Cannabis Freedom Index
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Bhutan

Asia

Prohibition

#146 of 196 worldwide
#18 of 48 in Asia

Recreational: IllegalMedical: None

Cannabis grows wild across the country but possession is a criminal offence.

Score breakdown ▏world average

Select a segment to show or hide the exact rules and sources.

Possession · 25%1/10
adds 2.5 of 25 points

Cannabis is controlled under the Narcotic Drugs, Psychotropic Substances and Substance Abuse Act 2015. An amendment gives cannabis special treatment: a person holding up to twice the scheduled quantity, who tests positive and has no trafficking record, is charged with 'substance abuse' — leading to treatment and counselling — instead of trafficking. Larger amounts are treated as intent to supply, with prison of several years.

Personal cultivation · 25%0/10
adds 0.0 of 25 points

Cultivation is illegal, although cannabis grows wild across Bhutan and was traditionally used as pig feed and for fibre.

Punishment & enforcement · 20%2/10
adds 4.0 of 20 points

Treatment-first for small-scale cannabis users, prison for anything that looks like dealing; youth drug arrests are a prominent public concern.

Sharing & gifting · 10%0/10
adds 0.0 of 10 points

Trafficking carries heavy sentences, scaled to quantity.

Consumption · 10%1/10
adds 1.0 of 10 points

Use is the 'substance abuse' offence, handled through compulsory treatment and rehabilitation, with penalties for repeat cases.

Legal access · 10%0/10
adds 0.0 of 10 points

None.

More context not part of the score

Commercial production

None.

Products

None.

Medical use

No medical cannabis.

Other consequences

Compulsory treatment is recorded; a trafficking conviction is a serious criminal record.

All sources

  1. The Bhutanese — Narcotics (Amendment) Bill passed with more clarity
  2. The Bhutanese — Narcotics Drugs bill to penalize traffickers severely
  3. TripBase — Bhutan cannabis laws

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