Weed in Samsun: A Tale of Tradition, Taboo, and Tentative Revival
Introduction
Nestled on the Black Sea coast, Samsun is a city where the salty breeze carries whispers of ancient trade routes and resilient agricultural heritage. Known as the birthplace of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk’s modern Turkish Republic, Samsun thrives as a hub for tobacco, hazelnuts, and tea. Yet, beneath this verdant facade lies a more controversial crop: kenevir, the Turkish term for cannabis, or “weed” in colloquial English. In Samsun, weed is not just a slang term for marijuana; it embodies a dual legacy—industrial hemp fueling Ottoman-era ropes and sails, and a stigmatized narcotic sparking modern crackdowns.
This article delves into the multifaceted story of weed in Samsun. From its roots in Anatolian soil dating back millennia to the strict legal frameworks of 2025, Samsun stands as Turkey’s epicenter for licensed cannabis cultivation. Amid global shifts toward medical and recreational legalization, the city’s farmers navigate economic promise against cultural caution. Drawing on historical records, recent policy changes, and local insights, we explore how weed shapes Samsun’s identity, economy, and future. (Word count so far: 198) Weed in Samsun
Historical Roots: From Ancient Fiber to Ottoman Staple Weed in Samsun
Cannabis’s journey in Samsun begins not with prohibition but prosperity. Archaeological evidence suggests cultivation in Anatolia—modern-day Turkey—as early as 1500-1800 B.C., where the plant’s sturdy fibers wove into ropes, sails, and textiles essential for maritime trade. The Black Sea region, with its fertile deltas and mild climate, proved ideal. Samsun, straddling the Yeşilırmak and Kızılırmak river basins, emerged as a powerhouse. Ottoman explorer Evliya Çelebi, chronicling the 17th century, noted that Samsun’s villagers specialized in hemp yarn, turning the plant into durable goods exported via its bustling port.
By the 1500s, hemp accounted for nearly 10% of Samsun’s agricultural output. Tax records from 1520 reveal Taşköprü district alone yielding 90,981 kilograms, while Samsun and environs supplied the state with 1,600 kilograms annually from over 5,000 households. This wasn’t recreational weed; it was industrial gold. Hemp ropes tethered Ottoman galleys conquering the seas, and its seeds fed livestock. In Vezirköprü, a Samsun sub-district, hemp processing mills hummed until the early 20th century, blending fiber extraction with seed harvesting for oil.
The plant’s versatility extended to medicine and folklore. Anatolian healers used cannabis poultices for pain and inflammation, a practice echoed in Sufi traditions where low-THC variants aided spiritual rituals. Economic botanist Peter Zhukovsky’s 1925 survey classified Samsun’s strains as “Type I”—robust, fiber-rich ecotypes suited to the Black Sea’s humidity. Yet, shadows loomed. By the late 1800s, colonial pressures from Britain and France—fearing competition in opium and cotton—pushed anti-cannabis sentiments. Egypt’s 1879 hashish ban under Ottoman rule rippled northward, criminalizing extracts by 1933’s Narcotics Law.
Weed in Samsun
Post-World War I, Turkey’s 14,000 hectares of cannabis in 1961 dwindled under U.S.-led embargoes, dropping to a mere 11.3 acres by 2017. Samsun, once a exporter yielding 5,000 tons, imported 4,521 tons in 2018 at $5.8 million cost. This decline marked weed’s fall from staple to suspect, but Samsun’s soil retained its memory. (Word count so far: 612)
Legal Landscape: Strict Controls and Selective Permissions
Turkey’s cannabis laws in 2025 remain a paradox: prohibition for pleasure, permission for profit. Recreational use is illegal, with possession—even small amounts—carrying 2-5 years in prison under the Turkish Penal Code. First-time offenders may opt for probation or treatment, but sales invite 10+ years, escalating to 15 for minors or 20-30 for trafficking. Synthetic variants amplify penalties by 50%. Whole-plant consumption stays taboo, rooted in 1970s narcotics edicts aligning with UN conventions.
Yet, cracks appear. In 2016, the “Hemp Cultivation and Control Regulations” legalized low-THC (<0.3%) production in 19 provinces, including Samsun, for scientific and medical ends. Growers need ministry warrants proving no prior illicit activity, with monthly inspections. This curbs black-market skunk and hash floods from Afghanistan via Turkey’s borders.
Samsun shines here. As the sole holdout for cultivation post-2000s decline, it hosts Ondokuz Mayıs University’s (OMÜ) hemp research, breeding “Narli” and “Vezir” strains for fiber and seed. By 2025, Decree Law No. 663 greenlit pharmacy sales of <0.3% THC derivatives like Sativex for epilepsy and MS, slashing imports. President Erdoğan’s 2019 call to “cultivate industrial hemp” fueled this, eyeing $100 billion in exports by 2030.
