Cannabis in Laos explained

Medicinal:	Illegal
Recreational:	Illegal

Cannabis is illegal in Laos. However, a cannabis culture still exists in the country.

Regulation

See main article: Drug policy in Laos. Cannabis is illegal and public usage can land someone 12 months in jail. Police officers regularly take bribes from those arrested for cannabis and let them walk free.^[1] As of 2009, a mandatory death penalty is applied for certain cases.^{[2] [3]} Despite the law, marijuana is openly sold in some businesses. ^[4]

Culture

Cannabis is widely available in Laos despite its illegal status. In the tourist heavy area of Vang Vieng in particular, cannabis is openly sold by bars as marijuana bud or as infused "happy pizza".^[5] Some restaurants will have a "happy" menu where customers can get a variety of infused foods, sometimes along with "magic" goods containing psychedelic mushrooms.^[6] Because of Vang Vieng's openness towards cannabis, psychedelic mushrooms, and opium, it has become a famous tourist destination.^[7]

Notes and References

1. Web site: Laos, Country . marijuanatravels.com . 2017-10-02 . https://web.archive.org/web/20170929143426/http://www.marijuanatravels.com/countries/lao . 2017-09-29 . dead .
2. Web site: End the Death Penalty for Drug-Related Offenses . Cannabis Culture . Cannabis Culture Magazine . 23 September 2013 . Human Rights Watch . 22 June 2009 .
3. News: Briton returned to UK after Laos drug sentence loses battle to be freed . 23 September 2013 . The Guardian . 20 January 2010 . James Meikle .
4. Web site: Why the pizza is happy in Laos . 20 March 2013. matthayward.com.
5. Web site: Drugs . roughguides.com .
6. Web site: This Week: Doing drugs in Laos . Simonelli . Isaac . dicetravels.com .
7. Web site: How a Remote Laotian Village Became Asia's Cancun . Baron . Julie . vice.com .