PBH / colombia (travelguide, pictures) / post

Drug guide

I figured I'd give some reliable information here, so that whatever your inclination, at least you'll know what's out there. I'm personally not into them (I must be one of the few drug-free foreigners here), I like rum, although that should be considered a drug as well I believe (I won't tell you the some of best stories here, mostly because I can't quite seem to remember them), but what I was getting at with this sentence that's getting a bit to long for it's own good so let's get it over with right here and now, is that I believe in information. So here it is.

Your mainstream stuff.

Many travelers will have some beers and maybe a joint when in Colombia.

First: the beer is pretty good actually.

A beer in a bar will cost you from 1US$ up, in a shop it's half a dollar.

Second (and a personal favorite): Rum.

Rum is an evil drink. The thing is: with beer for example, I can have 2 or 3, be perfectly happy and call it quits. rum's different. I often get pretty drunk on that. The one I like is Ron de Medellin. A glass will cost you from 3US$ up in a bar. A medio (half a liter, which will satisfy most people's needs) cost 4.5 US$ in a shop.

Aguardiente

This is the local firewater. It'll kill your braincells at a remarkable rate, and tastes a bit like the French Pernod. (which is way better though).

Some general drug advice.

Don't walk around with drugs in your possession. A random police check can get you in serious problems.

Know what you take.

Don't take something if you don't know what it is. (Yes, quite a few idiots do that) Be informed about the effects of a drug, it's side effects and how to deal with them. Don't be pushed into anything. It's pretty cool to say no. Marihuana.

'Widely available' is a bit of an understatement here. And it's cheap too. A rolled joint will cost you maybe half a dollar. That's a pure one. People here roll them like that, whereas in Europe they're often mixed with tabacco.

Cocaine.

Cocaine obviously is easy to get here. The quality is reputedly high, and it's dirt cheap. However, be careful who you buy it from. Best is to be offered some and just take it, because if you walk around with anything in your pocket, you are taking a SERIOUS risk.

XTC.

The favorite drug of many 90s techno ravers, XTC is a very western drug. It's available here, but somewhat hard to find and quite expensive. Probably not worth the time looking for it.

Mushrooms.

Can be found or bought here. An interesting experience, so I hear...

Other hard drugs

If you're into these, sorry, don't know anything about that.

Glue.

If you see a street kid with a bottle with fluo-yellow stuff in it, it's the glue they sniff. A real brainkiller, and very sad to see. You see these kids with empty eyes, and just know their live is lost. The saddest thing is everybody seems to think it's normal. You can see streetkids with their glue, and no-one will take it away from them or anything. The glue can only be sold to registered businesses, but obviously that doesn't stop it from getting on the streets. It really breaks my heart.

So there you have it. I could go ranting on for a while about how to be nice and, if you do use recreational drugs, not to bother people with them, but I won't. Or about how traveling all drugged up like some people do is quite pathetic, but I won't do that either.

Let me just finish with the motto of the Sirius Cybernetics Cooporation: Share and Enjoy!

By Peter (Moderator) on Nov 11, 2001, 09:36 in Friendly Talkzone.

Peter (Moderator) says on Nov 11, 2003, 09:38:

That's right!!!
By Armando 2002-04-05
I'm from Medellin and I've been studying in Morgantown, West Virginia for about a year. What I can really tell is that here, in the United States drugs are more widely used than in Colombia. Almost every person I've met here do drugs (especially marihuana or weed), they like it and don't think it's bad. That's their problem.
In Colombia, we use to look down on people who do drugs. We think that drugs are more like a lower class issue. But certainly, some people of middle and upper class do it. Not as widely spread as in the United States, but they do.
The availability it's different though. While my roommate here in the United States receives a weekly call of somebody saying, "hey men, I got your 'magazines'." In Medellin, you can get them in some places like in the 70th st. or somewhere around the Poblado's Park, among others. BUT NOT EVERYWHERE LIKE SOME PEOPLE SAY.

Poor but snappy

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Peter (Moderator) says on Nov 11, 2003, 09:39:

Long term traveler opinion By Fabio 2002-04-24
Is it not amazing that people focus on drugs to make an issue! Like everywhere in the world, Columbia has drugs. Yes, the author of this site commented on them, as he did with many other aspects. Having just returned from a 1 year trip covering many Central and South American countries, I find the comments realistic. Turning a blind eye to a problem does not help a potential visitor, acturately informing a traveller protects both the traveller, and helps dismiss many myths that this is just a country for drugs and nothing else. I loved the country and will return in the future.