Enforcement bites. In April 2025, Samsun jandarma raided a Vezirköprü home, seizing indoor-grown cannabis worth thousands. October ops nabbed 103,000 ecstasy pills and synthetics in Atakum. National sweeps like NARKOÇELİK-15 yielded 217 kg nationwide, with Samsun contributing 83,000 pills. Istanbul’s wastewater reveals Samsun-adjacent highs: second globally after Barcelona. (Word count so far: 1,028)
Cultivation in Samsun: Fields of Fiber and Research Weed in Samsun
Samsun’s 40% arable land—1.3 million hectares—cradles hemp revival. Ranking first nationally with 254 tons of fiber yearly, it outpaces rivals like Kastamonu. Cultivation spans 8,845,000 square meters for fiber (up from 101,000 in 2020) and 7,206,000 for seeds, yielding 1,335 tons over five years. Vezirköprü, with its loamy soils and 600mm rainfall, leads; 60% of Turkey’s hemp hails hence.
Farmers like those in Ketene Agriculture sow 450 decares (45 hectares) annually, harvesting 800 tons since 2018. Low-water needs suit Samsun’s climate; plants mature in 120 days, yielding 10 tons/hectare fiber. OMÜ’s Selim Aytaç champions trials: “One village leads perception change.” Yet, challenges persist—stigma sees night raids on plots, and sex determination (female plants for fiber) demands skill.
Economic math favors it. A Vezirköprü study pegs profitability at 35-50% gross margin, outstripping wheat. Inputs: seeds ($200/ha), labor ($500), yield 2-3 tons fiber at $1,000/ton. Hemp’s rotation boosts soil nitrogen, curbing fertilizers. Biokenevir’s decortication machines process stems on-site, eyeing textiles. (Word count so far: 1,312) Weed in Samsun
Industrial and Medical Horizons: Beyond the Stigma Weed in Samsun
Weed’s Samsun renaissance targets industry. Fibers reinforce automotive composites with flax and nettle; TAGEM projects yield thermoset pipes. Seeds oil varnishes, cosmetics—South Korea imports tons. Pharmaceuticals: Low-THC extracts treat pain, epilepsy; 2025’s $34 million market eyes $230 million total.
Biofuel beckons—X users note hemp’s edge over corn. Samsun’s port exports to EU, where hemp textiles boom. Yet, THC fears linger; strains must test <0.3%. (Word count so far: 1,428)
Challenges: Illicit Shadows and Social Hurdles
Recreational demand persists underground. Istanbul’s 0.7% lifetime use masks Samsun’s street trade; raids seize skunk weekly. Economic woes—post-2023 inflation—tempt illicit grows, laced risks high. Cultural taboo: Erdoğan’s push met Islamist pushback, though advocates like Abdurrahman Dilipak champion it.
Farmers face vandalism; global competition from China’s 150,000 acres dwarfs Turkey’s 81 hectares. (Word count so far: 1,512)
Global Context and Future Prospects
Globally, Samsun eyes Brazil’s 12-year boom or Germany’s pharma surge. Turkey’s 2025 reforms position it as exporter, but recreational legalization lags conservative ethos. Projections: Hemp area doubles by 2030, medical sales hit $55 billion globally. Samsun could lead, blending heritage with innovation. (Word count so far: 1,612)
Conclusion
In Samsun, weed weaves past and potential. From Ottoman sails to 2025 pharmacies, it defies binary—vice or virtue? As fields green and laws evolve, the city balances caution with cash crops. For farmers in Vezirköprü, it’s livelihood; for youth in Atakum, risk. Samsun’s weed story urges nuance: regulate, research, revive. In a world greening cannabis, Turkey’s Black Sea gem may yet bloom.
I have used Global Weedworld (Globalweedworld@galaxyhit.com) at least 4-10 times and every time it has been a top notch.
He is the best local plug you can find around. He is very pleasant, friendly and fast. He is a lifesaver.
He sells top shelf WEED and other stuffs at moderate prices. I will always recommend this guy when people ask me my ” go-to”.
All you have to do is follow his instructions.
Just send him an email and I bet you will come back for more once you finish with what you bought because his quality is amazing.
Also Contact him on his telegram link telegramhttps://t.me/GlobalweedWorld
⚠️ Know that he do not have telegram channels only the telegram link above

The strain was exactly what I was looking for. It had that perfect balance, and the high was smooth. Also, the packaging was discreet and professional. Really impressed
I’ve been buying online for a while, but this shop’s service and product quality set them apart.
Everything was fresh, potent, and the customer service is outstanding
My first purchase and I’m hooked.
Excellent product and the customer support was super helpful in answering all my questions. Highly recommend this site
From browsing to checkout, everything was seamless. Delivery was on time, and the product exceeded my expectations.
I’ll be recommending this to my friends
I’ve been buying from a lot of different places, but this one stands out. The bud is top-notch, and the prices are reasonable.
Will be ordering again soon! Amazing experience! The product was exactly as described,
and the packaging was on point—safe and odor-free. Thank you!
Delivery was crazy fast, and the product… This place is setting the bar for online weed shops. Keep doing what you’re doing. You’ve got a loyal customer for life.
Third order in a row — flawless. Told my friends — now they’re ordering too. This is how weed buying should be. Clean, easy, reliable.
Best decision I made all week. Real ones know. This site is fire. I don’t usually leave reviews, but this deserved one.