The underground cannabis coffeeshop scene in London and the rest of the UK draws huge parallels with the speakeasy bars and the 1920s prohibition of alcohol in the US. Such was the public demand and perception of alcohol, that some willing entrepreneurs decided to give the people what they wanted, provided their clandestine establishments could remain a secret to the authorities. Only when the government realised they were only fuelling a drastic rise in crime and saw how much money could be made by taxing a product like alcohol that everyone desired, did prohibition end. Their budtenders are highly trained, knowledgeable, and welcoming. What's more, their three-piece suits and bowler hats add to the sophisticated vibe. Set and setting can make or break a high, and Boerejongens goes out of their way to ensure a pleasant experience every time. The chain has won numerous awards, including the Captain Hooter Best Coffeeshop Award and Zamnesia Best Coffeeshop Award. Established over thirty years ago, Coffeeshop De Kade is an OG of the Dutch cannabis scene. And as soon as you set foot inside, the experience, class, and sophistication accumulated over the years are apparent. The entire place exudes quality, from the chic décor to the carefully tailored menu. The CBD craze started in 2018 after the U.S. FDA approved Epidiolex, the first drug containing CBD, used to treat two rare and severe types of childhood epilepsy. According to Hilary A. Marusak, of Wayne State University, this sets off a sharp rise in researching the possible medical applications of CBD. Jungle History' painted yesterday in a coffee shop in Aldgate East, London with help from @therealbigrez #adamsdenn #tiger #temple #pyramid #waterfall #floatingisland #floatingislands #sunset #london #graffiti #mural

In any other restaurant, you take a seat and wait for a waiter to come to your table. Not at 420 Café. The legal status of the cafè is unclear, as it’s technically still illegal to sell marijuana. You can possess it, and quite a bit of it, but you can’t sell it.Although the club is primarily social, they also have political motivations. "We've held plenty of events for charity, raising money for cancer charities and the like," says Drekanots. "We feel it's important to do things like this to show that smokers are just as much a part of society as anyone else. We are currently planning some more campaigns to do this year." Boerejongens boasts a high-quality menu and receives all of their strains from the legendary breeders at Amsterdam Genetics. Choose from indica strains such as Tangerine G13 and Green Magic G13, and sativa varieties including Blueberry Haze and Amnesia Haze. The incumbent Conservative government has a tough stance on weed, with a Conservative spokesperson telling the BBC during the run-up to last year’s general election“there is clear scientific and medical evidence that cannabis is a harmful drug which can damage people’s mental and physical health, and harms individuals and communities. We have no plans to change the law.” Coffeeshop Amsterdam is another venue that oozes class. The interior resembles that of a high-end cafe, and is composed of wooden flooring, minimalist furniture, old-fashioned lighting, and beams in the ceiling. It's a pleasant place to sit for long periods while gazing out onto the streets. Coffeeshop Amsterdam offers great music and friendly staff. They also hold regular events such as vape nights and smoke sessions.

coralreefer420 super silver haze is a ridiculously nice strain. At least it was in the 420 cafe I'm Amsterdam— CCUK (@CannabisCureUK) December 26, 2010 Café Merchandise Dang it. I knew you were going to ask. Here we go, but we forewarned; I bet she’s fantastic at Scrabble. The hours are convenient, catering for those wanting a mid-morning coffee and cannabis break or those wanting to feed their munchies at lunchtime, as well as patrons who prefer staying until the café closes. The 420 Cafè has been up and running for a while now, although the venue has changed from the last time we covered it. It has now moved to the suburb of Randburg, having previously been in Sandton.A regular here, Ash, tells me: "I come here because I'm a medical user who only benefits from specific indica strains, and my local dealer doesn't give a shit – gives me stuff with random names, which makes it hard to find out if it will bring me the relief I need or not." The joint is openly operating as the first “official” venue to sell dagga in South Africa, although its legal status is unclear. When you pay cash, you pay the price stated on the menu, but when paying by card, the café charges a 10% fee. Most impressive, however, is the origin of the strains available to buy over the counter. Of the vast number of strains on offer, over half of them were in the “California Love” section. Whilst the more local Amsterdam is famed for its high quality of smoke, Californian cannabis, or ‘Cali weed’ – smoked by the likes of legendary rapper and cannabis advocate Snoop Dogg – is about as good as it gets for some weed smokers. If the mood alone isn’t enough to convince you Paradox is worth a shot, then wait till you try their one-gram space cakes. Not only are they delicious, but they provide a genuinely intense ride, so be prepared! Besides space cakes, you'll find hash, pre-rolled joints (with and without tobacco), and several carefully selected flower strains, including Tangerine and CNA Kush.

