Drinking Bhang Lassi: Rajasthan's Controversial Drink

Walking through the sun-baked streets of Jaisalmer, the golden city felt like a scene from a storybook. There were spice stalls everywhere, camels wandering past, and golden sandstone buildings glowing in the sun.

Amid all that, I stumbled upon a local drink that immediately caught my attention. No, I’m lying — I actually had known about this “bhang lassi” for a while, and I went out of my way to find it.

It’s something locals love, but as a visitor, I wasn’t quite sure what to expect. Curiosity got the better of me, and I had to give it a try.

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What is bhang lassi?

Very popular in India, lassi is a yogurt-based drink that’s often blended with spices and sometimes fruits. You can have it sweet or salty, on its own or as an accompaniment to your meals.

The milk in lassi is the perfect antidote to all that spice in your tikka masala.

But sometimes — in certain parts of India, like Jaisalmer — this innocent drink can also be blended with a special ingredient called bhang.

Bhang is edible cannabis. So, basically, bhang lassi is weed-infused smoothie. Sounds like heaven yet?

Is bhang lassi legal?

Drugs, including weed, are generally illegal in India. But India can be a very confusing place. For example, in some regions, marijuana plants grow freely along the roadside and nobody bats an eye. In fact, they make tea out of it.

Similarly, when it comes to bhang lassi, the government seems to turn a blind eye. There’s even a bhang lassi shop in Jaisalmer that claims to be “government-authorized.” Well, at least that’s what the signboard says.

Drinking bhang lassi in Jaisalmer India | Ummi Goes Where? — Government-authorized bhang shop.

Where to find bhang lassi in Jaisalmer

The government-authorized bhang lassi shop is located right at the gate of Jaisalmer Fort. You might find bhang lassi in other shops around town, probably cheaper, but then you can’t be sure what’s actually in your drink, or if there’s any bhang at all.

This shop is by far the most legit. Plus, a few other blogs have written about it, so it’s easy to verify.

What to expect at the bhang lassi shop

The shop is basically a hole in the wall. A small door opens to a narrow sitting area with a few chairs and a table. Posters on the wall show famous people who have visited.

Outside, there’s a fridge, a low table, and some pots and pans where the shopkeeper prepares the drinks.

I wasn’t allowed to take a picture of the menu, but they have an assortment of other drinks as well, including fruit juices, soda, coffee, tea, and hot chocolate.

You can order any drink you want and have them put bhang in it. And you can choose the strength — from light to medium to strong.

If drug-laced drinks aren’t your thing, they also sell bhang cookies and joints.

I ordered a sweet lassi with medium-strength bhang for 150 rupees. For just 50 rupees more, I could have gone for the stronger version, but I decided to heed another blogger’s warning that bhang lassi can make you loopy for hours.

Apparently, it’s much stronger than a joint or a space brownie.

White bhang lassi drink in a plastic cup — My sweet bhang lassi

What is it like to drink bhang lassi?

After slurping the last drops of my bhang lassi (which tasted just like a regular sweet lassi), I went back to my hostel, locked myself in my room, and waited for the effect to kick in.

Based on my experience with space brownies, I expected it would take at least 30 minutes to feel anything.

Thirty minutes later, nothing happened. I waited another hour, and then another, and then for the rest of the night. Unfortunately, nothing happened at all.

I don’t know if I got scammed or if my body had somehow developed a resistance to edible cannabis. I was tempted to go back to the shop the next day and try the stronger one, but I finally decided against it as I had already blown my budget.

Tips for taking bhang lassi safely

Individual results may vary. I didn’t feel anything with medium-strength bhang, but it’s still wise to start slow, especially if it’s your first time trying edibles.
Have a friend with you or someone you trust to look out for you and your belongings, in case you react badly.
Do not take bhang lassi before doing anything that requires focus, like driving a motorbike.
Avoid taking it on an empty stomach.
Stick to government-authorized shops rather than random street vendors.
Remember: drugs are illegal in India. This article is not intended to encourage consumption — see the disclaimer at the bottom of the page.