Amsterdam has been known as the cannabis-capitol of the world for a long time. Most people think cannabis is legal here, since it can be bought in coffeeshops and smoked in public (as long as you’re not bothering anyone). But, its not. Cannabis in The Netherlands is tolerated, not legal. Because of this, there’s no control on the products being sold by coffeeshops (that’s what cannabis dispensaries are called in Amsterdam). 

The best strains

Coffeeshops change their menu’s often. If you’re planning a visit you might want to know where to go to, for example, find the best lemon haze. There is an app that lists most strains and coffeeshops, with reviews, called Greenmeister. This app can be helpful to find good shops and strains, but it can also be worthwhile to check out the different cannabis cups in The Netherlands. 

Cannabis Cups

The most famous cup in Amsterdam is the ‘Jack Herrer Cup’. This cup awards certain strains at certain shops - the best one of each year. Magazine High Times also has a Cannabis Cup each year, so you might want to check the results of the year you’re visiting to find the best cannabis strain! There’s also the Dutch flowers cup - but that one mainly focusses on homegrown cannabis (which can be pretty good as well!). 

The best coffeeshop

Coffeeshops are the places selling cannabis in The Netherlands and Amsterdam. You can legally buy up to 5grams of weed per day. The quality and price will differ greatly per strain but also per coffeeshop. There’s no regulatory commission or any official body keeping track on what’s being sold, so there’s zero control. A good list of coffeeshops and reviews in Amsterdam can be found here. Enjoy your trip!