Asia - Marijuana in Beijing

I'll be going to Beijing this summer and occasionally enjoy smoking a marijuana joint. What are the chances of finding some hash in Beijing, and how do the local cops treat it?

Thanks

I'll be going to Beijing this summer and occasionally enjoy smoking a marijuana joint. What are the chances of finding some hash in Beijing, and how do the local cops treat it?

Thanks

Im not sure the exact rules, like how much you have to have and such. But I think that for some drug offenses they take you to a stadium, kneel you down and put a bullet in the back of your head. Personally, I would wait until I got back. Seriously.

And welcome to Flyertalk! ;)

Don't worry about it.

I don't think the cops give a sh*t about anything in China except who next to extort or how much more they can embezzle from the government before getting popped for it.

Oh, also they probably spend a lot of time trying to figure out whether they should trade in their 2003 black Audi with tinted windows for a 2005 or 2006 black Audi with tinted windows.

I think that for some drug offenses they take you to a stadium, kneel you down and put a bullet in the back of your head.

Then they send your family a bill for 11 cents for the cost of the bullet.

I pm'ed the OP so this post is just for general reference. Bottom line: I don't partake myself, but would like to point out that the execution thing doesn't pose a serious risk to foreign visitors that aren't morons (I would not post such on the internet without a substantial amount of data under my belt because I value all of your lives).

I pm'ed the OP so this post is just for general reference. Bottom line: I don't partake myself, but would like to point out that the execution thing doesn't pose a serious risk to foreign visitors that aren't morons (I would not post such on the internet without a substantial amount of data under my belt because I value all of your lives).

"doesn't pose a serious risk to foreign visitors that aren't morons" isnt exactly like saying dont worry its cool ;)

I mentioned capital punishment because it is real and I think it indicates the very different views in China and Amsterdam. I felt the OP seemed totally unaware of that. But your added information is useful. I still would VERY much advise against it.

This may go down as one of the most ridiculous things I have seen posted on Flyer Talk. Hey why don't you pop over to Singapore and bring some weed with you. I haven't seen a good canning in a long time.
If you really aren't a troll, please don't do it.

I pm'ed the OP so this post is just for general reference. Bottom line: I don't partake myself, but would like to point out that the execution thing doesn't pose a serious risk to foreign visitors that aren't morons (I would not post such on the internet without a substantial amount of data under my belt because I value all of your lives).
maybe you can hook him up then? Hey how about underage sex slaves? Is that OK? Can you still score some opium in Bejing? mmmmm
Guy's even in AMS it's not legal, they just don't bother.

The whole idea of enjoying the joint is the enjoyment part. I don't know how you could do that when you would have serious concerns about facing prison time in China. Have some beer there and the joints back here.

This may go down as one of the most ridiculous things I have seen posted on Flyer Talk. Hey why don't you pop over to Singapore and bring some weed with you. I haven't seen a good canning in a long time.
If you really aren't a troll, please don't do it.

My first impression was that it was a joke. The only reason I answered was that after thinking about it I thought, geez, what if it is serious. Someone has to tell the guy.

Talk about serious downside risk. A Chinese jail has got to be pretty low on the human rights scale. But they probably wouldn't want to feed you, so billing your family for the bullet may not be that far off after all.

Hey guys,
I was serious about my original question. Hopefully I'll come across some other people who enjoy it as well when I am in Beijing.

Hey guys,
I was serious about my original question. Hopefully I'll come across some other people who enjoy it as well when I am in Beijing.

Did you read the posts above? We are arguing over whether they would execute you or not if you were caught.

the execution thing doesn't pose a serious risk to foreign visitors that aren't morons

I didn't get the PM, but are you suggesting that as long as you are less than a 100% complete moron, you're safe? :confused:

(I would not post such on the internet without a substantial amount of data under my belt because I value all of your lives).

what does this mean?

Did you read the posts above? We are arguing over whether they would execute you or not if you were caught.
Do you also advise people not to partake in China's vast prostitution offerings? China is not Indonesia. Money and connections are the only things that matter in China. And gweilos often get a free ride.

Do you also advise people not to partake in China's vast prostitution offerings? China is not Singapore or Indonesia. Money and connections are the only things that matter in China :cool:

I make no advice on that one way or another.

They will not shoot you for smoking a joint. They most likely will think its a hand rolled cig.

The cops have much more important things to do than bust a foreigner for smoking a joint. I don't smoke but I think you should have no problem finding it in Beijing, just as in any other large world city.

China is not going to shoot you in the head for anything like that, those who tell you otherwise haven't lived in China or been to China very often.

