Marijuana Tourism: Where Is Medical and Recreational Weed Legal in the US?

Cannabis shop sign.

As marijuana users get ready to honor the unofficial April 20 celebration of all things weed, many travelers are still unclear about where medical and recreational use of the controlled substance is permitted.

From a federal level, cannabis is classified as a Schedule I substance under the Controlled Substances Act, which claims marijuana has a high potential for dependency and no accepted medical use, making distribution a federal offense.

While federally illegal, each state is permitted to make its own decisions about medical and recreational use, whether to follow the federal ruling, decriminalize marijuana completely or fall somewhere in the middle.

Medical and Recreational Marijuana in the United States

Since California became the first state to legalize medical marijuana in 1996, 40 states and the District of Columbia have legalized the medical use of cannabis. As for recreational use, 24 states and Washington D.C. decriminalized adult-use marijuana.

According to data from the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL), the 24 states and territories that support both recreational and medical weed use are Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Guam, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Virginia.

While states like Florida, Louisiana, New Hampshire, and Pennsylvania have legalized medical marijuana, travelers are still not permitted to purchase the controlled substance for recreational use. Many of the cities within these states—including Philadelphia—have decriminalized small amounts of weed.

Last year, the Hawaiian government started working on legislation that would eventually legalize adult-use recreational marijuana. The state’s attorney general even said that her office would stop opposing legalization and help “lawmakers and stakeholders to proactively help advance the reform.” Cannabis is not legal in Hawaii now, but if it ever is legalized, the state would most certainly see a tourism boost just as Colorado, California and many other states have since they launched legal sales.

For those thinking about traveling to Mexico, the rules for international visitors remain unclear. Mexico News Daily reported that “tourists could face stricter consequences” if caught with marijuana, while the U.S. Embassy and Consulates in Mexico said, “Drug possession and use, including medical marijuana, is illegal in Mexico and may result in a lengthy jail sentence.”

US Cities Embracing Weed

The continued legalization of medical and recreational marijuana has led several cities across the U.S. to embrace weed and capitalize on it by making it part of the local tourism industry. A recent study found the top cities offering marijuana-friendly rentals.

Boulder, Colorado, tops the list as the No. 1 destination for cannabis-seeking travelers, racking up 104.3 weed-friendly vacation rentals per 100,000 residents. The data from Upgraded Points found the average price for a stay in Boulder was $242.72 per night.

For smokers looking for a cheaper adventure, the study found that Burlington, Vermont, has 87.5 cannabis-friendly rentals per 100,000 residents, running travelers an average nightly rate of just $180. Other cities that made the 420-friendly list include Las Vegas, Nevada; Scottsdale, Arizona; Portland, Maine; and Denver, Colorado.

Can You Fly With Marijuana?

Travelers are also becoming increasingly curious about the legality of flying with medical and recreational marijuana, but the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) says that is a bad idea.

A spokesperson from the TSA broke down the federal agency’s stance on marijuana and what happens when a traveler is discovered to be carrying weed.

“As has always been the case, if during the security screening process a TSA officer discovers an item that may violate the law, TSA refers the matter to law enforcement,” the statement said. “Law enforcement officials will determine whether to initiate a criminal investigation or what steps – if any – will be taken.”

Since marijuana remains an illegal substance under federal law, TSA agents will refer the situation to local law enforcement, slowing down the travel process and possibly resulting in a criminal case, depending on the location.

To be safe, do not bring weed to the airport.