Cannabis Vacation: Sure, you could fly to Costa Rica or Uruguay to find adventure and (semi-)legal marijuana. You could fly to Amsterdam for a wild weekend utterly devoted to weed, or you could tour the Iberian Peninsula, stopping at cannabis clubs in Barcelona and Madrid.
There are plenty of crazy destinations for canna-tourism — but not everyone looking to get stoned on their vacation is looking for an expensive, high-adrenaline or even especially unique travel experience.
Cannabis is famed for its ability to alleviate stress, so it makes sense if you are interested in taking a canna-vacation that is relaxed and low-key. Here are a few underrated destinations that can offer just the right ambience for a simple, straightforward stoner trip.
Michigan
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Michigan was the first Midwestern state to legalize recreational cannabis, and a good portion of the state is remarkably pot-positive. In fact, the city of Ann Arbor was among the first in the nation to decriminalize weed and allow small amounts of personal possession, way back in the 1970s.
If you travel to Michigan in the summertime, it is easy to find a small town by a lake where you can get high and relax. After stopping by an Ann Arbor dispensary, you might rent a cabin in any of the towns along Lake Michigan, which offers some of the most beautiful stretches of sandy beaches. Alternatively, you might head to the rugged Upper Peninsula to a town like Copper Harbor off Lake Superior, where you can stroll through the woods while you work through your weed.
Alaska
Unbeknownst to the rest of the country, Alaska has allowed adults to possess and consume small amounts of weed since the 1970s, so it makes sense that this far-flung, wild state passed recreational weed laws relatively early. Because most of the state isn’t particularly populated, you will need to pick up cannabis in a city or big towns like Juneau, Anchorage or Fairbanks before venturing deeper into the wilderness.
Because the travel window in Alaska is quite brief — with winter lasting from mid-September to mid-April — you need to carefully choose your destination to avoid encountering big crowds during your quiet, low-key vacation. We recommend venturing into the southwest, which is a bit more rugged and relaxed, or venturing deeper inland, where casual tourists rarely go.
Arizona
The most recent state to enact recreational cannabis regulations, Arizona’s cannabis tourism industry is new — but it is certainly big enough to accommodate your laid-back vacation. Though dispensaries are few and far between on the fringes of the state, you can find plenty of pot shops in cosmopolitan metro-centers like Phoenix and Tucson.
Once you stock up on enough bud to last your trip, you should head out of the big city and explore the rest of the state. Arizona boasts some of the most stunning scenery in the country, from the breathtaking Grand Canyon to the red rocks of Sedona to the towering cactus of Saguaro National Park and more. You will find welcoming locals in old boomtowns like Bisbee and Jerome, which make excellent home bases for your Arizona adventures.
Oregon
Just because Oregon has a bustling cannabis economy doesn’t mean it doesn’t offer plenty of opportunities for a quiet weed-cation. In fact, because Oregon is so accepting of cannabis consumption, it is easier than many other destinations to get your hands on bud, which can give you more time to relax and unwind.
Even better, once you get out of Oregon’s growing cities, it is easy to find some peace and quiet. If you like a beach scene, we recommend staying away from crowded Canon Beach and instead heading to Hobbit Beach, which can only be accessed via a secret trail and thus is usually empty of visitors. If you prefer a mountain getaway, you can find plenty of opportunities around gorgeous Mount Hood.
Just because Oregon has a bustling cannabis economy doesn’t mean it doesn’t offer plenty of opportunities for a quiet weed-cation. In fact, because Oregon is so accepting of cannabis consumption, it is easier than many other destinations to get your hands on bud and cannalean like in canada, which can give you more time to relax and unwind.
