Acapulco Gold - Mexico's Mythical Mota

Acapulco Gold

Many years ago I shared a very small spliff with six people. The friend who brought it along said it was Acapulco Gold. Without doubt it was the best grass I have ever smoked. It reduced all six of us to giggling idiots in two minutes and we remained that way for what seemed like hours (although it was probably only ten minutes).

Since then I have neither smoked nor seen anything like it. Now, it may be that I have changed over the years but my suspicion is that the whole drug sub-culture has been taken over by the marketing men and that most weed is genetically modified these days to induce a stupor. I don't believe the mythical Acapulco gold really exists… it is just typical "Mexican Green" Marijuana grown in the Acapulco region. Some good, some not. There really is no Appelation Controlée and if your friendly dealer tells you it was Panama Red, Moroccan Green, Siberian Skunk or Baluchistan Blue, how the hell are you really going to know the difference?

Weed (known as "mota" in Spanish) is available all over the place in Acapulco … If you look like you might indulge in the occasional toke, it will find you on the beach, in the taxi or walking through Condesa, there are people dedicated to its supply everywhere.

A word of warning. The punishment for drug possession in Mexico can be Draconian. A seed, in theory, is enough to have you sent down for as much as seven years, especially if the police don't like the look of you or if you are a bit lippy. If you are caught you are going to be in DEEP SHIT. The legal system here is peculiar and as a foreigner it is advisable to keep your nose clean. If you have to extricate yourself from the tangles of the judiciary it will be time consuming (years) and very very expensive (thousands and thousands and I'm not talking Pesos). If you find yourself in the hands of the police, it's best to take care of it on the spot in cash.