Is Weed Legal in Cambodia?

Recreational and medical marijuana are illegal in Cambodia. The Law on the Control of Drugs (2012, amended 2020) lists cannabis as a Group I narcotic alongside heroin and methamphetamine, and the National Authority for Combating Drugs (NACD) coordinates enforcement with the Anti-Drug Department of the National Police.

Possession of any quantity is criminal. Articles 40 and 41 prescribe two to five years for personal-use quantities, while possession with intent to sell ranges from five to ten years. Trafficking of cannabis in commercial quantities falls under Article 44 and carries fifteen years to life. Cultivation under Article 42 attracts five to ten years. 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.