Is Hemp Legal in Bhutan?

Industrial hemp is illegal in Bhutan. The Department of Agriculture under the Ministry of Agriculture and Forests has not authorized commercial cultivation, and the NDPSSA Act 2015 sets no THC threshold to distinguish hemp from cannabis.

Wild cannabis (locally jab or jab marp) grows freely in Paro, Thimphu, Wangdue Phodrang, and Punakha valleys and has historically been used as pig fodder and rope fiber. Despite that prevalence, Bhutan's Tobacco Control Act 2010 legacy of strict substance regulation extends to cannabis, and small experimental hemp research has not progressed beyond academic discussion at the College of Natural Resources, Lobesa. Finished hemp food products are not retailed; smokable hemp is treated as cannabis. The country's Gross National Happiness policy framework has not produced legislative interest in commercializing hemp.

This page is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Verify current law with qualified counsel before making compliance decisions.