Can Recreational Cannabis bring Connecticut some much need tourism?
Cannabis Tourism you don’t say? We are glad someone is paying attention. Hopefully with the assistance of larger publications like Forbes, maybe our politicians will finally understand the bigger picture of the opportunity cannabis can provide. Not all tax revenues relating to cannabis are going to be based on recreational consumer sales. Tourism is only one of the ancillary businesses that can benefit from recreational legalization. It is already happening right here in New England.
Within 3 hours or less, Connecticut residents can travel to eight different states for a vacation or day trip. Luckily for cannabis consumers the laws surrounding our state are very welcoming. While it still remains illegal to transport cannabis across state lines, it doesn’t mean you have to necessarily travel under fear. Understanding regional laws can truly accentuate your time away for your much needed rest and relaxation.
-Dabbin Dad
The Next Big Thing In Cannabis: Tourism
By Nick Kovacevich
In May, women of all ages and occupations gathered south of San Francisco for a weekend of yoga, educational classes, spa treatments — and unlimited cannabis in every form imaginable, including smoothies, body creams and vapes. The so-called “cannabis tourists” came from all over the world to experience a Ganja Goddess Getaway, a wellness retreat designed for women who already love cannabis, as well as those who want a safe space to try it for the first time.
“Cannabis attracts everyone, from lawyers to truckers,” says co-founder Deidra Bagdasarian, who also created Bliss Edibles, now one of the premier cannabis confectioneries in the U.S. There’s been so much interest in her “glamp-out” cannabis weekends that she’s expanding across the country this year and overseas in 2019.
Colorado
Bagdasarian isn’t alone. Cannabis tourism is growing at a fast clip, drawing thousands of people — and millions of dollars — to states where adult use of cannabis is legal. In Colorado alone, cannabis tourism has grown 51% since 2014, according to a report from the state’s department of revenue. The Colorado DOR said the state attracted some 6.5 million cannabis tourists in 2016, the most recent figures available. It estimates that number will have grown by at least 6% in 2017 and will match or exceed that figure this year. The report said those 6.5 million tourists logged nearly 18 million cannabis-use days in 2016, a clear demonstration of how the state racked up more than $5.2 billion in marijuana sales since it legalized cannabis in January 2014.
California
Meanwhile in California, “wine and weed” tours are becoming increasingly more popular. Party buses, with the driver sealed off from smoking passengers, tour wineries and dispensaries, allowing tourists to sample the various products on offer. Like Ganja Goddess, the tours, which cater to food and wine enthusiasts, attract both experienced marijuana users and newbies. Across the country there are also “puff and paint” events, featuring cannabis tastings, wine and the chance to paint your own masterpiece. One tour company plays on the mystique of cannabis, offering tours “behind the curtain” of the legal marijuana industry in six states, along with some sampling along the way. Major newspapers such as the San Francisco Chronicle now feature travel-section stories detailing the “five best places for marijuana tourism,” highlighting luxury cannabis getaways and DIY holidays. Read more.
H/T: Forbes
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