Bhutan: Cannabis in the Wild

Cannabis grows wild and is very abundant in Bhutan – from midrange elevations down to lower elevations and especially in the way toward the southern border (around Zhemgang and lower). It’s anywhere you look in the forest – from small plants to massive bigger-the-human stalks. It was likely introduced to Bhutan in medieval times by the Silk Road caravans and is know as “Phakpa Nam” (pig feed). It was and still is widely used for non-psychoactive purposes, such as feeding pigs to fatten them, producing textiles, ropes, and bowstrings. The strain that is growing in Bhutan is known as Thimphu cannabis – a narrow-leaf subtype of Cannabis sativa sp. indica – and is considered to have very high THC content. Interestingly, nobody knew about marijuana here and it’s “other” use until 1999 – the year television was legalized and also tourism was allowed. Possession or sale of it is illegal under the Bhutan law and prison terms are severe. And nobody seemingly pays any attention whatsoever to the endless expanses of dope growing as far as the eye can see!