Is Weed Legal in Cambodia?

Last reviewed: August 6, 2026

Recreational and medical marijuana are illegal in Cambodia. The Law on the Control of Drugs lists cannabis as a prohibited narcotic plant, and the National Authority for Combating Drugs (NACD) coordinates enforcement with the Anti-Drug Department of the National Police.

Possession of any quantity is unlawful. Personal use and small-quantity possession for personal consumption carry short jail terms and fines under the drug law's consumption provisions, but police and prosecutors frequently charge possession as a supply offence, and foreign nationals have received sentences of a year or more for small amounts. Trafficking, sale, and cultivation for supply carry ten to twenty years' imprisonment, with life imprisonment available for large-scale or aggravated trafficking. Foreign nationals are prosecuted under the same statute, and tourist-area enforcement in Phnom Penh, Siem Reap, and Sihanoukville has tightened since the 2019-2020 crackdowns that closed informal happy-pizza venues.

Cannabis appears in some traditional Khmer dishes and was historically tolerated, but the modern statutory framework provides no exemption for culinary or cultural use. Medical cannabis is not authorized.

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