Although it’s common to smell weed in most town centres and local parks, access to cannabis is not so forthcoming for many thousands of people in the UK.
Take Dave, for example. He’s 43 years old and hasn’t consumed cannabis since his twenties, when squidgy black hash and soapbar were the most common forms of cannabis around.
Now, he wants to try it again as a way to soothe aching joints and to help him sleep. He’s tried CBD in various forms, and it’s helped, but he feels THC could offer him something more.
But where does he get it from? None of his friends smoke anymore and he’s not exactly prepared to approach youths on the street to ask them for a hook up. Ah, hah! The internet!
However, he should be very careful when turning to the internet to purchase cannabis as there are many scammers waiting to rip him off.
Be careful
You see, if you search for ‘buy cannabis online UK’ you’ll be presented with dozens of legitimate-looking websites claiming to offer weed for sale. However, the majority of these are scams.
However, what’s most to hate about these sites is that they often target people who are in poor health and are desperate for relief.
We’ve personally heard from people suffering from cancer, chronic pain, debilitating anxiety and much more who have been scammed out of hundreds of pounds.
For some reason, Google takes no action against these sites and continues to list them in their search results. And, unfortunately, it’s also very hard to find any reviews or warnings about these sites anywhere on the internet (apart from here).
The scam
We’ve noticed that a lot of these scammers use the same techniques to fleece as much money as possible from their victims.
First, you’ll be pushed to buy larger quantities. Many sites, for example, have a minimum order of one ounce. This is because they know they can only dupe each person once, so they try to make each scam as profitable as they can.
The seller will also often request payment in Amazon or iTunes gift cards. These can then be sold on ebay in order to be monetised. Additionally, Bitcoin and bank transfer are common payment methods.
These devious scammers don’t stop there. After your order doesn’t arrive and you bring it up with the scammers, they will either ignore you or brazenly request that you pay a further amount of money to cover so-called postage, customs or insurance costs. This way they can hit you twice.
Buying weed online safely
When it comes to buying cannabis safely online, you have a few options. They are as follows…
1. The ‘Darknet’
The ‘Darknet’ (or ‘Dark Web’/‘Deep Web’) is a term that refers to a collection of websites that cannot be found by using traditional search engines or visited by using traditional browsers, like Windows, Chrome or Firefox.
To access this encrypted network, you have to download an encryption tool known as Tor Browser. Tor protects your privacy online and allows you to browse the ‘dark web’ with anonymity.
You’ll also need to buy Bitcoin, which is a cryptocurrency that you’ll use to make your purchases. Paxful is the one of the easiest websites to buy bitcoin on.
Popular places to buy cannabis on the dark web include the MedicineManUK store and Empire Market. Addresses for both can be found with a bit of googling.
While this sounds very confusing, the truth is that buying weed using the Darknet is now a reasonably simple process that anyone can master in a few hours.
And when they do, it’s like walking into a virtual cannabis dispensary with countless professional vendors waiting to fulfil your needs with a massive choice of products.
2. Instagram
Yep, along with pictures of pugs and shimmering sunsets on everyone’s favourite photo-sharing app, weed dealers lurk.
Of course, there are many scammers out there waiting to take your money.
Ideally you would want a recommendation from someone who can vouch for the vendor. You can also try to find profiles with a good number of followers and authentic engagement.
Once you learn the intricacies of Instagram, you’ll soon realise what an active cannabis community there is present on the platform.
3. Regular websites/online shops
There are actually at least a handful of regular websites selling weed in the UK. Unfortunately, we’d get in trouble if we listed them here, but do we send out updates in our weekly newsletter.
Scam websites
There are many websites out there that are just waiting to take your money and not send you anything in return. In fact, we often get messages from people (who are often in poor health and are turning to cannabis in desperation) who have been fleeced out of hundreds of pounds by these scammers.
Therefore, check this list to find out which websites you need to avoid.
Is it safe to buy weed online in the UK?
Until it’s legal, buying weed off the internet does carry some risk. However, the risks of the police catching you are pretty small.
Use a trusted vendor and orders will be sent discreetly in smell-proof packaging. Even then,, sniffer dogs are rarely seen in Post Offices and, last we heard, workers are advised to deliver post even if they smell or suspect it contains cannabis. (This could of course change at any time and offices may have different procedures.)
Not only that, our country’s overworked and under-funded police force has better things to do than operate sting operations as you collect a cheeky eighth from the postman.
In this technical age, it would appear that cannabis is more widely available in the UK than ever before.
What about CBD flower?
The legal status of CBD flower might not be totally clear, but it’s still widely available online in the UK. In fact, a number of online shops claim they have been given the all-clear to operate by local authorities.
This makes CBD a great option for those less inclined to order THC-rich cannabis online. Even more so considering the quality of strains available.
Cannabis risks
While there is no doubt that cannabis is a miraculous medicine that has huge value to society, let’s not be blind to the risks and dangers associated with cannabis use.
Like any mind-altering substance, cannabis can be abused. It can also be very habit-forming and lead to addiction. I know because I have experienced a problematic relationship with cannabis myself.
And although abusing cannabis is nowhere near as harmful as the overuse of tobacco, alcohol or countless other widely available drugs (including pharmaceutical medicines), risks exist.
These risks mainly include negative effects on mental health, such as increased anxiety and paranoia. However, lack of motivation and dependence are also common.
There are many ways to reduce these risks – such as using CBD alongside THC, dry herb vaping rather than smoking, and taking regular breaks.
I discuss these methods in detail in my book, Overcoming Weed Dependence: The Truth About Addiction And The Secret To A Healthy Relationship With Cannabis, along with many other practical tips that will enable anyone to cultivate a healthy relationship with cannabis.
Some of the websites are geared for Americans with medical cards when visiting the isles which is a bit unfair, no excuses for the rest.