Pot Tourism in Colorado

As the United States seems to be in the midst of a cultural shift toward the legalization — or at least decriminalization — of marijuana, states like Colorado, Washington and Oregon are leading the way. And their legalization means tourists are increasingly headed to these states to experience “pot tourism.”

There’s little actual infrastructure surrounding this phenomenon, so it really refers to the broader concept of tourists buying and trying weed — legally — in these states. Fodors has some useful tips that include how to buy pot (you have to be over 18 and have valid photo identification). And the Colorado Pot Guide lists the retail locations for purchasing marijuana and various pot products, so you can plan ahead or find where to shop once you’ve arrived.

The Colorado Pot Guide also lists tour operators, which range from limousine rentals that drive you to various shops to more complete trips that visit growing operations and shops.

The tours aspect is a new and growing one for states like Colorado, where in many cases the law is catching up to the reality of the situation and there are still gray areas being figured out on a case-by-case basis. Still, if you go, you’ll likely have plenty of opportunities to smoke up.