Both medical marijuana and recreational marijuana are illegal in Vietnam.
Medical marijuana is illegal, but CBD products are legal and must contain less than 0.3% THC; if the THC content exceeds 0.3%, it is treated as marijuana and is illegal.
Vietnam, like the Philippines and Singapore, is known for its strict penalties for the possession and use of marijuana. In Vietnam, marijuana is classified as a narcotic drug similar to heroin and cocaine.
In 2017, a large-scale drug trafficking and trafficking operation was busted in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, trafficking more than 200 kilograms, and about half of the 10 defendants were sentenced to death.
In addition, in 2018, a Canadian was administratively convicted of illegally cultivating marijuana in Vietnam. The Canadian possessed a Canadian marijuana cultivation license, which is invalid in Vietnam, and was therefore penalized.
Medical marijuana is illegal in Vietnam
Medical marijuana is illegal in Vietnam.
At present, there is no movement to legalize medical marijuana in Vietnam, indicating that the country is taking a tougher stance against marijuana than any other country in Southeast Asia.
Although Vietnam is currently taking a tough stance against marijuana, in the 1960s and 1970s, marijuana was widely distributed in Vietnam.
It is said that the main reason why marijuana was smoked so widely in Vietnam in the past was because of the Vietnam War, and that American and other soldiers who participated in the Vietnam War liked to smoke marijuana as a tension-relieving drug.
Penalties for tourists
In Vietnam, marijuana is illegal, but the police are very tolerant and will let you off with a fine of a few hundred dollars.
In Vietnam’s largest downtown areas, such as Bui Vien Street in Ho Chi Minh City and the entertainment district in Hanoi, police penalties are said to be lenient. However, one should not take these stories for granted, as there have been cases of foreigners being arrested.
Although marijuana is illegal in Vietnam, it is common to be approached by marijuana dealers in entertainment districts, making it relatively easy for tourists visiting Vietnam to access marijuana.
For your own protection, do not use marijuana in Vietnam.
CBD products are legal
CBD products are legal in Vietnam.
CBD products containing less than 0.3% THC are legal in Vietnam, and stores specializing in CBD products have opened in major cities such as Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi.
Since many young people in Vietnam enjoy vaping, CBD liquids and other products used in vaping are also popular.
Because CBD is legal, it is said that more young people vape and use CBD than smoke cigarettes. If you are interested in using CBD in Vietnam, you will find it relatively easy to find a specialty store that carries CBD products.
Will Vietnam legalize cannabis?
For now we can say no.
Vietnam treats cannabis as a drug in the same class as heroin and cocaine. It is also unlikely to legalize cannabis anytime soon due to the severe penalties.
However, CBD is legal, and the CBD market is expected to grow further in Vietnam.
Conclusion
We have introduced the cannabis situation in Vietnam.
Both medical marijuana and recreational marijuana are illegal in Vietnam.
However, marijuana is sometimes sold in downtown areas, so visitors to Vietnam should be careful not to touch marijuana. There are severe penalties for using or possessing marijuana in Vietnam.