Colorado may draw in tourists for its high altitude Rocky Mountains, but that isn't the only high tourists might be getting in the state. Marijuana tourism might be on the rise in Colorado and Washington after the states voted to legalize the drug.
According to the measure that was passed, adults, over the age of 21, can possess small amounts of marijuana. This goes for residents and visitors. Tourists won't be able to take a weed souvenir back home with them, but they can purchase and use it while in Colorado or Washington.
Marijuana fans might not be able to celebrate just yet and tourists might want to wait before booking their next flight to Colorado or Washington, as the legalization of the drug still has more battles to face. Under federal law, marijuana is still illegal. Lawsuits may arise from the U.S. Department of Justice, which may prevent the drug from truly being able to be used legally.
If the drug does truly become legal, some believe that Colorado could turn into the next Amsterdam, as the Aspen Times had the headline "Aspendam?" the day after the legislation passed. Tourism is the second biggest industry in the state and some believe legal weed could change the industry, but otherz say it won't affect too much.
"It won't be as big a deal as either side hopes or fears," Colorado's tourism director, Al White told the Associated Press.
Ski resort owners are definitely paying close attention to which way the weed battle goes, but they aren't making any set plans just yet.
When Jennifer Rudolph of Colorado Ski Country USA, a trade association that represents 21 Colorado resorts, was asked if the resorts would open marijuana cafe's, she said "There's a lot that remains to be seen," Rudolph said with a chuckle. "I guess you could say we're waiting for the smoke to clear."
Those in ski resort regions showed strong support for the legalization of the drug. These busy tourist areas showed more support than less visited areas. Aspen approved the measure in a 3-to-1 vote. Vail, the home of the biggest ski resort in the state, approved of the measure by two-thirds. Those near the Telluride ski resort showed the most support with 8 in 10 people approving of the measure, according to AP.
"Some folks might come to Colorado to enjoy some marijuana as will be their right. So what?" Betty Aldworth, advocacy director for the Colorado marijuana campaign told AP.
Aldworth admitted that people already smoke weed in smoke shacks at various ski resorts.
"Some folks come to Colorado and enjoy some marijuana while they are here today," Aldworth said.
While some don't think it will change tourism too much, other think the legalization of marijuana will keep tourists and business travelers from coming to the state.
"Colorado's brand will be damaged, and we may attract fewer conventions and see a decline in leisure travel," Visit Denver CEO Richard Scharf said in a statement.
Colorado's governor John Hickenlooper opposed the marijuana measure. He doesn't think tourists will come to the state just for some weed.
"I don't think that's going to happen," Gov. Hickenlooper said. "They're going to flock here to buy marijuana as if they're going to take it back? On an airplane? That seems unlikely to me."
While some are skeptical about marijuana tourism in Colorado, it seems more likely to occur in Washington as the state already draws in over 250,000 people to its "Hempfest" in Puget Sound, Seattle. During the three day festival, people are allowed to smoke at a local park.
"People travel to Seattle from other states and countries to attend Seattle Hempfest every year to experience the limited freedom that happens at the event," executive director Vivian McPeak told AP. "It's reasonable to assume that people will travel to Washington assuming that the federal government doesn't interfere."
The face of marijuana tourism may be changing in Amsterdam. The Dutch government had plans to create a weed pass, which would only allow residents to have access to the drug at marijuana cafes, however the idea was thrown out. Certain cities can still choose to ban tourists from weed shops though.
This article is copyrighted by Travelers Today, the travel news leader
