What weed tourism looks like in 2022 and beyond

As holiday traffic continues to recover and countries gradually lift their travel bans and COVID-19 restrictions, many travel destinations are eagerly awaiting new visitors. No matter how luxurious or coveted the destination, it seems that every location is striving to find new ways to attract business.

In 2022, however, something new is in the air that has begun to inspire a new wave of tourism. One of the latest trend motivators in travel destinations is, quite frankly, weed.

In 2020, a report found that nearly 30% of adult vacationers worldwide searched for something cannabis-related on their vacation. That report found that 18 percent of Americans feel the same way. Figures in the report show that these percentages are even higher in the younger age group of millennials, a group that often prefers vacation travel.

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While many facets of the travel industry have struggled to remain stationary during the pandemic, recreational marijuana sales have continued to soar, and more areas of the world are legalizing recreational marijuana.

By the end of 2020, Arizona, New Jersey and South Dakota all legalized recreational cannabis use, with Connecticut, New Mexico, New York and Virginia adopting initiatives a year later, according to reports US News. That makes a total of 18 states, Washington DC and Guam, which have an additional draw for potential tourism.

Even states with well-established tourism continue to step up their efforts to stay on top. California has been at the forefront of marijuana tourism since its inception, constantly reinventing itself to maintain its status as a marijuana paradise.

Take West Hollywood, for example, where there are potential plans to bring an Amsterdam-like vibe to this posh LA neighborhood. “Pot cafes, restaurants, lounges and even galleries may have a ‘WeHo’ home with the potential to attract millions of tourists and their money,” it said CBS Los Angeles.

Weed tourism has proven so lucrative that some companies are already putting down roots in states that haven’t even legalized recreational marijuana yet. “In Florida, where only medical marijuana use is currently permitted, cannabis company Trulieve has already opened dispensaries two to three times larger than usual, near ‘major tourist spots,'” it said The New York Times.

Photo by Karl Paul Baldacchino via Unsplash

Closed borders and travel bans have not prevented marijuana legalization from happening elsewhere in the world. Recently the island Malta became the first European country to legalize recreational cannabis.

RELATED: Study: Legalization of marijuana is driving a major surge in tourism

America’s closest neighbor to the south, Mexico, is already one of the most popular international vacation destinations for Americans. With the impending legalization of recreational marijuana, it looks like it’s only going to get even more popular, especially among cannabis enthusiasts.

“Mexico is a country on the road to legalization where cannabis-centric spas or yoga centers could be potential tourist attractions,” wrote forbes

RELATED: How New York just became the newest global cannabis tourism destination

Whether it’s a new market or an old one that continues to push recreational marijuana to its limits, weed tourism doesn’t plan to slow down anytime soon. As more states and countries push for legalization in the coming years, there will likely be further growth and competition in this thriving market. What was once a quirky concept found only in places like out-of-the-way Dutch cafes is now a global company. So buckle up and enjoy the ride.