420 friendly travel destinations for summer 2022

“All I need are nice waves, a cool high and I’m fine,” legendary surfer dude Jeff Spicoli said in the 1982 Boomer classic Fast Times at Ridgemont High. Forty years later, Spicoli was so smitten. Cannabis tourism is trending and there has never been so much hype around cannabis-friendly activities and destinations, especially for pandemic-weary US travelers.

The results of a 2020 study conducted by MMGY Travel Intelligence and Enlightn Strategies showed that even before the pandemic, a significant subset of leisure travelers were interested in cannabis travel.

Now that COVID travel restrictions are lifted and more states are legalizing recreational cannabis, it’s more possible than ever to plan an enriched vacation plan that includes unique, immersive experiences and destinations.

Experience unique cannabis tours

“I’ve had a great response to my tours now that the pandemic restrictions have lifted,” Amy Price, co-founder of Higher Way Travel, told Weedmaps. “But people are now voicing concerns about gas prices and inflation, so they’re being extra selective about the trips they take.” Price has 18 years of hospitality and wellness experience and has been hosting cannabis-inclusive tours and events since 2008.

She added that Higher Way’s cannabis tour seats usually fill up within two weeks of the announcement.

“The most popular tour was undoubtedly ‘Baked on the Beach’ in Jamaica. We held the event there the week of April 20, three years in a row before the pandemic. This year we’re taking it to the North Shore of Oahu,” she said.

“This event includes daily yoga on the beach, a garden tour, a garden party with a traditional luau, a private bus tour, a private catamaran cruise, swimming at the base of a waterfall, tie dyeing, tropical fruits, cannabis terpene pairing, and get the view of a Native. The trip coincides with the main viewing nights during the Perseid meteor shower (11-14 August) so we will be star and meteor observing every night.”

The per-person price for Baked on the Beach Oahu is $1,300, which doesn’t include flights or lodging, but does include tasty waves — at the famous Banzai Pipeline on the North Shore — and a cool buzz. Spicoli approved.

Book a West Coast bud and breakfast

Hop from Hawaii to the perfectly legal West Coast and there’s a plethora of cannabis-friendly spots and things to do – if curious vacationers know where to look. Cannabis-specific B&B booking sites like Bud and Breakfast and Indica.com are fueling growing interest in “420-friendly” hotels and lodging.

Posted on Indica and located in Monroe, Washington, the “marijuana-friendly” Mountain Views Tree House Joint B&B Retreat is a cannabis-themed short-term rental in the treetops that offers “glamping” amenities and three tree houses, including the Pot Leaf Tree House, the Hashtag Treehouse and the 420 Treehouse.

Further south, in Portland, the Jupiter Hotel pioneered a cannabis-friendly hotel format in 2018 and recently revamped its cannabis guest package in partnership with local cannabis company Oregrown. Guests who book the Oregrown 420 package receive a discount coupon at the nearby Oregrown retail store (and complimentary shuttle service), Oregrown branded merchandise, and a Weedmaps High Portland t-shirt.

Follow a curated cannabis trail

Continue down the coast and enter California and the Bay Area with its robust cannabis culture and community. While San Francisco hosts the legendary 4/20 Festival on Hippy Hill in Golden Gate Park every April 20th, if you walk across the bay, the city of Oakland recently opened the Oakland Cannabis Trail, “a curated, immersive journey through our amazing neighborhoods . Attractions include premium cannabis retail outlets and their recommended food spots, as well as sensory attractions on art, nature and cultural experiences.”

The project was developed by local tourist board Visit Oakland and leading local cannabis retailers, including pioneering retailers Harborside and Cookies Oakland, among others.

Nearby, the Cannabis Trail Project begins in San Francisco, winds through Sonoma County and ends in Humboldt with ten cultural markers along the way. Each landmark commemorates a significant event in Northern California’s cannabis history.

The legal states of the Midwest are also building infrastructure for cannabis tourism. Michigan, which legalized recreational use in 2018, recently created the Michigan Cannabis Trail tourism organization to promote cannabis tourism and businesses, including retailers, restaurants, and lodging, and to provide visitor information about local rules and regulations.

Go to a cannabis-centric event or film festival

Cannabis events are attracting more attention as an option to add something special to a simple vacation, from guided tours to comedy shows to art parties and more. For cannabis enthusiasts looking for activities close to home or on the go, online ticket provider Eventbrite has a “420 events” category.

In Hollywood, California, near the corner of Hollywood and Vine, the Cannabis and Movies Club’s umbrella event, held at the historic Montalbán Theater, was a sell-out for 2022.

“We were recently highlighted by Secret Los Angeles in their article 70 Fantastic Things to Do in LA, which helped skyrocket our popularity,” said Rico Montanez, co-founder of the Cannabis and Movies Club.

“Word of mouth is also starting to spread as we are one of the few places in Los Angeles where people can hang out with friends and enjoy cannabis regularly. Many of our new members are tourists so excited to experience cannabis in a legally safe environment for the first time. We believe the club will challenge the stigma and introduce a whole new community to the broad and ever-evolving cannabis industry,” he added.

So far, the Cannabis and Movies Club’s rooftop screenings of Up in Smoke, The 40-Year-Old Virgin, Friday and Pulp Fiction have been sold out, and movie nights are planned through Labor Day, including Dazed and Confused, The Empire Strikes Back, Team America: World Police and Nacho Libre, among others.

“We rotate our cannabis brand sponsors so members are constantly experiencing innovative new brands and products, but our stunning dab bar and knowledgeable dab artists are probably the club’s most popular feature. We also have a rotating delivery partner each week offering incredible deals to our members. From bong rentals to blankets, we strive to create a seamless and truly unique memorable experience for all of our guests,” described Montanez.

Growing interest in international cannabis destinations

It seems only a matter of time before cannabis tourism expands worldwide. The European Cannabis Market Survey, released in April by European cannabis wholesaler Bloomwell Group, found that 65 percent of Americans surveyed said they would travel to a city or country to experience a legal market.

Germany, the focus of the Bloomwell study, could be the first European country to legalize recreational cannabis. In the study, 66 percent of Americans surveyed said they would visit a consumption lounge in Germany after legalization.

With the summer 2022 travel season already in full swing, the U.S. travel organization’s monthly travel data for June revealed:

• For the first time since the pandemic began, travel spending ($100 billion) in April 2022 was up 3 percent from 2019 levels
• More than a quarter — 28 percent — of travelers plan to spend significantly more than their 2019 travel budget on camping this summer due to higher prices and accumulated savings
• Nearly six in 10 American travelers — 59 percent — said rising gas prices will affect their travel decisions over the next six months

Whether you’re a cannabis curiosity or a seasoned enthusiast, for adventurous travelers and tourists wanting infused, immersive getaways, summer and a new world await.