Study: Legalized Marijuana Valuable for Colorado Tourism

Colorado is a tourist destination regardless of its legal recreational marijuana status, thanks to the beautiful Rocky Mountains. A recent survey conducted by the Colorado Tourism Office revealed recreational marijuana’s positive impact on tourism. In 2014, the state saw record tourism numbers and most of that increase is accredited to the legalization of recreational marijuana which allows out-of-state visitors to partake in marijuana use.

The survey results show that 22-percent of responders say that recreational marijuana is the reason they are or will be planning a visit to Colorado. Marijuana sales numbers show that 8-percent of tourists visit a dispensary while in the state.

The owner of My420Tours, Danny Schaefer, has developed a lucrative business. Recently, he made a deal with a national hotel chain that allows his guests – about 150 to 200 per week – to stay at the hotel and are provided with a marijuana vape pen. Guests are free to use these vape pens at their leisure in their rooms.  He also wants to see more educational material being circulated, especially at visitor welcome centers.

Currently, Colorado, Washington, Alaska, Oregon and Washington D.C. are the only places in the U.S. where recreational marijuana is legal. A handful of other states – Arizona, California, Massachusetts, and Nevada, to name a few – will be voting to legalize recreational marijuana in 2016.