The half million tourists from Amsterdam who frequent cannabis cafes each year come in a variety of experience levels. Some are avid cannabis users in their home country; others see coffee shops as an opportunity to experiment with a new substance in a safe environment. But regardless of your past experience, unless you are from the Netherlands, there is probably no institution in your country that is quite like the Dutch cannabis cafe. Read on for some tips for customer satisfaction and safety at these unique businesses.
How to select (or decline) a coffee shop
- Stick to reputable coffee shops with a business name and where the staff are well trained and professional. Like any substance you put into your body, be it cannabis or food, you want to keep sellers at a certain level. Do you need some advice? Check out the Amsterdam Coffee Shop Directory.
- Don’t settle for bad service. Don’t be intimidated into asking questions, and if the staff doesn’t respect your curiosity, it’s best to leave. If a waiter refused to answer questions about a restaurant menu, would you still order a meal there?
- Cannabis is sold throughout the Netherlands. Downtown Amsterdam is certainly more populated with coffee shops than anywhere else in the country, but there are advantages to coffee shops outside the center and in other cities: fewer crowds and often lower prices for the same varieties.
- Cannabis strains are generally not unique to a single coffee shop, so if you don’t mind the vibe of the place that sells your favorite strain, you can probably find it elsewhere. Seed companies sometimes even list their distributors on their website (and an online search for a strain will often return the company it came from).
How to Play Safely and with Satisfaction
- Do your homework. Unlike many places where cannabis is prohibited, there are more than a handful of options in most Dutch coffee shops. Specialists and hobbyists have written plenty of online and print resources to educate the public. You don’t need to master horticulture to smoke a joint, but even if you only learn the difference between Indica and Sativa, you will be able to better tailor your experience to your own preferences.
- Some coffee shops have smoke-free alternatives: If the idea of a pipe or joint is not appealing, some companies will have one or two more options: 1) “space foods” made with cannabis, usually in the form of brownies, cookies or drinks, or 2) vaporizers, which extract the THC (the psychoactive substance in cannabis) and deliver it as a vapor without any of the toxins in the smoke.
- Can’t stand tobacco? Pre-rolled joints can be convenient, but be aware that Dutch cannabis smokers often bulge their joints with tobacco to make them last. Cafeterias often sell “straight” and add-on tobacco together, so be sure to specify which one you want.
- Don’t you like coffee shops? Smoking elsewhere. Some hotels are fine with cannabis use on the premises (but check with the staff first), and there are businesses throughout the city that welcome cannabis smokers, such as Barney’s Restaurant, the culinary arm of Barney’s empire; See here more businesses in Amsterdam that welcome tokers.
- Know yourself. Listen to the advice (especially if you are a newbie to cannabis and / or coffee shops), take it easy and don’t overdo it. Like alcohol, each individual needs to learn their own limits; “Too much too fast” is a sure recipe for discomfort and, in severe cases, even blackouts. Dutch cannabis is typically much more potent than what is available in the United States, and even experienced marijuana smokers can feel overwhelmed.
- If you consume too much cannabis (a particular temptation with cannabis foods: brownies, cookies, smoothies, etc.), don’t panic; A solid meal or a nap does wonders to lower the cost of your body. The effects of binge drinking include dizziness, nausea, and anxiety.
