, more than 30 restaurants and takeaways covered everything from flaming curries to honey-filled naan. Tandoori Kitchen, Nasib, Al Noor, Shahenshah and Sangam were favorites. For a weaker stomach there was chicken, a sandwich or fish and chips.

Chinatown was billed as Britain’s biggest outside London. The food cost more but made good munchies if your wallet could take it. Short on change? Eastern Delight, Yang Sing and Win Wah were the suggestions.