Cannabis Tourism–Where in the World Next?
National Geographic recently looked at potential locations around the world where cannabis tourism could flourish.
With the recent, so-called decline of the Netherlands as the most popular destination for cannabis tourism for the past 40 years, National Geographic explored the many global locations that could rise to become destinations for foreign visitors to consume cannabis (1). The locations included Thailand, Germany, and South Africa, plus certain countries and states in the Americas. Annually, the global cannabis tourism industry is estimated to be $17 billion (1).
The Netherlands decriminalized cannabis in 1976, and in May 2023, bans on public cannabis smoking began in Amsterdam as part of a response to complaints from residents about misbehaving tourists (1,2). The fine for public smoking is $107 (1).
In June 2022, Thailand removed cannabis flower from the list of prohibited substances, and an estimated 12,000 dispensaries appeared within a year (3). Over a million residents have registered to cultivate cannabis, but the regulations are still undefined (1,3).
“Thailand is a freewheeling environment at the moment, with very little restriction on consumption by tourists,” said Michael O’Regan, tourism lecturer at Glasgow Caledonian University in Scotland (1). “The country is attracting cannabis tourists across the Asian region and may increasingly attract Europeans.”
Germany is reportedly poised to be the first major European country to enact liberal cannabis legislation (4). Last month, Germany passed legislation that would make possession and consumption of cannabis legal in certain circumstances and would also allow residents to cultivate a limited number of plants (4). However, as O’Regan explained, Germany will likely not encourage cannabis tourism.
“They explicitly point to the Netherlands as a model to be avoided,” he explained (1). “Under the new law, cannabis shall only be available for purchase in limited quantities and for own consumption by persons who are registered in so-called cannabis clubs, which will make purchases difficult for international tourists…I don’t think any city wants to repeat the same experience and have tourists fly from across the region to consume drugs.”
In looking at South Africa, where cannabis use in private spaces has been legal since 2018, tourism and economic opportunities reportedly seem to be growing in part due to hemp products, cannabis tours, and “bud and breakfast” accommodations (1). “South Africa's cannabis tourism is poised to be a major niche tourism segment for the country,” said Tafadzwa Matiza, tourism lecturer at North-West University (1). A bill for full legalization for recreational consumption in the country will potentially be voted on within the next few months (5).
As more states in the US and countries such as Argentina, Brazil, Colombia Costa Rica, Ecuador, Panama, and Peru have been relaxing their cannabis laws, sales and cannabis-themed events and attractions have markedly increased (1). Regardless of the location of cannabis tourism, the takeaway advice was for tourists to be respectful and do their research on the cannabis laws in place anywhere they visit (1).
References
- O’Connell, R. As Amsterdam bows out, what will be the new capital of cannabis tourism? https://www.nationalgeographic.com/travel/article/amsterdam-marijuana-ban-cannabis-tourism (accessed Sep 12, 2023).
- Boztas, S. “potheads, go giggle elsewhere”: Public weed ban begins in Amsterdam https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/may/25/amsterdam-public-weed-smoking-ban-begins (accessed Sep 12, 2023).
- Ives, M. Thailand’s weed industry is poised to grow fast https://www.nytimes.com/2023/08/27/business/thailands-weed-industry-is-poised-to-grow-fast.html (accessed Sep 12, 2023).
- Marsh, S.; Rinke, A. German cabinet Oks Landmark bill over legal cannabis use https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/german-cabinet-agrees-bill-legalizing-recreational-cannabis-use-2023-08-16/ (accessed Aug 29, 2023).
- Colbert, M. Cannabeginners: How to legally use cannabis in South Africa https://hightimes.com/guides/cannabeginners-how-to-legally-use-cannabis-in-south-africa/ (accessed Sep 12, 2023).
Ep 24, Part II: Data Transparency in Cannabis Testing with Yasha Khan
December 12th 2024Evan Friedmann and Yasha Kahn, co-founder of MCR Labs, discuss the discrepancies between current regulations and data on mycotoxins and pesticides in cannabis products. They highlight the need for updated regulations based on new data, emphasizing the importance of accurate testing and labeling. They also discuss the issue of result manipulation, particularly in THC content, and the need for public health officials to address this. Yasha suggests making testing data public to enhance oversight and suggests a national entity to manage this data for better consistency and public safety.
Ep 24, Part I: Data Transparency in Cannabis Testing with Yasha Khan
November 21st 2024Evan Friedmann interviews Yasha Khan, co-founder of MCR Labs, about his journey into the cannabis industry and his efforts to promote transparency and integrity in laboratory practices. Yasha discusses the origins of MCR Labs, which began in Massachusetts to meet the needs of the soon-to-be legal medical cannabis market. He explains the challenges faced, including result manipulation by labs and the impact on public health. Yasha's Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) project aimed to gather testing data from 37 states, revealed significant discrepancies in potency and mold results. Despite some states' reluctance to share data, Yasha has made much of this data public, leading to collaborative research and publications on various aspects of cannabis testing.