I didn't get the PM, but are you suggesting that as long as you are less than a 100% complete moron, you're safe? :confused:


i would stand by a qualified version of that statement (nothing is absolutely certain).


what does this mean?

during the past 10 years, i've never once heard of a foreigner getting so much as a slap on the wrist for smoking hash (and i don't live in a bubble).

There are certain areas of Beijing where I smelt a little dope being smoked. If you look where you expect to find it, you will probably find it. Like someone else said it's no different from any other large city. You'd have to royally screw up to get in any trouble with the police.

Now Malaysia or Indonesia on the other hand...I would run away if I smelt any dope!

There are certain areas of Beijing where I smelt a little dope being smoked. If you look where you expect to find it, you will probably find it. Like someone else said it's no different from any other large city. You'd have to royally screw up to get in any trouble with the police.

Now Malaysia or Indonesia on the other hand...I would run away if I smelt any dope!
I think most of us here would agree that it's not a good idea, now is it? In Thailand you can have sex with an 8 year old child and in China you can maybe find some drugs. But should you? AFAIK flyer talk has nothing to do with breaking laws in any country, so just don't do it.
IMHO

First, you’d be foolish to try (not just because its China but because it’s a dangerous drug that has serious and well documented negative long term physical and mental health consequences) but if you are lucky the US consular officer will bring you McDonald’s and DVDs once a month while you are doing jail time. I have also heard that these same people will be taken into U.S. custody when they are done to face charges in the U.S. as well. Yes, I know for a fact that there are U.S. citizens doing time in Chinese jails for what would be a minor drug offense here.

On the up side you will have pretty good Chinese when you get out.

That said its pretty common in the expat community and for the most part, the maxim that if you aren’t involving local Chinese in your affairs, the po-po don’t care holds true. If you really want to score just look for where the Uyghurs hang out.

...In Thailand you can have sex with an 8 year old child and in China you can maybe find some drugs. But should you? AFAIK flyer talk has nothing to do with breaking laws in any country, so just don't do it.
IMHO

Not the best analogy. There's quite a gulf between the morality of doing these two things, isn't there?

Not the best analogy. There's quite a gulf between the morality of doing these two things, isn't there?
Just making a point that they are both really stupid.

Thank you everyone for your comments. I will keep most of them in mind when in Beijing. We can probably close out this thread as it is starting to get off topic.

Just do it!

I encourage the OP to do this, and in public, and then find out what happens!

Be bold!

Duhhhh!!!!

Try it! I love to see Natural Selection in action!

Try it! I love to see Natural Selection in action!

A potential Darwin Award?

Why does anyone care if he wants to smoke pot? Over half of all Americans have at least tried it.
Geez, give him a break and if you don't know the answer to his question don't waste the bandwidth.

Anyway, to answer the question, in case anyone else is interested

Go to the Sanlitun bar area, either the bar street itself or to the area in front of the KFC west of Sanlitun Bar Street, opposite the City Hotel. Most of the merchants are West African guys who hang around that area.

The other place to buy is from Uighurs (Muslim minority group from western China). There is a small alleyway full of Uighur kebab shops near Ganjiakou, in Haidian District. Hash (imported from Pakistan) sells for between US$20 and US$50 for a gram.

I encourage the OP to do this, and in public, and then find out what happens!

Be bold!

Duhhhh!!!!

As a qualifier, let me reiterate that I don't play such games. Although the risk of getting caught is miniscule, I can't justify putting my career on the line for such.

That said, people smoke in public in the "bar blu -- poachers -- kai" strip every weekend and I've never heard of any problems.

So, while I think doing so might be stupid on an intuitive level (and qualifies under the "moron" provision I labeled in an earlier post), my emperical evidence suggests otherwise.

As a qualifier, let me reiterate that I don't play such games. Although the risk of getting caught is miniscule, I can't justify putting my career on the line for such.

That said, people smoke in public in the "bar blu -- poachers -- kai" strip every weekend and I've never heard of any problems.

So, while I think doing so might be stupid on an intuitive level (and qualifies under the "moron" provision I labeled in an earlier post), my emperical evidence suggests otherwise.

moondog,

I certainly do agree with you that a moron would do such a thing.

And maybe the OP really SHOULD do this!

BTW, I personally try to keep a low profile in foreign countries. My trips go quite smoothly that way.

First, you’d be foolish to try (not just because its China but because it’s a dangerous drug that has serious and well documented negative long term physical and mental health consequences) but if you are lucky the US consular officer will bring you McDonald’s and DVDs once a month while you are doing jail time. I have also heard that these same people will be taken into U.S. custody when they are done to face charges in the U.S. as well. Yes, I know for a fact that there are U.S. citizens doing time in Chinese jails for what would be a minor drug offense here.

