Kids today have no idea what a hassle it could be for us old timers just to get some ganja to smoke.  The idea of choice, we had that too, but it was more like we had a choice to go to crime filled areas to buy a bag off the street or go without.  The first time I purchased weed it was from a friend’s older brother and I got a lot for little money.  That lasted about one year and then reality hit.  Having never really bought weed from a dealer before, I had no idea how to find one.  This is my story about how I found weed.

The first place I went to buy a “dime bag” off the street was a milk store in Jamaica, Queens.  You walked to the back of a small store that had a few items on the shelves to make it look legitimate.  There in the back was a guy behind a plexiglass barrier.  You put your money in the slot, and you got as many “dime bags” as you paid for.  The weed was not great and it was full of seeds, but it did get you high. The milk store was eventually busted, and guys started selling from the park across the street.   Over the course of the next year, we went to Queens for our weed. Twice we were ripped off.

I went to college and was able to hook up there through older friends.  The quality and value fluctuated greatly, but I did find great ganja for amazing prices.  My friends at home found a guy that sold out of his apartment.  His stuff was expensive, but he was reliable and had excellent quality.  When I was home, or couldn’t find on campus, I would return home to purchase from Cryman or at least that’s what they called him.  I still buy from him today if I can’t find weed and that’s 40 years later!  But he became an important part of my pot story only ten years ago, I had lost track of him in my 30’s and my early 40’s.

Throughout college, I sold weed.  I was always the guy who knew where to get, so I started selling.  The first time I sold weed, it was to resell ‘nickel bags” I bought from women who lived in a tenement in Riverhead.  We walked up 5 flights and was able to turn 50 bucks into profit and have some weed to smoke.  The weed was harsh! I gave that up soon after but I found another guy a month later.  Mark had a great connection at home and just needed clients, which I had, so we worked together.  His cannabis was the best I ever smoked. Giant buds with no seeds, it was heaven!

After college, a college friend, Glen would find weed for me at great prices, but I had to drive 55 minutes to his house and it was a long trip.  Over time, my good friend Glen had a psychotic episode and never returned to the extremely intelligent friend who helped me with schoolwork.  Towards the end, Glen started doing crack and let his house turn into a garbage dump.  He was a real friend and I hated saying goodbye, but he was no longer safe to be around. 

The Cryman was too expensive to buy weed from on a regular basis so I was introduced to another dealer named Swayvo, a creepy guy from Hewlett.  For years, I did business with him, but we clashed on personal value stuff. Eventually he gave me as a customer to this guy, Adam and it was better for both of us.  Adam totally ripped me off, but he did introduce me to the woman I would marry.  So after two years I was without a dealer again.  My friend Jay was able to hook me up, but I had to go to Staten Island.  He eventually introduced me to his dealer, Andrew.

I would meet Andrew at a parking lot or on the side of the road near LaGuardia Airport.  He often showed up late by an hour or more, but the deals were very good.  It was always a risk with timing - would he be on time or two hours late? I never knew.  One day, he didn’t show up and never returned any of my calls.  I was in a panic; I had no connections anymore and knew nobody who smoked weed.  What was I to do?  I went back to the Cryman and I got super expensive, high grade weed.  I also had to drive 35 minutes each way, so it was a still a lot of effort to hook up. 

My luck changed a few years ago when I met my current dealer.  I now get a variety to choose from. There are edibles, rosin, wax, and ten different flower selections.  I now buy ganja at a price and quality range that I can afford and enjoy without going broke.  He even delivers sometimes!  I have never been happier with my purchasing power and selection.  I have many people I can purchase weed from and all are nice people that I like hanging out with.  A far cry from my first days of buying weed and a much better experience.