Poor but snappy

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Peter (Moderator) says on Dec 9, 2003, 20:01:

dope in santa marta check the tinto-guys. they are no dealers but runners
and pretty reliable...

no thanks

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Peter (Moderator) says on Dec 16, 2003, 13:43:

yea right! To those who constatly say that drug use is more evident in the US than here please get a grip! I have seen people walking down the sidewalk here (Bogota)passing a joint like it was candy on numerouse occasions. On even more occassions have I smelled it. I have seen Cocain laying on the sidewalk from where someone ditched it in a panic. I don't know who your friends are in the states but most people in the states have nothing to do with drugs. I do not find similar examples in my memory of so frequently running into drug use in the states. I live here in a strata 6 and experience it so how much more is it done in strata 1? Most people here don't use drugs but to say that it is more available or popular in the states is false. Yes we consume more drugs in the states than in Colombia but then we are how much bigger than Colombia??????? The fact is that drug use in the states is on the decline expecially cocain and marijuana) where as in Europe it is on the rise.

One more interesting fact. You seem to be a user yourself since most users have the illusion that everyone is doing it. This corrupts your opinion in my eyes.

Poor but snappy

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sebasenbogotá says on Dec 17, 2003, 14:17:

I don't agree As the guy from Medellin said, drugs are much more widely used in developed countries (not just the United States) than in Colombia, I am living in Canada(US Junior) and most of the young people (I don't know older people )either do them regularly or has tried them, from the first day I came i saw it, I am sure some people in Colombia do drugs, but I am also sure it is not nearly as much in percentage as in these countries, I don't know why did this guy above get so pissed off, it is true, there are lots and lots of stoners in the US.,find the Semana Magazine about Colombian youngsters survey of the year you will find that we actually prefer alcohol, is cheap and good, and there is a kind of reluctance against people using drugs you really prefer not to be with them. I respect people doing drugs, they can do with their live what they want, and they are not harming anyone. But i do think that drug problem is an international one, where the demand comes from the developed countries. Colombia defenitely is an easy target for the international criticism. We produce it but who use it?

PD: This year half of the coca crops were eliminated, check semana.com on the 15 people of the year the # 15 is the police officer dealing with drug problems.

Suerte ! Sebas

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Peter (Moderator) says on Dec 29, 2003, 10:27:

Drogas What about making illegal drugs legal? Don't you think that the senseless violence associated with drugs would end? No more gang warfare. Would the guerilla warfare in Colombia stop? It would be a cash crop like coffe for Colombia. I mean, the use will never stop, so why not let the gov't regulate it. Treat it like alcohol. Why doesn't any country come up with legalization ideas...is there too much money involved in keeping it illegal?? I think most of the violence will stop..What do u guys think?

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Peter (Moderator) says on Jan 3, 2004, 17:45:

drugs I agree that there are more drug addicts in the U.S. not just pot smokers but a heavy amount of farmaceudical drug addicts...I have seen people in the states taking so many pain killers or valium with alcohol just for the buzz..I also think that small children are given strong drugs such a ritalin. So why put the drug problem on colombia's back when the U.S. has it's own internal addiction problems to deal with..I mean what was the 3 .2 billion dollars given to colombia for the plan colombia used for and have people up north stopped consuming drugs?
I also find the U.S. government corrupt by taking the meassures it takes to eliminate drugs in colombia they are polluting and killing the fauna and people of some regions with the chimical poissons used.. I mean canada is a country where pot is grown from west to east and the U.S. does not spray them...don't you think that the problem is not the drugs but personal interest such as petroleum...or some other natural resourse wich colombia is quite rich in....? Just like invading Irak...or afganistan where the amount of opium increased since the U.S. invaded....

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Peter (Moderator) says on Jan 5, 2004, 05:36:

I have to say that america is a bullshit country wih bogus laws. What gives them the right to impose their laws upon other countries? I am denouncing my citizenship and getting the hell out of here. I have to say that I am ashamed to have been born here. America is the poster child for obesity and ignorance.

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Peter (Moderator) says on Jan 5, 2004, 08:32:

I have to say that america is GOOD! GO! GO! GO! We don't need people like you.

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Peter (Moderator) says on Jan 7, 2004, 10:31:

good? What kind of people do you need? Some latin american that will come and grow your food for pennies.Because if it wasn't for them you wouldn't go do their job? for such wages, and risks of pesticide, herbicide exposure...and no medical coverage...I don't think it is good.

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Peter (Moderator) says on Jan 11, 2004, 09:35:

mark l bennett i am wondering here how does a person visit colombia when he cant obtain a passport because of back child support owed and here in the united states i am considered a flight risk . I pay my child support and still im considered a flight risk. why would i want to leave the united states for a different country without the many oppertunities as i have here? I met a nice colombia women we want to get married but neither of us can travel to meet as she cant obtain a visa because she dont have enough funds to sustain her in the united states and i cant obtain a passport for i am a flight risk. there is truely something wrong here as we are just to people in love and want to be together . please some one help us to be together .
sincerely
mark l bennett
you can email me at pbgoldwing at hotmail.com