On the up side you will have pretty good Chinese when you get out.

That said its pretty common in the expat community and for the most part, the maxim that if you aren’t involving local Chinese in your affairs, the po-po don’t care holds true. If you really want to score just look for where the Uyghurs hang out.


Having been one of those consular officers, DVDs are pretty much out of the question because you don't get TV in a Chinese jail. Maybe you'll get some outdated magazines, donated by the foreign service officers.

moondog,

I certainly do agree with you that a moron would do such a thing.

And maybe the OP really SHOULD do this!

BTW, I personally try to keep a low profile in foreign countries. My trips go quite smoothly that way.

What's with the snide attitude? All I'm trying to do is provide a pragmatic assessment of the topic in question.

.....

First, you’d be foolish to try (not just because its China but because it’s a dangerous drug that has serious and well documented negative long term physical and mental health consequences)

:rolleyes: So does McDonald's, booze, cigarettes, etc, yet I'm sure none of those topics would have evoked such a reaction. Had the OP asked about having a cocktail in certain parts of the Arab world, could we expect reminders about cirrhosis and alcoholism?

But at any rate, I would trust moondog's view of things more so than some of the other postings on this thread. Not to say that I would feel entirely comfortable myself...just saying that his post seemed the most candid.

RChavez, my apologies if I offended.

RChavez, my apologies if I offended.

No offense taken at all, so no need to apologize. :) I was just trying to make a point that I find it interesting that questions like the OP's tend to evoke a much more, um passionate response, due to the fact it was about a substance that is illegal in much of the world yet widely consumed anyway. However, as I mentioned, a question regarding alcohol, which is also illegal in some Arab nations, I feel would have been given a pass or treated much more matter of factly.

look take this from a chinese born american-
i've worked in china for several years now and I can tell you with a high degree of certainty that you will not only score hash but if you're lucky you might even get some green weed.
specifically, go to some bars or clubs favored by the expats and use your nose. my personal luck has always been with the africans; they have excellent hash from the mother-country.
as for lighting up, the majority of the locals won't even recognize what you're toking, and besides, the local branded cigarettes reek so bad you really can't smell beyond them.
as for the police, your best advice is to steer clear, there is still some level of resentment from them and your best advice is to stick in the middle of the expat crowd and play that angle, they are far more accomodating and equally too far from home to empathize.
duh547

my personal luck has always been with the africans; they have excellent hash from the mother-country.

are you part of a ring or something? and what is the "mother country," turkmenistan?

edited to add: i didn't mean to sound so snide; chances are you were just trying to provide useful info, but advising innocent travelers to engage in business with a group of people that has been known to make a living ripping off unsuspecting foreigners (i'm sure not all are bad guys, btw) seemed to be a bit bold.

I know quite a few foreigners who smoke joints in China. They get it from friends or whereever. Not really an issue. Honestly, after living on the mainland, I do not see any real percussions unless you're an idiot and smoke in front of the police or whatnot.

Hash and marijuana are easy to acquire there...so I've heard....

The chinese are extremely tough on narcotic, as the Opium War is still a scar in their memory.
yes, there are drug dealers, they are despised and hide in scums.

my advice is not to gamble your luck.

This is a legitimate question and the responses concerning execution were idiotic. Never been to mainland China but I would think, based on my personal experiences, is that they would, at most, deport you with a fine and blacklist you from re-entering.

I wonder where that persistent image in Asia of Westerners as childish and loudmouthed egoists comes from... ;)

.....

This is a legitimate question and the responses concerning execution were idiotic. Never been to mainland China but I would think, based on my personal experiences, is that they would, at most, deport you with a fine and blacklist you from re-entering.


Idiotic, really? They do execute people for drug crimes do they not? Would they do it to a Westerner? Probably not. On the other hand, if the political situation were such that they wanted to send a message would they do so? Well again probably not. But who knows. Would you want to get stuck in the middle of such a thing where you were totally dependent on them not making an example of you? Definately not. I thought the question was terribly naive and I was concerned that the poster, based on the question and where they were coming from had no idea what they could possibly be getting into. In fact, as others have said, I thought the question was so naive I wasnt sure (still am not) that it was even serious. So I thought it was important to point out the very real potential, even if unlikely, downside to make them appreciate how different it would be there versus Western Europe. Was that an idiotic reponse? No, I really rather think it was not. Was you calling it idotic appropriate or reasonable? Again, I think not.

of course, at worst you got caught and deported,
and maybe got to the headline of NY Times.
if that is the fame you desire, go for it.

but don't do that in malaysia...