May I just reiterate warnings to those who are thinking of possessing drugs in South East Asia.
Some friends and I recently went back packing across thailand. To my great annoyance several of my friends decided that they could not travel around the country without smoking bud. The main way we used to get around from town to town was via my friends car (he is an American citizen but has lived in thailand all his life, so he is familiar with the laws and police practices so should have known better). The problem with driving around in thailand is that have police and army checkpoints on the roads, where they can stop and search cars whenever they want. My friends were inconsiderate dickheads and put the entire group at risk of heavy jail time as at times they were travelling with up to 2 onces of bud! I constantly complained about the danger of this and yet they still wanted to smoke in the car whilst driving around heavily checkpointed areas, even on the boarder of thailand and burma, where there are thorough inspections due to the level of drug trafficking in the area. I was not listened too, and was even accused of being paranoid and annoying!
Anyway to cut the story short, two of my friends (one of them the american who lived in thailand and the other an aussie) where travelling back from Laos and were driving through thailand back to bangkok. They had a small amount of weed on them. there is a strong possibility that they were stupid enough to be carrying weed across the Laos/thai border which could of landed them in very severe trouble. Anyway, they passed through a checkpoint and were told that the car was going to be searched. Around 3grams of bud was found and both were imprisoned for a short amount of time. they had to share a cell with 50 other people, some of whom were murderers and rapists. The aussie friend was let go with no charge, but the other friend, who owned the car was detained further. Though been able to speak fluent thai, and having plenty of money he was unable to secure a bribe to be released without charge. He has been charged, is currently on bail and will face court in a few months. he may face jail time, or he may be fined and deported to the states and have his student visa to australia revoked. either way he is screwed.
The point of this story? Be fucking careful with drugs in Asia! Don't travel with drugs, don't carry drugs on you in public. In many of these countries police can search you for no reason at all. they are also corrupt and have been known to plant drugs on you. the police go undercover and pretend to be dealers, particulalry at the full moon parties at Koh Phagnan thailand. dealers will also dob in tourists for a cut of the bribes. If you can't afford to pay the bribes ( 50,000 baht in thailand = $2000), then you will be charged and probably go to jail. and remember you must have the language skills necessary to negotiate a bribe.
My advice do not take drugs in South-East Asia. if you do take the risk, don't carry in public, do it in private, be very careful who you buy off and maybe just stick to mushroom shakes that can be bought at some places. they are still illegal but are more tolerated by the police.