Weed in Moscow

Get marijuana in Moscow, Russia. Moscow is a lovely and historic city with great architecture and a vibrant nightlife. Exploring Moscow with a little marijuana may sound like a good idea, but due to Russia’s severe cannabis laws, you could get in trouble if you have too much. For more information, continue reading on how to get cannabis/weed in Moscow.

Cannabis laws in Russia

Russia, like the majority of Eastern European countries, has severe cannabis prohibitions. This means that if you have less than 6 grams of marijuana and 3 grams of hashish in your possession, you will not face criminal charges, but you may face a fine. Carrying more is deemed to be in excess of personal possessions, and it could get you into a lot more difficulty. Despite this, when purchasing or using marijuana, you should exercise extreme caution and discretion. In Russia, the overall attitude toward drugs is quite conservative, and if you do smoke, locals and cops will not welcome it.

Where to get weed in Moscow

There aren’t as many weed dealers in Moscow as there are in other European countries. It can be tough to obtain marijuana as a foreigner. Looking for young folks and asking them for cannabis is your best bet. People smoking can easily be found in clubs, especially the more alternative ones; simply approach them and inquire. Look for young people in parks; they are typically more amenable to the notion of smoking and can communicate in English.
Expect to pay between 15-20 euros per gram in Moscow, as weed is more plentiful than in most other cities.

Cannabis laws in Russia

Russia’s government takes a tough stance on possession or use of cannabis. Both are illegal, in accordance with Article 228 of the country’s Criminal Code, and are punishable with a fine and/or a prison sentence. Since 2012, the penalties can be deferred if the offender is found to have a drug problem.

Possession of up to six grams is regarded as an administrative offence. Anything above seven grams is a criminal offence. However, there are reports of people being arrested for cannabis possession, only to have the authorities exaggerate the amount of cannabis they were caught with.

For ‘large-scale’ possession, the following punishments may be given:

• A fine of up to 40,000 roubles
• The equivalent amount of three months of the offender’s wages/salary
• Compulsory works for up to 480 hours
• Corrective labour for up to two years
• Restriction or deprivation of liberty for up to three years (in most instances, prison)

For ‘especially large-scale’ possession, these penalties are increased to:

• A fine of up to 500,000 roubles
• The equivalent amount of three years of the offender’s wages/salary
• And/or a restriction or deprivation of liberty for three to 10 years

If the individual willingly hands the cannabis over to the authorities, and ‘actively contributes’ to the uncovering and suppression of drugs-related activities, he may avoid being given any penalties.

In real terms, possessing or using cannabis in Russia is a risky practice. For offenders, the acquittal rate is 0.1%, with most being sentenced to three years in prison. Close to half of the 102,217 guilty verdicts in 2017 were for those convicted of cannabis or other soft drugs-related offences.

Despite this, there are still large numbers of drug users in the country. It’s estimated that they number between 7.3 and 8.5 million in total.

Can you sell cannabis in Russia?

Likewise, it’s illegal to sell cannabis in Russia and the sale of the substance is regarded as a serious offence. If caught selling cannabis or any other drugs, the offender will be deprived of liberty for four to eight years with restriction of liberty for up to one year.

However, what is considered ‘large-scale’ selling or carried out as part of a bigger group of people increases the prison term to five to 12 years and is possibly accompanied by fine too, of up to 500,000 roubles (or three years’ salary).