By Shayna Conde
As a travel and cannabis journalist, I can clock a cannabis-friendly destination immediately. While I have a few favorite cities in the USA, some of my favorite pro-puff havens are international. Here are some of my tried-and-true locations for canna-travel and other places that are on my vision board for 2025. If you’re itching for a solo or group vacation, say no more. I got you!
US-based destinations:
The Bay Area, California
What many cannabis travelers might not tell you is that California cannabis is fast outpacing the Amsterdam cannabis scene. While the laws in the US still have some catching up to do, when it comes to quality and innovation, Europeans definitely look to California as a serious competitor. The Bay Area, specifically, has been a flagship in the cannabis scene for years. From August 17-18, 2024, Oakland, California, will be hosting the 20th annual Emerald Cup, one of the largest outdoor cannabis competitions in the world. Across the Bay, in San Francisco, be sure to check out some of my favorite cannabis chefs, like Haejin Chun, who I previously featured in a Food & Wine Magazine article.
Portland, Oregon
Along with being one of the first states to legalize cannabis for adults, Portland also has an entire section of its tourism dedicated to cannabis. Before cannabis, I’m a foodie, and, as it stands, Portland is my favorite food destination in the US to date, so if you get the munchies, come to Portland and bring stretchy pants. Travel Portland, the city’s tourism board, has a page on its website that outlines the city’s rules, favorite dispensaries, and small businesses that sell signature cannabis. My favorites are Laurie + Mary Jane’s Cheese Crisp Crackers and Green Muse Cannabis, a Black-owned dispensary in town.
Denver, Colorado Colorado and Washington were the first states to officially legalize marijuana in 2014 and the cannabis tourism industry there is thriving. While I’ve only passed through Denver on my journey to Aspen, I noticed that Denver has countless activities and adventures for weed travelers. From smoke-and-paints and cannabis tours of the city to guided mountain excursions and comedy nights at AD’s Mile High Smoke, the only licensed cannabis bar in Colorado, there’s a lot to do in this city so making an itinerary beforehand would be wise.
International destinations:
Portugal
Portugal was the first country in the world to decriminalize the recreational use of all drugs (including cannabis) in 2001, so for an international trip, it should be high on your list. While I see the appeal of Lisbon, the nation’s capital city, personally, I prefer Porto. Located in Portugal’s northern coast, Porto is a sensory playground for people who want to vibe outside. From Peneda-Gerês, Portugal’s only national park located about 90 minutes outside of Porto, to WOW Porto. WOW Porto is currently my favorite interactive museum in Europe, and it’s all about wine. My top experiences there for cannabis travelers are the Chocolate Story (where you learn all about the chocolate-making process and eat chocolate along the way) and The Pink Palace (11 rooms with playful, social media-friendly activities plus a rose wine tasting). While you can’t smoke in the building, exploring these experiences with a buzz is top-tier entertainment.
Spain
I’m in the process of moving to Spain as we speak and Barcelona’s cannabis culture is close to my heart. While cannabis has been decriminalized, my favorite cannabis snacks (edibles and gummies) can only be purchased through cannabis speakeasies. These exclusive cannabis clubs require identification and a fee of around 20-40 euros but then you receive year-long entry into the club of your choosing. Here you can not only purchase gummies and edibles, but (depending on the club) there are game nights, cannabis cooking classes, and so much more. These clubs are highly regulated and great for long or short-term stays.
Jamaica
My mother is born-and-raised Jamaican, and while she may have complicated feelings about our motherland’s relationship to cannabis, I find it something to be celebrated. Cannabis is intertwined with Jamaica’s story of liberation and wonder, and some tourism companies, like Jacana and Ganja Vacations, have created cannabis history tours. These tours allow you to consume responsibly and (depending on what kind of adventure you want) visit the birthplace of Bob Marley, cook an authentic Jamaican meal with a chef, explore nature, or any other stimulating adventure.
South Africa South Africa officially decriminalized cannabis in private spaces in 2018, and now they are on the cutting edge of Africa’s cannabis tourism sector. Along with surrounding yourself with Black culture, history, and food, why not catch a light fade as you enjoy your vacation? With an increasing number of cannabis tours and cannabis-friendly lodgings, like on Hibnb, South Africa is positioning itself to be a contender in the international cannabis marketplace. For those who want to get high and wonder, I recommend looking through Nicole Banister’s Medium article, Black-Owned Businesses in Cape Town for how to build your itinerary. South Africa is at the top of my list for 2025!
