Though the pandemic drags on, one of the best ways to make time go faster is to spend your days planning your next big trip. It might be tempting to head somewhere bustling and busy, but all that social and physical contact so soon after more than a year of isolation and distancing might be too overstimulating to be fun. Instead, you should look forward to a calming vacation into nature — aided by the mind-opening effects of cannabis, of course.
Because it is impossible to tell when other countries will once again welcome Americans through their borders, it is safest to begin planning a domestic travel experience. Here are the four best places to experience cannabis vacations and get peacefully high, all in one trip.
Alaska
Alaska is an adventure travel paradise. The largest state but also one of the least populated, the Last Frontier is filled with state and federal parks and preserves where people are welcome to hike, backpack, camp, climb, raft, fish, and more. In many places, the landscape is so far from civilization that you can look in every direction and see nothing but pure, untouched nature.
Even better, Alaska was one of the first states to pass recreational cannabis regulations. Adults 21 and over can buy up to 1 ounce of dry flower or 7 grams of concentrate from a state-licensed retail cannabis store, which is most common in larger cities or tourist towns like Juneau or Ketchikan. Technically, public consumption is prohibited, but if you safely enjoy your cannabis under the stars with no one else around, you probably won’t get in trouble — unless you are on federal land.
Arizona
Arizona has some of the most otherworldly landscapes in the contiguous United States. Even if you don’t pay a visit to the Grand Canyon, you can find plenty of excursions into a natural space that looks hardly like it belongs on Earth. Some less-traveled and stunningly beautiful vistas to visit in Arizona include Antelope Canyon, Canyon de Chelly, the Chiricahua Mountains and Lava River Cave, but for those not familiar with Arizona’s deserts, an adventure into the Sonoran, the Mojave or the Chihuahuan Deserts could be thrilling.
Arizonans only just legalized recreational cannabis in 2020, but already dispensaries are serving customers in big cities like Phoenix and Tucson. Adults 21 and over can buy up to 1 ounce of flower or 5 grams of concentrates, but public consumption remains illegal. Fortunately, you can use in your vehicle safely and legally.
California
California is a big state, and even though it is the state with the largest population, dozens of exciting opportunities to get into nature remain. If you want some social experience on your outdoor vacation, you might opt for a destination like Lake Tahoe or Yosemite, where tourism is high year-round. Alternatively, if you want to truly escape into nature, you should head to the Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest of the White Mountains or Malaga Cove, one of the few beaches in California that aren’t overrun with crowds.
California is one of the world’s biggest producers of the pot, and even though the state allows counties and cities to decide for themselves whether sales or consumption are permitted in their borders, most of the state allows recreational use. Adults 21 and up can possess up to 1 ounce of flower or up to 8 grams of concentrates. Different cities have different laws and cultural acceptance of public consumption, so you might need to do some local research as you plan your trip.
Colorado
Colorado is dominated by the Rocky Mountains, which run directly through the center of the state. As a result, Colorado is known for its abundance of skiing, hiking, camping and other alpine activities. If mountains aren’t your scene, you can find less rugged adventure in the form of fishing, paddling and more on various waterways running through the state — even some just outside the bustling metropolis of Denver.
Like California, Colorado allows cities and counties to regulate cannabis differently, and unfortunately, much of the state outside of Denver and popular tourist towns is staunchly against cannabis consumption. Fortunately, you can find plenty of outdoor recreation close to the big cities; there are many Fort Collins dispensaries that cater to outdoor adventurers looking for natural experiences.
Final Words
The pandemic isn’t over, but that doesn’t mean you can’t look forward to a time when it will be. By planning cannabis vacations for your first big trip after quarantine, you can fully celebrate surviving a global crisis in a beautiful, natural space.