Weed in Bitola, North Macedonia: my experience

Hi, smokers! You probably know that cannabis laws and regulations vary from one county to another, so let’s go deeper and try to understand what is going on with weed in Bitola. My post covers info about weed laws, regulations, general attitude of locals and cops, hash VS weed availability and pricing, failures and success in searching weed in Bitola.

So, I just touched down back home from Bitola a couple of days ago, still got that fresh buzz in my head as I’m sparking up this joint of girl scout cookies strain. Man, Bitola was lit — couldn't have had a better time without those dank buds keepin' me company.

Marijuana laws in North Macedonia

It is important to outline that high % THC cannabis, weed, and hash are forbidden in Bitola. You can not officially purchase marijuana strains with high at least some reasonable THC % concentration in some coffee shops like in the Netherlands. Medical cannabis may be available for purchase at dispensaries, but you will never get high with CBD buds you may find.

In the bar of my hotel I met John who has lived here in Bitola for a while, so knows a lot about 4:20 movements😁. He said that strict official regulations are not so tough in practice.

What if I get caught with weed in Bitola?

In practice, as John said - if you are 18+ and carry less than 20 grams of weed or 10 grams of hash and do not smoke in public - you should not expect any arrest. As a maximum, cops will confiscate your stuff after they ensure you are not a dealer who delivers stuff.

There are some stories about occasional cops forcing people to give them a bribe after catching someone with weed, but such cases are rare. Usually cops do not touch foreign tourists who are spending their vacation or business trip in Bitola and bring money to North Macedonia.

How Do People Get Weed in Bitola?

Finding weed in Bitola isn’t as easy as just asking someone on the street. Wholesale dealers in Bitola buy weed through special darknet websites, but that’s a bit tricky for regular cannabis users who want to smoke, but not re-sell weed.

But if you are just visiting Bitola for several days (or up to 2 weeks) and need some weed - dealing with wholesale darknet websites looks like not the best way to spend your time. This is the point where local dealers rush into this game. But if you think you can easily find street dealers with good stuff nowadays - do not hurry so much, the situation with weed in Bitola has changed already.

Now dealers switched to another approach - you simply find their messenger contacts from someone who purchased weed in Bitola already or on some forum comments, choose stuff from menu, discuss drop off area (this may be some hotel or approximate area), after you pay in crypto (yes, now this is #1 payment option for all “dark” payments) - and stuff gets delivered and dropped where you agree. Package with weed is usually masked, you get a photo and coordinates where to pick up your stuff. As a result - no official payments and no meetings in person (you choose just the approximate package drop area, not the exact place where you meet) - so both you and the dealer stay secure and anonymous. This was a little surprise for me, at home I simply buy directly from my trusted dealer via cache, but we have what we have. How happy I was that I met John so I do not need to go through all this 🙂

What Do People in Bitola Think About Weed?

Even though weed is against the rules, a lot of people in Bitola don’t mind it too much. They just think you should be polite and not smoke it in front of everyone.

As I was actively asking and discussing weed - John invited me to his apartment for a small party that very first evening - just a couple of his rasta friends, beer, weed and PS5 - exactly what I do love😁😁😁. How lucky I was😁 John told he will be my weed dealer while I am here in Bitola so I had no issues with great stuff all that time.

John also confirmed locals are OK with weed in Bitola if you behave yourself correctly, while it’s better to avoid cops and not to have more than 10 grams in your pocket.

Weed in Bitola: Your Questions Answered

Is high-THC weed illegal in Bitola?

Yup, you won’t find high-THC bud legally unless it’s medical, but the cops aren’t usually trippin' if you’re packin' less than 10 grams.

What happens if you get caught with weed in Bitola?

Depends. If you’re lookin' like you’re movin' weight, you could catch some heat. But most tourists with a small stash aren’t bothered much.

Can you still find weed the old-school way in Bitola?

For sure! While the darknet and encrypted messengers are where it’s at now, you can still hustle around parks or chat up the right taxi driver and might get lucky.

Can I find high quality weed or hash in Bitola?

Yes, while quality varies from dealer to dealer.

Can I find hash in Bitola?

Yes, a lot of dealers sell both weed and hash, so hash is also popular and can be found in Bitola. Not all dealers have it, but it is still rather popular.

What is the price for weed and hash in Bitola?

Prices vary from dealer to dealer and usually depend on stuff quality and dealer’s greediness 😂From what I saw - super high quality weed may go up to €20 - €25 per 1 gram (while the more you buy - the lower price you get), and high quality hash was around €30 - €35 per 1 gram. Have not purchased low quality weed in Bitola so do not know the prices, but should be lower.

Five random facts about cannabis

1. You Can Eat Cannabis Raw

Granted, it tastes a lot better when prepared with yummy edibles like brownies, bread, or cake. But cannabis can be consumed raw. One more thing is that if you eat it raw, it won’t get you high, but it will provide you with all the medicinal benefits.

2. Modern-Day Cannabis Is A Lot Stronger

We talked about this on the cannabis flower and its influence in the 60s. For one, it’s purer than the illegal “hippie weed” that was imported into the United States. And it’s also been cultivated to increase its THC content, so the high you get from marijuana today is a lot stronger than what your parents or grandparents consumed.

3. Cannabis Can Be Used In Construction

And clothing. And plastic. And the best part is that all of these options are eco-friendly. Learn more about hemp and its benefits here.

4. Psychoactive Compound

The primary psychoactive compound in cannabis is THC (tetrahydrocannabinol), responsible for the "high" sensation

5. Different Strains

There are thousands of cannabis strains, each with unique combinations of cannabinoids and terpenes, resulting in different effects and flavors.