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Peter (Moderator) says on Jan 12, 2004, 11:59:

yOU DON'T NEED A PASSPORT TO GO TO MEXICO iF THINGS HAVENT CHANGED i BELEVE YOU DON'T NEED A PASSEPORT TO GO TO MEXICO , SHE COULD JUST GET A TRAVELLE PAKAGE DEAL TO GO TO CANCUN ...
OR MAYBE THROUGH CANADA,,,IF NOT ASK FOR HELP IN ANOTHER COUNTRY

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Peter (Moderator) says on Jan 14, 2004, 10:46:

Adopting oprhans from colombia to UK Anyone got any advice or knowledge on Adoption from Colombia to UK
there are plenty of websites for Americans, but unfortunatley not for the good old Scottish
Thanks

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jjhill says on Apr 23, 2005, 14:11:

Social conscience ok, here's my preachy request. Don't buy cocaine. If you must do a drug, do something else. Americans and Europeans buying coke is just fueling the 50 year old colombian civil war and keeping the guerrillas and paramilitaries very well funded. These illegal armed groups commit torture, massacres, rapes, and violent displacement to gain contol of land to grow, yep, you know what, coca, to then produce cocaine.

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rodadero john says on Jul 22, 2005, 13:25:

drugs in rodadero I have been living here going on 2 years and know quite a few people of low income and of means. I have never seen anything stronger than rum. Drugs are never mentioned in my condo-complex and by the beach I have never encountered the sale of drugs. Being from St Petersburg, Fl. this quite a switch...as crack and pot are a mainstay of that area and most of Florida.

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Gregory455 says on Sep 10, 2005, 15:08:

What do you mean by more develop countries? More develop in the use of drugs......whats do different bewteen the USA and Colombia, maybe the roads in the USA are better, but then the housing and quality of materials is better in Colombia, just concrete nothing of wood or paper as the houses in the USA and Canada, what else you want to talk about, quality of life, depends where do you live, sometimes better in Colombia sometime better here if you can afford to live in the hamptons or a expensive place in any mayor city,
but agian, how many people can afford to live like that.

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shazam says on Nov 7, 2005, 09:48:

glue sniffing street kids yeah there are lots of street kids sniffing glue and it's sad 'cause it will eventually kill them...but it takes away their hunger and THAT'S WHY they do it. feeling euphoric is a pleasant side effect, but when you've got no food, and none coming, it makes sense.

farm boys in the US start chewing tobacco for the same reason...then end up with mouth cancer. hunger is a powerful enemy.

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Tim Trimble says on Feb 1, 2006, 10:53:

The REALITY of Drug Use It's true that about 95% of the tourists will not be busted, however the Colombian government DOES receive LOTS of money from the U.S. to help in the "Drug War". One of the factors in receiving monies is showing arrest and detention figures....even of North American and E.U. citizens. I had the opportunity to visit some folks in the prison in Ecuador and the best option for these folks was to pay another inmate $5.00 TO KILL THEM! Obviously, we are stupid enough to take the chance (I usually am). However you should know that if you are caught....kiss you life goodbye....period! If you are holding....get off the street, use in a SAFE place and DO NOT take any city to city busses....it's a sure bust.

a.k.a. Professor Loco

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ja122375 says on Nov 12, 2006, 12:07:

WAAAY more common in the USA!! After spending a month in cali recently and hanging out all the nights with various groups of colombianos of different socioeconomic levels, I came to realize that recreational drug use and smoking in general in that region is not common. Not that colombians would ever complain, but I had no problem quitting smoking because i basically felt out of place even in bars. Drugs for instance, the only two situations that I believed cocaine was a factor at all, both involved white guys! Only once did I encounter the dank, reefer, weed, pot, colombian gold, and it was great from what i heard. and all the different times i hung out with the same guys, they were NOT stoners and i think that was just a unique occasion probably. Unlike in the USA, the indegents, homeless, and hookers were drunks at best from what i gathered. my experience was similar during my stint in Peru.

I party almost more than anyone i know regularly most nights of the week traveling or not, and i have to say in all my experiences across the the USA the situation is the same, demand for drugs is overwhelming: crack, coke, weed, pills, shrooms, X, downers, uppers, all-arounders... you name it and most anyone i know can find it! --Jason

--Jason

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just__paul says on Nov 14, 2006, 04:58:

Just wondering I wonder what the differents in price is:

1 gram cocaine USA/Colombia

1 gram heroine USA/Colombia

1 gram Weed USA/Colombia

Quote tim

"However you should know that if you are caught....kiss you life goodbye....period!"

Common man...that sounds really dramatic...or are you talking about a big amount? What if they catch you you with a small amount of drugs? lets say a gram of cocaine.

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cippi says on Jan 22, 2007, 07:39:

personal amount
i quote just_paul: what if cops catch you with 1-2 grams of cocaine?
somebody told me that drug personal amount allowed is 10 grams. others told 5.
is this really the colombian law?
and, a part the law, what about the real consecuences with cops?

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