Laos
Is CBD Legal in Laos?
Status
Restricted
Covers
Jurisdiction
Last updated
August 6, 2026
The short answer
Last reviewed: August 6, 2026
CBD is tightly restricted in Laos. The Law on Narcotics No. 10/NA (2007) places cannabis in its controlled schedules without a general cannabidiol exemption, but Ministry of Health Decision No. 3789/MOH of 28 December 2022 opened a narrow legal pathway: approved companies may cultivate, process, and trade low-THC hemp for medical and commercial purposes, and CBD health supplements, cosmetics, and beverages containing less than 0.2% THC may be marketed if registered with the Ministry of Health Food and Drug Department. Dried flower up to 1% THC is limited to prescription use.
Outside that licensing and registration system, CBD oils, tinctures, gummies, and topicals are still treated as controlled cannabis products regardless of THC content. Lao Customs at Wattay International Airport continues to seize unregistered CBD products carried by tourists arriving from Thailand. Penalties under the Narcotics Law and the 2017 Penal Code mirror those for cannabis: imprisonment from months to years for possession, escalating sharply for distribution or import.
This page is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Verify current law with qualified counsel before making compliance decisions.
Key facts ·
Laos
Key facts
Rules at a glance
THC limit
0.2% THC for registered CBD products; 1% for prescription dried flower
Regulator
Ministry of Health Food and Drug Department; LCDC
Key regulation
Law on Narcotics No. 10/NA (2007); MOH Decision No. 3789/MOH (2022)
Effective
December 28, 2022
Adult-use cannabis
Illegal
Medical cannabis
Limited
For brands and importers
Import and export rules
Unlicensed CBD imports are prohibited and treated as narcotics imports. Companies approved under Decision No. 3789/MOH (2022) may import and export hemp-derived products within registered THC limits. Travelers crossing from Thailand, where CBD with under 0.2% THC is permitted, still face seizure of unregistered products at Friendship Bridge checkpoints.
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