As more and more states legalize cannabis, you’ll have some vacation opportunities that didn’t exist before. Cannabis tourism isn’t a new idea; it’s taken many forms over the past several years (and much longer if you include, say, Amsterdam).
But there are always new developments, and demand for cannabis-related travel seems to be surging, with one study showing that nearly 40% of the active leisure travel audience is motivated by cannabis-related experiences. Here’s a look at some options:
If you like avoiding hotels in favor of home-sharing services like Airbnb or VRBO, you should know that there are cannabis-focused rental sites out there. The largest (and certainly the best-named) of these is budandbreakfast.com, offering weed-friendly rentals where you’re free to smoke. In some cases, the host even provides marijuana, edibles or even cannabis-based meals.
Headed for Vegas? Your wait may soon be over. After several years of delays and legislative wrangling, up to 20 cannabis lounges could be opening in the near future. Applications are being accepted in October and quick approvals are expected, offering a further boost to the $1 billion marijuana market in Nevada.
You’ll have a slightly longer wait in Ithaca, New York, where a couple of Cornell graduates are fundraising for a 65-room cannabis-themed boutique hotel with live plants, a spa, and yoga and art studios. Look for completion sometime in 2025. In the meantime, there are already cannabis-themed hotels scattered about the country.
And if you’re a fan of Kentucky’s Bourbon Trail or the countless wine trails nationwide, know that Oakland, California is thinking of you. The Oakland Cannabis Trail offers a self-guided tour through leading retailers, with a trail map, directory and events calendar. One caution: though cannabis is legal in California, consuming it in public is not.
Note that cannabis travel, especially the hotels and vacation rentals, tend to be targeted at the higher-end traveler. Put another way, your stay will cost a good bit more than a typical hotel or rental. And you still can’t take your weed with you if your trip involves air travel. But it’s good to see more, and more creative, options for the cannabis-oriented traveler.
