This is part of a collection of stories on the intersection of weed and travel, from Women Who Travel. Read the full guide—with practical tips, travel experiences to check out, and more—right here.
Cannabis tourism is on the rise. Nearly 20 percent of all adult Americans qualify as cannabis-motivated travelers, according to research done in 2020 by MMGY Travel Intelligence in partnership with Enlightn Strategies, an advisor in the cannabis space. Today, 18 states and the District of Columbia, Guam, and Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands have all legalized weed for adult recreational use. (A dozen more have passed medical marijuana laws only.) But each state has slightly different rules and regulations, which can be tricky to navigate.
Here are some tips to keep in mind for consuming responsibly in states where cannabis is legal.
Do your homework
Before setting off on a cannabis-themed adventure, research your destination. A great resource is the weed legalization map at Leafly, the go-to resource for all things cannabis. “They have a great overview of state-by-state laws,” says Jamie Evans, founder of the Herb Somm and author of Cannabis Drinks: Secrets to Crafting CBD and THC Beverages at Home. They also list nearby legal dispensaries. “They are the all-in-one resource of what’s legal.” You could also google: "cannabis consumption in X state” to get the local government’s up-to-date rules and FAQs.
It’s also worth noting that while you can barely walk down the street in Oakland, California, or Portland, Oregon, without seeing people vaping or smoking joints, even in states that have legalized weed, it’s technically illegal to smoke on the street everywhere except New York City and in other outdoor public spaces. Bottom line, it’s better to err on the side of caution and stick to private backyards or cannabis-friendly spaces like designated lounges or cafes. When considering where to stay, homeshare platform Bud & Breakfast is like an Airbnb for the cannatourist, listing cannabis-friendly accommodations worldwide. Some properties even include fresh buds and smoking paraphernalia.
Read the fine print
In some states, the total amount of allowable THC per single scored piece of chocolate (or caramel, or gummy) is five mg. In others it’s 10 mg. Get out your glasses and read the fine print. Dosing is very individual. “Some people are like rhinos—you can give them 50 mg and they’re like, ‘I’m sort of high,’” says Katie Stem, the founder and owner of Oregon’s Peak Extracts. (For context, 50 mg is considered a very high dose for most consumers.) Stem, who herself is sensitive to THC, advises always starting “low and slow.” When she started making brownies, she didn’t know until she tried a few that “10 milligrams of THC makes me feel like I’m melting off the stool.” For her, dividing a five mg gummy in half and then taking a bit off of that is the perfect amount. “Start with one to two mg of THC and wait an hour. That’s the Maureen Dowd tip—don’t redose until you wait two to three hours.” (Columnist Maureen Dowd famously ate too much of an edible and ended up comatose in her hotel room, later writing about it for the New York Times.)
Don’t drive stoned
People are busted every day for driving while stoned, even though the testing methods are widely contested. (In some states, like Washington, the legal limit is five nanograms of THC per milliliter of blood, which can easily still be present in your bloodstream 48 hours after using.) Best bet: If you’re intoxicated, call a Lyft.
Seek out lounges
Some states and/or cities allow cannabis consumption in designated lounges, restaurants, or bars. MoeGreens in San Francisco has the feel of a speakeasy; you can purchase your products at the dispensary and then consume them in the chic Mid-century modern-inspired lounge. In New York City, Café Cannal is a women-owned cannabis-friendly cafe and lounge that serves CBD-infused beverages and pastries, and allows patrons to consume their own cannabis on site. And at the Artist Tree Studio Cannabis Lounge, which just opened in West Hollywood, there’s a smoking area and table-side services of edibles and joints.
Ask a budtender
Think of your budtender—that's the person working at the dispensary—as the concierge of your cannabis experience. They can give you the low-down on the best organically-grown weed, direct you to a local cannabis lounge, and, most importantly, help you find the right experience for your needs. Whether you’re looking for something to help you sleep or you want something to make you feel creative and energized, the budtender will be able to steer you to the best strain and method of delivery.
Women-owned cannabis companies
As the U.S. cannabis space grows, women are helping shape it, running everything from cannabis tourism agencies to premiere edible companies. Here are a few of the brands we're watching right now.
