Across the vast majority of Southeast Asia, the official stance on the use of psychedelic substances in any context whatsoever is one of severe prohibition. This is underpinned by some of the most brutal punitive measures. The death penalty remains one of the key elements in state policy for tackling drug trafficking in countries such as Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore, Vietnam, Thailand, and more.
Indonesia maintains one of the strictest anti-drug regimes and classifies any substance containing DMT (the active ingredient in substances like Ayahuasca) as a Level 1 narcotic – the same category as heroin. There is even a shocking lack of distinction between actual traffickers and those simply imbibing these substances. Even possession of a substance without any intent to supply others may hold the potential of life sentences in prison. Even the death penalty is still a possibility for such seemingly minor offences. Tourists can often be caught out by this, unaware of the severity of the laws. Even in the last several months, a British tourist narrowly escaped the death penalty and has received a one-year sentence for literally being handed a package containing MDMA.
Vietnam has a similar attitude towards drug use. Again, the death penalty is routinely applied for trafficking offences. LSD, for example, is what is known as “absolutely prohibited”, which means it is completely banned from usage in a medical context, as well as a social/recreational one. This apparent legal severity is a result of a large amount of political baggage, which defines substance use as a “social evil” or “social disease” that is seen as a threat to national security. Both Singapore and Malaysia are also noted for the particular severity of the punitive measures they employ. Harsh measures, as opposed to public health-oriented approaches to substance use and misuse, are the norm throughout the region.
In stark contrast to the official, incredibly strict, draconian laws surrounding these substances, a seeming grey area is growing. In certain areas, a completely different reality simultaneously exists, driven almost exclusively by the economics of tourism. This has created an increasingly growing chasm between the law as it is written and how it is actually administered day-to-day.
Thailand provides a particularly powerful example of this. While psilocybin containing mushrooms are completely illegal, defined as a Category 5 narcotic, which could hold the potential for up to 15 years in prison, depending on the severity of the crime. Enforcement of this, however, is extremely inconsistent. Cannabis, LSD, methamphetamine, and mushrooms are openly advertised for purchase at low costs. Referred to as “Happy Shakes” or “Magic Shakes,” these drinks contain mushrooms or a potential cocktail of psychoactive chemicals. These are sold in tourist-heavy areas, such as islands like Koh Samui and Koh Phangan. This ready availability, combined with the severity of the laws, creates an extremely high-risk environment. Consumers are completely unprotected and vulnerable, and law enforcement is often corrupt. Sellers are even reported to both sell substances to tourists and subsequently inform the authorities, in exchange for the forthcoming bribe.
These dangers are intrinsic to a society with a complete lack of social care in this area, with such a large legal grey area. They were highlighted with the recent death of a tourist in Chiang Mai, in late 2024, as a result of consuming unsafe, magic mushrooms. Cambodia provides another example of a similar legal situation. Mushrooms and psychedelics as a whole are strictly illegal, but once again, their sale is largely ignored by authorities, especially in areas with a lot of tourism activity. I think it is worth highlighting again here that the resulting uncertainty fosters an environment in which the right to consume a psychoactive substance can be immediately and randomly revoked at any time. This leaves tourists especially open to corruption, arrest, or significant health issues.
Existing in complete opposition to the region’s severe legal frameworks is a rapidly growing commercial industry centred on psychedelic wellness. This caters almost exclusively to Western tourists seeking relief from the stresses of their lives. It takes advantage of the extremely cheap costs of running a business and lax law enforcement in Southeast Asia. Bali, in Indonesia, has emerged as somewhat of an international hub for psychedelic tourism, regardless of the seemingly looming shadow of the death penalty for those providing these services. While the wellness centres do not often explicitly advertise the fact that illegal drugs are a part of what they offer, it is widely recognised.
Ayahuasca is the most common substance used at these retreats. The sheer number on offer is staggering, and incredibly easy to find with a simple Google search. What is perhaps amusing about this, in terms of the exploitation of Westerners and their lack of knowledge aside from seeking “spiritual reawakening”, is that Ayahuasca has zero history of use in Southeast Asia. Ayahuasca ceremonies are a spiritual practice indigenous to the Amazon basin of South America. Here, then, we see a stark example of the effects of capitalism on practices with strong spiritual and societal importance. Wholesale exporting substances, rituals, and even practitioners into a Southeast Asian setting is a sad example of globalisation gone wild. Large demand by Westerners for therapeutic experiences involving the consumption of psychedelics, which are legally difficult to obtain at home, has produced a product completely detached from its history. This is the worst part of the commercialisation of the space. The lack of history, and therefore knowledge, just furthers the lack of adequate safety, controls, and honesty required for the space to be truly successful, on a more than monetary basis.
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