7 Perfect Places Around the World for Cannabis Tourists

From marijuana painting classes to cooking with pot tours, cannabis tourism is an increasingly attractive activity among potheads and entrepreneurs alike. According to research done by MMGY Travel Intelligence and Enlightn Strategies, advisors in the CBD- and cannabis-related tourism space, 29 percent of all leisure travelers (and 18 percent of all Americans) are indulging in cannabis-infused experiences while on vacation. Of course, only countries that have legalized recreational marijuana or have loose cannabis regulations can reap the benefits of this enticing new branch in the travel market.

1. Barcelona, Spain

With Spain being one of the first European countries to decriminalize pot, the country’s most popular tourists-magnet Barcelona offers a rich and equally vibrant cannabis scene. The city frequently hosts industry festivals and conventions like Spannabis, and its proximity to Morocco assures access to top-notch quality weed and hashish. Over 200 cannabis clubs are mostly located in the city’s hot spots, such as the Las Ramblas area, Plaça Reial and Carrer Escudillers. While Spanish laws allow cultivation and use of small amounts of marijuana, public use as well as buying and selling the drug are still prohibited. Leading Barcelona’s pot clubs hold on to a loophole in the law by charging membership fees to their private members that can then use “their personally cultivated cannabis.”

2. Negril, Jamaica

While one might think this an obvious contender on the list due to the country’s image as a ganja paradise, cannabis is actually illegal in Jamaica. The nation has only passed a bill decriminalizing small amounts of cannabis but is nevertheless generally tolerant of its use. The Jamaican city of Negril features a blooming pot scene, providing tourists with the stereotypical Jamaican experience: plenty of sunshine, reggae music, beaches, and of course abundance of weed. The town is located on a sandy beach, featuring all-inclusive resorts, giving tourists the opportunity to relax with a cocktail in one hand and a joint in the other.

3. Portland, Oregon, U.S.A

America’s mecca for hipsters is also a familiar favorite among cannabis users. Boasting an exciting cannabis scene, Portland is the home of the first Cannabis Café in America, as well as one of the biggest State Chapters of The National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws NORML. While public use of cannabis is forbidden in Oregon, recreational users can use the drug on private property. The city is also just 45 miles from Salem, where the annual Hemp and Cannabis Fair takes place. The bohemian feel of the city, combined with its rich marijuana scene, make Portland a perfect getaway for cannabis enthusiasts. The city also offers the unique Potlandia Experience Marijuana Tour, which consists of visiting weed dispensaries and other hot spots that make Portland an attractive destination — like food carts and microbreweries, as well as a CBD cafe that offers vegan chocolate bars and hemp-infused sauces. 

4. Toronto, Canada

Canada’s major city overlooking the Great Lakes boasts an exciting marijuana scene and is an increasingly popular pot tourism destination. A number of cannabis businesses located on Yonge St. have earned the street’s name as  ‘Youngsterdam.’ Even before Canada became only the second country in the world to entirely legalize weed, users in Toronto said the authorities were rather forgiving to those who were doing it.  The city also boasts a number of medical marijuana clubs, which are excellent occasions to socialize with other medical users. Although, the majority of these are available only to Canadian citizens that own a Canadian medical card.

5. Montevideo, Uruguay

Cannabis fans heading to South America should definitely include Montevideo on their journey. Uruguay made history in 2013 by becoming the first country in the world to fully legalize cannabis, making Montevideo the perfect spot for cannabis tourism. The cannabis tour of the city offers wayfarers the unique experience of meeting professional cultivators who are more than happy to reveal some growing secrets. Those who want to try something traditional with a twist should definitely enjoy a cannabis-infused mate drink - the trademark herbal tea beverage of the lands under the Andes.

6. Denver, Colorado, U.S.A.

If you last traveled to Denver before weed was made legal in the state, you'll be surprised how the place has changed since then. With more than 300 dispensaries and a number of marijuana-infused activities, Denver, Colorado, is now a definite cannabis tourism hotspot.  The city offers potheads a unique weed experience, varying from introductory cooking with cannabis classes to special sushi and joint-rolling class. However, some experiences have the B.Y.O.C. (bring your own cannabis) rule. But the pièce de résistance for many travelers is a tour at the 6,000-square-foot dispensary Euflora. The place displays cannabis in huge plastic containers on tables and allows visitors to examine various buds without touching them. Enthusiastic travelers heading to Colorado should however be aware that public use of marijuana remains illegal in Colorado.

7. Amsterdam, the Netherlands

An obvious but not overrated destination, Amsterdam is an excellent choice for every pot aficionado. The dense and vibrant Dutch capital has made a name for itself by keeping open its hundreds of coffee shops where locals and tourists can mingle and enjoy high-quality marijuana, hashish, or a cannabis-infused brownie, known as the space cookie. In fact, Amsterdam is probably one of the best places on earth to smoke the best haze and just let yourself immerse in the beautiful architecture of the city, eat something tasty in a nice restaurant, or drink coffee by the channel and act out like you're a real Dutch. Holland’s capital also hosts the Annual High Times ‘Cannabis Cup’ every winter and offers a myriad of cannabis and non-cannabis activities. Despite the general opinion, cannabis is technically an illegal drug in the Netherlands. However, Dutch citizens above the age of 18 have been allowed to use and buy weed in government-regulated coffee shops. The same goes for visitors.