Cannabis is illegal in Laos but a cannabis culture still exists.

Regulation

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]

References

  1. ↑ "Laos, Country". marijuanatravels.com. Archived from the original on 2017-09-29. Retrieved 2017-10-02.
  2. ↑ Human Rights Watch (22 June 2009). "End the Death Penalty for Drug-Related Offenses". Cannabis Culture. Cannabis Culture Magazine. Retrieved 23 September 2013.
  3. ↑ James Meikle (20 January 2010). "Briton returned to UK after Laos drug sentence loses battle to be freed". The Guardian. Retrieved 23 September 2013.
  4. ↑ "Why the pizza is happy in Laos". matthayward.com. 20 March 2013.
  5. ↑ "Drugs". roughguides.com.
  6. ↑ Simonelli, Isaac. "This Week: Doing drugs in Laos". dicetravels.com.
  7. ↑ Baron, Julie. "How a Remote Laotian Village Became Asia's Cancun". vice.com.


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