Who will be the future king of cannabis tourism?

Now that these two huge states – Nevada and New York – have legalized marijuana, expect a huge cultural shift and, of course, an increase in state revenues.

Currently, both governments are aligning their cities with the main cannabis tourism centers in the country. Nobody wants to forego those cannatourism dollars. Not after the economic downturn that followed the pandemic. States are looking to boost their economies and make them bigger than they were before the pandemic.

Now is the right time for interested entrepreneurs to build their empire. One of the candidates, Dante Fitzpatrick, who is running for New York City Council, said he had plans to make western Manhattan the state version of Amsterdam. Even Canada is now vying to be the next hotbed for canna tourism in the world.

The newly enacted legalized recreational cannabis laws might just be key in attracting tourists to the state’s cities. Neighborhoods like West Village, SoHo, and Hell’s Kitchen will see increased traffic from both locals and tourists when the grass is fully exploited by businesses in the area.

Cannabis tourism in Las Vegas

Nevada dreams big. Las Vegas is known around the world as a hub for entertainment. Now imagine if it lives up to its plans to be the pacemaker for cannatourism in the United States. It will substantiate its reputation as the entertainment capital of the world!

On the state’s agenda are plans to create lounges for local cannabis use.

The government plans to reinvest the millions generated from the tax revenue of the cannabis industry in the state. The Nevada state mindset is that “when it’s built and furnished, consumers (in this case, tourists) will come.

Nevada Governor Steve Sisolak signed a bill allowing cannabis lounges to be set up in the state. The bill provides for both retail operations and independent consumption areas, provided that the products sold are licensed and are only sold to residents over the age of 21.

Before the pandemic, Las Vegas had a steady stream of at least 30 million tourists each year. In 2019 there were 42.5 million visitors. Recreational cannabis legalization is a big win for the city. The state is currently home to two of the largest cannabis stores in the world; a consumption lounge owned by the Paiute tribe and a cannabis museum.

Now Nevada residents and visitors can legally consume weed in designated spaces. Unlike in the past, when cannabis was only allowed to be consumed in private homes and hotels for tourists.

The state is currently generating millions from taxing cannabis sales. When consumption lounges start operating, the dollars that are generated will be astounding. There is a demand for grass everywhere.

The state endeavors to manipulate this demand for its own good. Hundreds of jobs are created in the first year when these lounges start operating.

Cannabis tourism in New York

Now that weed is legal in New York state, residents are expecting smoking lounges as well as cannabis dispensaries to be set up in key locations across the state.

Recall that during the pandemic the state had one of the highest consumer goods of medical cannabis, so the government is assured that there will be enough local demand for the additional businesses that are being formed. The state has always had a high level of tourist attraction internationally as well. The pandemic brought this industry to a standstill.

As the state takes favorable measures to protect tourists and the cannabis industry over the next few years, the tourism industry will experience a tremendous boom; higher than before the pandemic.

The future of grass in New York City looks very bright.

The approved cannabis law allows residents to own up to three ounces of weed for personal use at any time.

On a business level, however, none of these changes will show up until mid or late 2022. This is because the licensing will not be carried out by regulators for at least nine months as other factors will be put in place to keep the industry going when it finally works.

Another benefit of opening up the industry will be less racially targeted drug arrests. In the past, tourists of color were not exempt from these arrests. Now they would be encouraged to visit, if not to consume cannabis, then enjoy the scenery the state offers.

Cannatourism would help troubled businesses get back on their feet and create more jobs for local residents in the state. Because people from all walks of life will visit the city.

The state will also provide designated spaces for residents to smoke weed. Cannabis bars are going to be a thing soon. No more hiding in private homes to smoke weed.

Residents from neighboring states will also be tickling to enjoy the cannatourism effect in the state.

By the end of 2022, the state will see disparities in the number of investors and businesses springing up across the region. Without cannatourism, the recreational market is expected to bring in billions of dollars annually, and the state will be allowed to keep at least $ 350 million of that in tax revenue.

With enough creativity and sensitivity from the government and residents, the state’s cannabis industry is on the road to success.

Bottom line

Using Amsterdam as a cannatourism case study could be a thing of the past in a few years, until now New York and Las Vegas are taking the right steps.

Young tourists are more likely to visit New York or Las Vegas than Amsterdam. Ironically, the Amsterdam government seems tired of the constant crowd that visits the city just to consume cannabis. Amsterdam Mayor Femke Halsema says the constant flow of these tourists is undermining the criminal organizations that control the black market and drug trafficking in the city.

The sooner cannabis tourism picks up in the United States, the more revenue the cannabis industry will generate in the cannabis-legal states.

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