The coffee shop space has opened up the social lives of some regulars. The guy I'm sitting next to, Ahmed, tells me, "This spot always puts on big football games, so we come every time to watch them. I'm Muslim, so I prefer being somewhere I can smoke up instead of drinking beer." His friend chips in: "Yeah, some people like going to the pub on Fridays. That's not me. You'll find me here every Friday." Without further ado, here are the top 10 establishments to source potent edibles par excellence in Amsterdam. 1. COFFEESHOP DNA I overhear a load of chat about the cannabis industry and the latest cannabis strains – all pretty "for the heads" stuff, but this place is ostensibly marketed towards the general public. Other spots, such as The Dog House Smoking Club in Leicester, are geared much more towards the hardcore enthusiasts – the kind of people who know how to make butane hash oil at home without accidentally exploding all of their belongings.Most dried cannabis flower contains less than 1% of delta-8-THC. So getting a product that contains a substantial amount of this cannabinoid can only be done through extraction, isolation, conversion and refinement of dried cannabis flower,” representatives of Oleum Extracts explained to Leafly.com in 2018. When it comes to Amsterdam coffee shops, Katsu is one to know. The cool and quirky venue is located on a pedestrian street and features a brightly painted exterior. The coffee shop’s interior, on the other hand, is decidedly more homely with potted plants, dim lighting, and a cosy lounge feel. Katsu’s cannabis selection is also highly recommended, making it an all-around fantastic venue. Yeah, we liked this place a lot. After Homegrown Fantasy this was our favourite, in fact once we'd sussed the city out properly we'd go to Homegrown in the day and this place at night. I'd say this is more of a nighttime place, and it serves alcohol, which is excellent. You can bring your own food, which again is great, and they have seats right up against the big front windows so you can stare out at people - very good way of passing the time whilst smoking and having a beer. Overall, you just feel warm and cosy here, as well as hazy and erm, whimsical? We give the Café 420 a 5 out of 5 for atmosphere and vibe. Munchies and Drinks

Honourable mention: The Bulldog because it is an institution so you should go there at least once even though it is kind of a tourist trap in Amsterdam. There is clearly a demand not only for smoking cannabis in the UK but also for the culture that comes with it – spending time with like-minded people in relaxed, safe environment, as opposed to smoking weed in a dark alleyway, looking over your shoulder for an un-announced police car. It is no real surprise that some people are taking the huge risk of opening an illegal coffeeshop where people can buy and smoke weed to tap into that market.One of the biggest appeals of La Tertulia is its location (312 Prinsengracht in the Amsterdam Jordaan), so we highly recommend taking your time to sit in and soak up the ambience. In fact, La Tertulia prides itself on a crystal garden that overlooks the canal. What could be better than watching the world go by and smoking some freshly rolled Kali Mist or Pineapple Kush? The casual snooker player that I am was happy to see three pool tables next to the balcony. As we play a few rounds, more people pop in to drift through the afternoon. It’s also the first “official” venue to sell dagga in South Africa, which makes it the edgiest thing to ever happen in Sandton. Take a seat on the natural wooden furniture and treat yourself to a delicious Blueberry Space Muffin. 3. THE BULLDOG I visit one such coffee shop in Nottingham, which – for obvious reasons – doesn't want to give out any real names and identifying details, but clientele-wise is full of students, and surprisingly, mainly international students. The owner, "Chris", tells me the idea of a raid doesn't bother him much: "I don't care about that," he says. "It's all good. There's a lot worse stuff going on [in this area]. We never have any problems with police."