Consuming Cannabis Abroad: Marijuana Travel Tips for Southeast Asia

Have you ever spent all day scrolling through Instagram and marveling at all the travel experiences people have? If you have Instagram, the answer might be, ‘yes.’ If it is, have you also wondered about any of these travelers consuming cannabis abroad? While you may have heard that consuming cannabis abroad is no big deal and that Amsterdam is a free-for-all and Barcelona has incredible ‘clubs’ for the socially savvy.

What you might not realize however, is that cannabis is still illegal in most countries around the world. Not just illegal, but very illegal. Punishments like ‘forever in prison’ and ‘execution’ might sound extreme, but it’s what you’ll find in some countries.

Let’s look at a few places you can easily access cannabis, the quality of what you can find in Southeast Asia, what you should expect to pay for it, and the best places to consume.

Before we get started, here are a few places you shouldn’t even think about consuming cannabis unless you want to risk dealing with some serious consequences. Because the risk isn’t worth it, never smoke cannabis in these countries:

That being said, there are some countries where the risk is worth it. Here are two Southeast Asian countries that might be worth visiting for the cannabis experience.

Although the country recently legalized medical marijuana, take caution here because not all of Thailand is appropriate for consuming cannabis. While there are places in the north, like Pai, that are known for being hippie destinations. Other cities like Bangkok and Chiang Mai pose much more risk.

Pai (pictured here) is known for its appeal to "hippie culture." photo credit

The risk you take depends on who catches you with cannabis. For example, you can easily get cannabis from a tuk-tuk driver in Bangkok, but that tuk-tuk driver might immediately notify their police officer friend who will bust you and give you two choices: either empty your bank account of a couple thousand dollars for their own pocket, or spend some time in a notoriously disgusting Thai prison. On the other hand, get caught with cannabis by the Army, you won’t get the first option offered to you. Here a few ways to find cannabis without getting in trouble in Thailand.

• Have a solid connection with another foreigner. You’ll find people like this in Pai. Just make friends, and you might be able to find some decent Thai herb at a good price.
• Head to the bars and be discreet. This is a good way to find cannabis around the islands in the south. There are plenty of bars, often tucked away, where you’ll see others smoking freely and rolling joints on the tables. In these types of places, you’ll generally find brick weed. It’s not very good, but it’s cheap (a 50-gram brick is around 2,500-3,000 baht). You can also get pre-rolled spliffs for a couple hundred baht, but they’ll always be mixed with tobacco.

If you plan to consume cannabis in Thailand, Pai and the southern islands, like Koh Phangan, are your best bets. If you’re transporting it, keep it tucked tightly up under your privates as police aren’t allowed to frisk your genitals, ladies can also store it in their bras without fear of being groped.

If you haven’t heard of Cambodia, you’re not alone. It’s not a huge tourist destination. However, if you’re looking for the best country to consume cannabis in Southeast Asia, then Cambodia is your spot.

Cannabis has been used throughout Cambodian history as an herb in their food. Cambodians frequently cook with it and make tea with it. Strangely, very few locals smoke it. However, they have discovered the tourists do like to smoke it and they use that opportunity to make extra money (most Cambodians have very little income for reasons we won’t go into detail about here).

Not only can you freely order cannabis on your pizza or in a milkshake, but you can also speak discreetly with your waiter or the owner about purchasing some to-go. For $10-$20, they’ll slip you a bag that’s about the size of your palm. It’s not great stuff, and you might even occasionally get a seedy bag, but it’s better than the brick weed in Thailand.

Although not a major tourist destination, Cambodia is known for a robust cannabis culture. photo credit

In fact, most cannabis consumers will tell you that the best stuff in Cambodia is found further south. So, in Siem Reap, you’re more likely to get a bunch of seeds. In the south, like in Otres Beach, you’ll have a better chance of scoring something grown hydroponically and with a little better care. Again, it’s not fantastic, but you’re in Southeast Asia where it’s technically still illegal.

The same transportation suggestions apply as in Thailand. Tuck it away somewhere discreet. If you get stopped at a police checkpoint, they’ll gladly search your bags, open your cigarette boxes, and scour your pockets.

Southeast Asia is not the best place to consume cannabis abroad, but it can be a pleasant experience if you keep your wits about you and procure and consume it discreetly.

Keep in mind that you aren’t in the West, your plea of ignorance won’t help you, and getting caught may mean you’ll be down a couple thousand dollars in ‘administrative fees’ that will be paid in cash to the happy officer who catches you. Stay safe and happy consuming!

Do you have any tips for travelers looking for cannabis? Share them in the comments below!