Marijuana Tourism Growing, Despite Warnings Of Potential Shortages

The legal recreational use of Cannabis in several states is fueling another new industry that could prove lucrative—marijuana-friendly vacation homes and rentals. However, those eager for a getaway could find themselves without access to the very plant that they seek, as some growers in one state are warning that a shortage is possible.

Currently, 19 states have fully legalized the use of marijuana, including recreational use. Those states are Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Illinois, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Montana, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia and Washington. Now, in addition to new retail opportunities that the legalization has opened up in those states, so has a new way for people to vacation, with rental properties popping up in each place that are cannabis-friendly and invite renters to smoke while on the premises.

Sites like BudandBreakfast.com, which has 2,000 active listings, launched as far back as 2015, but have grown over the years as cannabis has become legal in more states, and data from Forbes shows that cannabis-fueled tourism is now a $17 billion industry.

Bud and Breakfast allows homeowners to list homes for short-term bookings in states where recreational or medicinal use is legal, and listings indicate locations in a home where smoking is allowed if cannabis will be provided on-site, and where local dispensaries and cannabis-friendly events in the area are.

Those looking for rentals where they can smoke can find them on the site in almost all 19 states where recreational marijuana use is legal (New Jersey currently doesn't have active listings, though there are some in nearby Philadelphia, though Pennsylvania does not allow recreational use legally). In addition, there are international listings as well, including an apartment in Vancouver, Canada and a home in Quebec, Canada, Cabins in Mazatlán, Mexico and even an inn in Quindío, Colombia.

However, while this new wave of tourism seems to be taking off, shortages of cannabis could potentially plague those in the state of Vermont, which is set to open retail stores on Oct. 1, but growers, regulators and retailers in the state told VT Digger that a late start for growers, supply chain issues and testing problems are going to limit the supply available.

Part of the problem is that the Cannabis Control Board did not first approve outdoor growing licenses until May and didn't shift to meeting a broader group of applicants until after those who helped meet social equity and economic opportunity goals were serviced. Licenses did not finish being granted until July as a result, James Pepper, chair of the board, told the publication.

"The number one challenge if you're planting in July is there's this kind of game of chicken that these cultivators are playing (as to) whether or not they're going to have a full harvest or even a harvest at all because of the rain, the frost," he added. "Vermont is not conducive to outdoor cultivation.