Cambodia: the best «space pizzas» on Earth

Cambodia can bring to mind many different things, depending on your age. If you lived through the Vietnam War, then Cambodia will forever be associated with a country at war. If you’re more of a Britney Spears era kind of person, Cambodia will likely be an exotic destination for you. And if you’ve already been there and you love weed, then Cambodia should make you think of only one thing: Happy Pizza.

It is a relatively little-known fact that a large number of pizza stands and a few restaurants, mainly in the capital, Phnom Penh, use cannabis as an ingredient in their «space-ialities.».

Marijuana is illegal in this little Asian paradise, but we often hear that the police turn a blind eye—especially when they walk away with a few bills.

In 2014, in an article in Vice Magazine, a journalist recalls his trips to Phnom Penh and a visit to a Happy Pizza restaurant, unaware that they season their signature dish with weed. He then ordered a vegetarian pizza with an «extra happy»—or, in other words, a pizza with cannabis. And he spent the night wandering the streets of Cambodia, more high than he had ever been.

To spot these little eateries, some have more obvious names like Happy Herb Pizza or Happy Special Pizza, with many reviews on TripAdvisor, particularly regarding the powerful effects that follow after tasting these weed pizzas.

But this Italian-inspired specialty isn’t the only dish to have been given a «high» factor. Most of these places also offer coconut milkshakes, which can make you “happy” for just one dollar more.

For now, the reform of Cambodia’s cannabis laws has stalled. You can easily find cannabis there, but legalization isn’t on the agenda. If you’re lucky enough to visit this beautiful country and are eager to explore local attractions, including the space pizza, this is the perfect opportunity (in moderation)!