The cannabis industry is developing rapidly from coast to coast, but tourism is lagging. When it comes to buying weed, it’s becoming easier and easier. However, those who want to get properly lit on vacation have to do some extra research.
This is due in part to laws against consuming in public. Many hotels and accommodations also set rules against smoking and vaping, but not at The Hive. Dérive Travel recently opened The Hive in Dowagiac, Mich. to provide deluxe canna-tourism adventures in partnership with Twisted Bee dispensary.
The cannabis tourism concierge is run by Connie and Dan Sparrow, who got started by opening their kids’ former rooms to canna-curious guests. Their home eventually became The Nest, and the pair opened BB’s, a private space on Lake Michigan. The most recent addition is The Hive, a private 420-friendly vacation rental.
The Hive will be decked out with a personalized bar featuring the tools, rigs, and accessories that visitors prefer. Tasters from Michigan cannabis brands are provided by Twisted Bee to guide guests at the dispensary later.
“We chose very specific products. The pot dots are for the canna-curious, one milligram a piece. The caramels are 10 mg, so you won’t get green’d out,” Connie Maxim-Sparrow explained to GreenState. “The pre-roll is infused, most people that smoke flower can handle flower, but they may not have had any exposure to an infused pre-roll, and it’s only .5 gms, so it’s a reasonable amount to share between a few people.”
Sparrow estimates that 90 percent of Dérive guests are beginners, with many from states without adult-use cannabis. They often arrive with no knowledge of brands or tech-forward consumption methods.
Many feel overwhelmed at the prospect of their first dispensary visit, so the sampler is meant to ease them into the experience. When they arrive at Twisted Bee, they will receive a 30 percent discount on all products for staying at The Hive.
“It’s a great way to normalize and de-stigmatize cannabis as the products are featured on Airbnb, VRBO, Expedia, booking.com, Google Travel, our direct booking website and so many more,” Sparrow said.
Guests will also have a line to some of the best Michigan destinations tailored to their interests, including a catered infused dinner, on-site poolside cabanas, and cannabis facility tours.
The curated cannabis menu can be accompanied by personalized tours, day trips, or excursions–Dérive has it covered. This is good because though cannabis lounges are allowed in the state, the only two are hours away. The Hive offers a buzz to the southwestern visitors and Michiganders.
Traveling as an avid cannabis consumer isn’t always easy, even in popping weed destinations like Barcelona. Being hip to the culture, how the laws are carried out, and finding the places to safely consume takes the help of a local insider. The Hive offers just that, with a side of quality cannabis.