As Colorado this month became the first place in the world to legalize marijuana sales to anyone over 21 for any reason, state tourism officials imposed an unofficial moratorium on marketing pot tourism while they monitor the potential pluses and minuses of the landmark event, which made international headlines.
From wealthy skiers upset at subjecting their teenagers to seemingly nonstop talk about marijuana, to pot smokers eager to travel to the state to be part of history, tourism officials are treading tricky waters surrounding all of the new attention.
At least for now, education seems to be the main focus for hotels and ski resorts.
No, people will not be walking down the streets or riding ski lifts openly smoking joints. Smoking bans in hotel rooms apply to marijuana just as they do to tobacco, though cannabis can also be purchased and consumed in edible forms.
It is also illegal to take pot out of state or through DEN.
Still, as people take pictures of their friends smoking pot on this city’s downtown pedestrian mall and others openly divvy up their marijuana purchases into zip-close bags on the downtown shuttle, questions remain about whether the new law will be good, bad or neutral for Colorado tourism.
“I think it is really too soon to tell,” said Al White, director of the Colorado Tourism Office. “I think there will be some parents who will pick other destinations because they are concerned about the pot availability and the environment they are afraid their kids will be subject to. On the other hand, I am sure there will be others who make Colorado their destination because they can ski and be able to buy a joint legally.”
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