5 Weed Tourism Destinations You Need to Visit This Summer

Image via Complex Original

Colorado legalized recreational marijuana in 2012, and sets the gold standard for the entire recreational industry, despite the law only coming into effect two years ago. It’s the place to be if you want a first-hand look behind the curtain: You can take a selfie in a weed forest, tour the newest and best dispensaries, and even see a live glass-blowing demonstration—all from the luxury of a limo or party bus. Colorado Cannabis Tours owner and founder Michael Eymer knows that canna-tourism is essential for the success of the marijuana industry as a whole.

 “People come to us not just to consume, but to experience freedom in the United States of America,” he told Complex. “We show people how good and normal cannabis can be. We take the shame away from that.” Half-day tours run Fridays and Saturdays and start at less than $100, but you should take advantage of multi-day packages, which include transportation and canna-friendly lodging, starting at—you guessed it—$420. 

Washington’s recreational marijuana law was implemented in 2014, but stumbled when dispensaries struggled to keep products on the shelves, and again when regulators scrambled to establish appropriate doses for Washingtonians seeking edibles. But the state’s weed industry has bounced back with a more streamlined system and a vocal activist community.

Founded in 1991, Seattle’s Hempfest is held the third week of August and bills itself as the world’s largest cannabis-related event and America’s biggest free-speech event. With more than 100,000 people attendees and more than 1,000 volunteers annually, Hempfest has played a major role in the state’s legalization effort. It’s a true summer festival, with music, food, crafts, and impressive speakers including noted stoner celeb Woody Harrelson and former U.S. congressman David Kucinich.

Tea Party congressman Dana Rohrabacher—who recently became the first member of congress to admit using medical marijuana to treat arthritis—is slated to attend this year, and even promised to bring representatives from the Republican caucus.

“Tea party Dana Rohrabacher just admitted that he uses topical medical marijuana and he’s confirmed for this year, and says he’s bringing people from the republican caucus. If those guys want to come aboard the campaign I’m all about it,” Hempfest executive director Vivian McPeak told Complex. But he isn’t holding his breath. “We’ll believe it when we see it,” he said.

McPeak is hyped on this year’s Hempfest, and hopes it continues to grow as canna-tourism takes off and Washington weed policies are straightened out.

“We have the worst legalization model of the states, but Seattle is a destination city for many reasons,” he explained. “People can come and check out the model and see what it’s like and that the sky hasn’t fallen.”

One thing Seattle does have going for it is its Bud and Breakfasts. These unique accommodations are a clutch upgrade to the English cottage-y feel of traditional B&B’s. 420-friendly guesthouses like Bed, Baked and Beyond and 7 Leaf Bed and Breakfast offer organic farm to table dining (with or without weed), cannabis spa treatments, and outdoor smoking lounges. 

Call it a hanger-on to the microbrew industry or blame the booming hipster population, but Oregon is poised to be the coolest place on the marijuana scene. It’s been the place to go for recreational pot-smoking for the last forty years, whether or not anyone’s willing to admit it.

The state’s recreational weed market isn’t officially up and running yet, but don’t fret: Products are available to everyone through medical dispensaries until retailers open this fall. Looking for a vegan pairing with your weed? Small-batch cannabis-infused ice cream? Cannabis bike tours? Portland has all that shit. It also has the grand-daddy of summer festivals: the Oregon County Fair. Though the fair’s claimed to be “weed free” since The Grateful Dead headlined in the ‘70s (lol yeah right), Oregon still houses one of the country’s most herb-friendly cultures. And if you’re in Portland, it’s a two-fer: Washington’s rec scene is only a 20-minute drive away.

Alaska has the least going on in its recreational scene. Although weed is hard to buy over-the-counter, it’s readily (and legally) gifted, and canna-tourism site Kush Tourism still ranks the state as the No. 1 canna-tourism location in the U.S. Must be a combination of appealing factors: Alaska is the land of the northern lights, grizzly bears, melting glaciers, and the legendary weed strain Alaskan Thunderfuck. You can partake in Alaska’s best with a 420-friendly whale-watching cruise. And when the munchies hit, you can go out for the best fish and chips of your life.

It’s true, the District of Columbia has legalized recreational marijuana use and possession, but with no legal way to buy weed and a crappy attitude toward it (pot clubs were permanently banned there this April), there’s still a long way to go before becoming a canna-tourism destination. Hopefully Congress will loosen up before November—we’re all going to need something to get us through this election season.