Well-known images from Washington, Colorado, Oregon and Alaksa – the four states that have legalized marijuana for recreational use.
By Marisa Willman
Move over, Amsterdam and Vancouver (sometimes known as “Vansterdam” for its notoriously loose, yet still illegal, pot culture): There’s a new plume of cannabis tourism locales on the rise in the United States.
Amsterdam has long topped lists of destinations for travelers seeking legal recreational marijuana, but new laws across the U.S. are producing a fresh crop of hot pot spots.
Colorado and Washington were the first states to legalize recreational marijuana, and both states began sales in 2014. More recently, Oregon, Alaska and Washington, D.C. have voted to legalize recreational marijuana, with sales likely to begin sometime in 2016 in Oregon and Alaska, while the debate over the details of marijuana legalization continues in D.C.
The nation’s capital aside, there’s no doubt travelers are showing interest in taking toke-worthy trips now that the option is there. Data from Cheapflights.com showed travelers were significantly more interested in traveling to Colorado, Washington State, Alaska and Oregon in 2014 than they were in 2013 — a trend likely to continue as the recreational markets develop. In fact, flight searches for Washington State on Cheapflights.com jumped 82% from 2013 to 2014, while flight searches to Alaska went up a whopping 204% year-on-year between 2013 and 2014
So what do you need to know before taking a trip to one of these rising tourist destinations in the U.S.? And how can business owners capitalize on this influx of visitors? Take a look at this snapshot of the U.S. destinations where lighting up is already, or at least soon to be, legal.
Colorado
Voters in Colorado legalized recreational marijuana use in November 2012, with retail sale of cannabis starting in January 2014. Flight searches to Colorado jumped 37% from 2013 to 2014 — an indication that travelers are showing increased interest in The Centennial State. Visitors to Colorado — or the now even more aptly named Mile High City of Denver — are welcome to indulge, with a few caveats. You’ll need to be at least 21 years old and present photo ID to enter a cannabis retail store. Out-of-towners can still purchase marijuana, but they are limited to seven grams, whereas Colorado residents can purchase up to an ounce. The state law also allows for anyone to possess up to one ounce of marijuana.
When it comes time to partake, visitors should be aware that marijuana cannot legally be consumed in public places. Colorado’s recreational marijuana legalization also came with a new DUI law, so avoid getting behind the wheel if using marijuana.
As far as bringing your stash back home? Don’t even think about it. Marijuana is still illegal under federal law, so make sure to enjoy your recreational stash within Colorado’s state lines.
During 2014, Colorado registered nearly $700 million of both medical and recreational cannabis.
The Colorado Department of Revenue’s Marijuana Enforcement Division reported more than 17 tons of marijuana flowers being sold in its first year of recreational sales — still dwarfed by the medical market, which moved nearly 50 tons of product.
By the end of 2014, there were 322 retail stores licensed in Colorado, to go along with 1,416 medical marijuana businesses. While Denver is a hot-spot for cannabis activity, much of the state remains in the dark ages. There are 228 jurisdictions across Colorado that prohibit both medical and recreational marijuana businesses, compared to 67 that allow both.
Washington State
Washington voters legalized marijuana for recreational use at the same time Coloradans did, though it took longer for the Evergreen State to implement sales. July 2014 saw the first shops open. Current state law caps the total number of retail stores at 334, although only 125 were officially licensed as of early April 2015.
The delay hasn’t deterred travelers, though. At the end of 2013, Washington was 12th most searched state on Cheapflights.com; a year later, it now sits at sixth.
The regulations for consumers are quite similar to Colorado: People can purchase recreational marijuana at any of the state-licensed shops, as long as they’re at least 21 years old and have valid photo ID. Washington’s law doesn’t differentiate when it comes to purchase limits between residents and visitors, so anybody can buy up to an ounce of flowers, 16 ounces of solids or 72 ounces of liquids.
Again, avoid lighting up in public or driving while under the influence, and keep in-state purchases within Washington’s borders.
In its abbreviated first year of retail sales, Washington businesses sold about $64 million of legal cannabis in 2014.
Oregon
Soon, Washington won’t be the only Pacific Northwest locale where visitors will be able to consume cannabis legally. Oregon voters approved cannabis legalization in November 2014. However, the law doesn’t take effect until July 2015, and sales likely won’t begin until 2016. Nevertheless, travel interest is already on the rise: Flight searches to Oregon on Cheapflights.com climbed 34% from 2013 to 2014.
The same age restriction applies as the other states, but many of the other details remain up in the air. State law allows for purchase limits of one ounce, but an individual can possess up to eight ounces legally in private.
Alaska
Alaska became the fourth state in the union to legalize recreational cannabis in November 2014. The law took effect in 2015, but travelers looking to light up should wait to take their Alaska trips until 2016, when sales will likely begin. The state is still in the rulemaking process, so many of the details about retail stores, cultivation and the rest of the industry remain unknown.
Although other factors are clearly at play, interest in Alaska has been on the rise for several years. According to data from Cheapflights.com, flight searches to the Last Frontier almost tripled between 2012 and 2014, and the destination went from being the 34th most searched state at the end of 2013 to the 22nd most searched at the end of 2014.
Washington, D.C.
The nation’s capital also voted to legalize possession of cannabis for recreational purposes during the 2014 election, but the future of the industry remains hazy, at best, due to opposition from some members of Congress.
It’s now legal to possess marijuana in Washington, D.C., but there are no plans in place for a regulated industry. Sales are still prohibited, but cannabis can be gifted from one person to another. Recently, the D.C. Cannabis Campaign hosted a free seed exchange, where local residents could give or receive cannabis seeds, so long as no money exchanged hands.
This article was originally published by Cheapflights.com, and reprinted with permission.
: http://www.cheapflights.com/news/cannabis-tourism-travel-us-pot-spots/