Cannabis in Cambodia is illegal.[1] This prohibition is enforced opportunistically.[2][3][4] Many "Happy" restaurants located in Phnom Penh, Siem Reap and Sihanoukville publicly offer food cooked with marijuana, or as a side garnish.

Law

History

Cannabis was probably introduced to Southeast Asia around the 16th century, and used medicinally and in cuisine.[5] Cannabis has been traditionally grown in Cambodia and is a common ingredient in food. By 1961 in compliance with the Single Convention on Narcotics treaty it was technically made illegal but the law was unenforced, and marijuana was openly sold. In 1992 during a United Nations intervention the drug was specifically made illegal but still the law remained unenforced.[6]

Enforcement

Although it is illegal, police do not harass cannabis users and businesses openly sell cannabis products to the public.[7] As of 2009, the UNODC stated that cannabis production cultivation had "ceased to be a major concern" in Cambodia.[8]

Culture

Marijuana is openly sold in markets, restaurants, and bars. "Happy pizza" is the term for cannabis infused pizza frequently sold in restaurants across Cambodia. Among Cambodians it is viewed as something older people use and is not popular with the youth. [9] In tourist heavy areas "happy pizza" is more commonly sold due to its popularity among travelers.[10]

References

  1. ^ "Law on Drug Management (Drug Control)". Council for the Development of Cambodia. Archived from the original on 21 July 2018. Retrieved 16 July 2017. Article 2: Except for the cases of the article 14, the cultivation of opium poppy, cocoa plants, cannabis indica and cannabis sativa in the Kingdom of Cambodia, shall be prohibited.
  2. ^ Soenthrith, Saing (15 March 2013). "Foreigners Arrested in Siem Reap Marijuana Bust". Phnom Penh Post. Archived from the original on 8 September 2017. Retrieved 16 July 2017. Police in Siem Reap City on Tuesday arrested 18 people, including 14 foreign nationals, during raids on two establishments, where they confiscated a stash of marijuana and an as-yet-unidentified powder, police said.
  3. ^ Goldberg, Lina. "Recreational drugs in Cambodia". Move To Cambodia. Retrieved 16 July 2017. Foreigners are rarely prosecuted for small amounts of marijuana, but expect to pay a few bribes if you do get caught.
  4. ^ Harfenist, Ethan (30 May 2015). "The high life". Phnom Penh Post. Retrieved 16 July 2017.
  5. ^ Sidney Cohen (6 December 2012). The Therapeutic Potential of Marihuana. Springer Science & Business Media. pp. 3–. ISBN 978-1-4613-4286-1.
  6. ^ "The high life". phnompenhpost.com.
  7. ^ "Cambodia, Country". marijuanatravels.com. Archived from the original on 2018-02-11. Retrieved 2017-09-30.
  8. ^ William R. Brownfield (May 2011). International Narcotics Control Strategy Report: Volume I: Drug and Chemical Control. DIANE Publishing. pp. 179–. ISBN 978-1-4379-8272-5.
  9. ^ "Cannabis Cambodia: smoker's paradise". cannabisculture.com.
  10. ^ "Visitors are so happy to try marijuana-laced pizza in Cambodia". theculturetrip.com.
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