According to a recent article published on the Forbes website, cannabis tourism is booming. However, there is some concern that travelers may not be ready for this budding industry. From coast to coast, you can find a place in America where cannabis is legal that you can enjoy a vacation too. From New York on the east coast to California on the West Coast and even Oklahoma smack dab in the middle of it all, cannabis tourism is beginning to increase.
Statistics predict the rapidly budding cannabis industry to reach a worth of an estimated $90 billion dollars by as early as 2026. Forbes suggested research conducted back in 2020 showed, “nearly 20% of all adult Americans qualify as cannabis-motivated travelers.”
The growing cannabis industry and tourism associated with it are said to be driven largely by women. Nidhi Lucky Hands, founder of cannabis-forward lifestyle brand LEUNE, was quoted telling media sources, “if women make 80% of the spending decisions in the American household, if we buy the beer and the food and the clothes, we’re going to buy the weed.”
With that in mind, when it comes to travel destinations, you can bet your bottom dollar where the majority of that decision comes from. States that have embraced legal adult-use / recreational cannabis or medical cannabis have seen an increase in cannabis tourism. However, not all places that have recreational or medical cannabis see an increase in tourism.
Oklahoma and Medical Cannabis Tourism
Do you have a medical cannabis card in Missouri, Ohio, Maryland, or another state with legal access to medical cannabis? If so, you could plan a getaway to Oklahoma and legally have access to medical cannabis. Oklahoma allows out-of-state medical cannabis cardholders the option of signing up for an out-of-state medical marijuana ID. For $100 fee residents of another state that have a valid state-issued medical cannabis card can receive a 30-day renewable temporary license from Oklahoma. This allows visitors with the temporary license access to all cannabis dispensaries in the state of Oklahoma.
Living on Tulsa Time can be quite inviting especially when you have legal access to your medicine. Oklahoma has loads of things to see and do. You can visit the Center of the Universe in Tulsa. While you are there, you could also check out the house from the legendary film The Outsiders. If you’re hungry or thirsty or looking for a place to stay, there is the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Tulsa. If outdoor activities are your thing the lower half of the state from Ardmore over to the Kingston Oklahoma area offers some impeccable state parks and lakes loaded with everything from fossil hunting and bike trails to camping dining and more.
Oklahoma is a beautiful state with a little bit of everything from deserts to mountains and in between. Whether you’re exploring the dinosaur tracks in Oklahoma’s panhandle on the western side of the state, living on Tulsa Time in the middle of the state, dancing along the Oklahoma Arkansas line exploring the mountainous regions of the Ouachita National Forest, Oklahoma has a little something for everyone, even if you’re an out-of-state medical cannabis patient. Remember, a valid medical cannabis card is required for possession of any THC cannabis products in the state of Oklahoma.
California Dreaming
If you are a cannabis consumer and have always dreamed about a vacation or getaway to California, what are you waiting for?! In the state of California, both medical and recreational cannabis are legal. If you are 21 years of age or older with a valid state-issued ID, you can purchase recreational cannabis legally anywhere it is sold in California. This makes the Golden State an open playground for cannabis tourism.
You can visit the legendary Emerald Triangle, where some of the most legendary cannabis in the world comes from. You can explore the oceans and mountains of the region and take in the breathtaking beauty of Sequoia and giant redwood trees. You can walk along a black beach, or you can surf, skim, or tan on the sands of one of many other beaches up and down the picturesque western coastline. Speaking of coastline, you might want to take a drive down the Pacific Coastal Highway.
You could visit Disney World or SeaWorld, or you can get lost in Death Valley or stroll along the cliff sides of San Francisco to reach the Golden Gate Bridge. The point is, that there are endless things to do in California. Since California allows both recreational and medical cannabis, the state is an open playground for cannabis tourism and all those looking to experience an elevated getaway! California has something for everyone. Perhaps you live on the West Coast and have always wanted to see something different and explore the east coast. If you’re a cannabis consumer, and this is the case, you may want to consider a trip to the Big Apple.
New York, New Cannabis Scene
New York, home of the Big Apple, is a place that used to be not so cannabis-friendly. Recently New York passed a recreational cannabis law. Now the state allows both medical cannabis and recreational cannabis. This makes New York the perfect place for an East Coast cannabis getaway.
New York, like many places with both medical and recreational cannabis, allow adults 21 and older with valid state-issued IDs access to legally purchase cannabis. New York does have a bonus that other states don’t. When it comes to where you can smoke cannabis, New York will let you smoke anywhere that tobacco smoking is allowed. This means if you can’t smoke tobacco, you can’t smoke anything at all.
This means if you can legally walk down the road smoking a cigarette, you could blaze a joint. In fact, it’s a very common occurrence in the state of New York, especially in New York City. Since cannabis is legal in New York for both medical and recreational use, tourism stands to grow substantially in the Empire State.
The majority of America supports cannabis legalization. I’m guessing the majority of America doesn’t want to be arrested or prosecuted while on vacation because of cannabis. This means that cannabis consumers are more likely to stay away from states that don’t allow legal access to cannabis for out-of-state visitors, instead opting for cannabis-friendly states. The cannabis industry is so much more than just a multi-billion-dollar tax revenue generating industry. It’s an industry thriving against an unjust and cruel government.
Cannabis May be Legal, but is it Really Legal
Cannabis is legal for adult recreational use in 18 states and even more medically. That doesn’t mean it is actually legal. Cannabis is still considered a Schedule 1 substance by the US federal government. This makes matters complicated. If you are on vacation visiting a state that allows legal access to cannabis, there are some things you need to know.
In many places where cannabis is legal, legal places for visitors to consume it are difficult to come by. Just because cannabis is legal in the state doesn’t mean it is legal for you to consume anywhere. You are not allowed to consume cannabis in your vehicle or in your hotel room unless you have made special cannabis-friendly accommodations.
Taking cannabis home as a souvenir is another big no-no. Even if you have a medical cannabis license, traveling across state lines with cannabis can land you in trouble. This poses a concern for citizens who live in Missouri that travel to Oklahoma for cannabis. Missouri issues a medical cannabis card. Medical cannabis is poor quality and overpriced in Missouri, so cardholders drive to Oklahoma to purchase cannabis. If cardholders are caught driving back home with cannabis from Oklahoma, they could face a complicated legal struggle.
Before you make any plans to visit a cannabis-friendly state be sure you are aware of what you can and can’t do while there. Some states have access to cannabis lounges while others do not. Most legal cannabis consumption is only allowed in private residences. By remembering to take these factors into consideration, and plan ahead, you can have an extra piece of mind that your canna vacation will be a lit one whether you are a casual consumer or medical cannabis patient.
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