Legal Weed Sparks Pot Tourism Industry

States that have legalized marijuana are taking a page out of Las Vegas' book and fostering the marijuana tourism industry.

The income from marijuana sales alone have been lucrative in Colorado, where recreational pot sales have been legal for just over a year.

But now, companies specializing in providing a marijuana experience for tourists are springing up in hopes to capitalize on Americans' interest in 'legal weed.'

Tours

Marijuana tours have become a big business in Colorado and Washington as more and more out-of-towners travel to those states in search of a legal buzz.

Companies like My 420 Tours or So Mile High provide tourists with a way to sample everything a city with legal weed has to offer. Guests are taken to see how the plants are grown and cared for as well as attending marijuana cooking classes or participating in pot sampling.

The industry has been shaped after Napa Valley's wine culture and offers a package for any budget ranging from low-cost to high-end.

Hotels

While all inclusive tour packages may have been the originators of marijuana tourism, several other industries are jumping on board. Since Colorado legalized marijuana in 2014, Hotels.com has seen a 73 percent increase in searches for Denver hotels.

The rise in visitors interested in the marijuana trade gave rise to Travel THC, a website where users can locate a bed and breakfast that allows pot consumption.

Related Link: Marijuana Legalization Presents A New Set Of Problems

Sky's The Limit

Even more inventive is Denver-based 420 Layover Solutions, a service that caters to travelers with a long layover in the Denver airport.

The company takes air travelers to buy marijuana and then to a scenic place where they can consume it before returning them to the airport to catch their next flight.

Sustainability In Question

With legalized recreational marijuana still a relatively new concept, it seems the marijuana tourism industry is booming.

However many worry that much like the gambling business, the industry will not be sustainable once the shine wears off.

Also, as legislation legalizing the recreational sale and use of marijuana continues to spread across the U.S., the need to travel in order to get high will slowly diminish.