The fun part of legalizing weed state-by-state is that there’s always a new place for stoners to explore. This summer adds a few new places to the cannabis tourism list. Some states are celebrating their first year of legalization, and others with new lounge laws and loosened rules. Both developments allow for exciting new offerings for the 2024 tourism season.
Remember, many states don’t allow for public cannabis consumption, especially the brand new ones. It is also against policy to allow people to smoke or vape weed in most hotels, even in legal states. Follow the rules but also enjoy the new green as states open their leisure industry in new ways.
Treasure Island Resort, Minnesota
Minnesota Governor Tim Walz signed House File 100 into law almost a year ago, allowing possession and home cultivation in the state. The first recreational dispensaries have popped up on tribal lands, but others won’t go live for a while longer. Tourists don’t need to fear, though— there are tribe-owned dispensaries coming soon to one of the greatest attractions in the state: Treasure Island Resort and Casino.
There’s no news that the resort allows cannabis consumption or has weed attractions, so be respectful of the rules and families staying there. However, the Red Lake Nation will be opening a dispensary nearby this summer, opening the resort to a whole new kind of visitor.
Those planning a midwestern summer weed vacay will have options this year, and Minnesota isn’t the only new state in the area.
Kalahari Resort, Ohio
Voters in Ohio also approved legal weed in 2023, marking another state building out regulations and licensing protocol for the plant. Like Minnesota, people are awaiting recreational dispensaries, but Ohio may make the first legal sale sooner than its neighbor to the west.
Ohio medical dispensaries will have the option to file for an adult-use license starting in June, which means the first recreational sale may happen as soon as mid-June. However, the process is opaque, so this is only an educated guess.
Once adult use is on the table, so tourists may want to check out Kalahari Resorts for the ultimate waterpark vacation. Popping a gummy and defying gravity might be the move for the year’s hottest months.
This sounds like a fun time for many, but some might be seeking more of an adult-only vibe. The 21-plus camp needs to look no further than recently opened cannabis lounges in the U.S.
Las Vegas, Nevada
The City of Sin has long been a vacation destination for adults and families, though those of legal drinking (and smoking) age may have the most fun. That is especially true in the last few months as social consumption lounges open around the city. There are no lounges on the strip since mixing gambling and weed is a big no-no, but step off-site to one of a few new spaces to enjoy cannabis products, mocktails, and live entertainment.
Planet 13 is a cannabis campus with tons of entertainment, and they’re now welcoming guests to DAZED! Lounge. Down the way is Smoke & Mirrors, a lounge that caters to the classy weed lover. Most recently, they started Grateful Dead takeovers for those pre-gaming the Sphere concert series.
Lounges open up a whole new sector for cannabis tourism. While those seeing the sights in new states like Minnesota may have trouble finding a safe and legal place to smoke weed, lounges create a built-in tourist sesh-spot.
Denver, Colorado
Mobile lounges have been operating in Denver and other Colorado cities for some time, but new spaces worth checking out have recently landed in the Mile High State. Enjoy the new Tetra Lounge and Garden while visiting this city, a consumption space that opened in late May. This grand opening should be the first but not the last, as the historic Patterson Inn has long announced its impending cannabis lounge.
Colorado has a lot to see, especially the urban metropolis of Denver. However, the weed tourism sector is lacking. Hopefully, this summer will change that, as visitors can now choose between mobile toking and lounging.
Cannabis tourism spreading at own rate
Legalization is one thing, but the development of cannabis tourism is another. As states create adult-use programs, people who visit can get weed but are often left confused as to where they can consume it.
While new states like Minnesota and Ohio will soon have potent products and delicious flower available for tourists. However, the lounge culture isn’t fully developed yet for those not in the know. Fortunately, further developed states like Nevada and Colorado (as well as some other lounge-friendly locales) build a framework for a booming 420 leisure industry.
