Drones Might Be Able to Help Cannabis Growers Produce Higher Yields
by Bethan Rose
Before there were cannabis legal states here in the US, I remember the big talk was taking a trip to Amsterdam. A dream for every cannabis user in the ’90s to early 2000s was being able to travel and enjoy a beautiful place with lax cannabis laws was an ideal goal for connoisseurs and amateurs alike. It is easy to see the implications cannabis legalization might have on tourism.
Amsterdam’s permissive legal tolerance of drugs (and other activities) attracts visitors from around the world. However, legalization in Colorado and Washington means that Amsterdam has lost its unique status as a destination for people wanting to be able to consume cannabis without the threat of arrest and prosecution. Taking a cannabis-friendly trip is still on the list of to-do’s for most users but thankfully you no longer need to go halfway around the globe, unless you want to. Continued legalization has shown that cannabis tourism is an industry that remains an integral part of the market.
The two states were the first in the U.S. to allow adult-use cannabis through laws approved by voters in 2012. By comparing hotel room rentals in Colorado and Washington to states that did not change their legal status of cannabis from 2011 through 2015, researchers have found that legalization coincided with a significant influx of tourists and a rise in hotel revenue. The impact was even more pronounced after the start of retail sales.
In Colorado, legalizing possession led to monthly hotel booking increases of 2.5 percent to 4 percent, depending on the modeling method used. Once retail stores opened, the state saw bookings increase by 6 percent to 7.2 percent. In Washington, the increases were roughly half that. Hotel bookings increased by about 1 percent after legalizing possession and 3.5 percent after retail stores opened.
Until now, evidence of rising tourism in US cannabis-legal states was mostly anecdotal. Authors of the paper wanted to measure the effect through data and on that front, existing research was virtually non-existent. A 2015 report commissioned by the Colorado Department of Revenue estimated that tourists made up a large portion of the state’s retail cannabis activity, accounting for 44 percent of metro-area sales and about 90 percent of sales in tourism-centric mountain counties.
While this study only observed data from Colorado and Washington, a clear connection is observed. It wasn’t long after recreational legalization that the media made a frenzy out of the new allowances. Once the “word got out”, it wasn’t long before a niche market opportunity was seized. These now well-established companies broke the glass ceiling in cannabis tourism. By offering fully functional prepared accommodations, all with the emphasis on legal cannabis – these companies birthed a now burgeoning industry.
Even in the instances cannabis becomes federally legal in the US and every state can have legal recreational cannabis, if they choose – cannabis tourism will continue to be a niche travel market that will stay around. As travelers narrow down the specifics for a trip, they prioritize amenities, and legal cannabis is an increasingly noted checkbox on the “interests” list.
As cannabis legalization is progressing around the world, many cannabis users are looking at whether or not growing their own plants at home is right for them. Some questions to consider before growing marijuana inside your home include the following: Do I have the space? Can I replicate the right environment for cultivation? Can I…
The US Senate has proposed a bill that could potentially legalize cannabis on the federal level. Researchers have discovered the exact origins of the cannabis plant thanks to genetic sequencing. And the US Surgeon General supports keeping cannabis offenders out of jail. Video Transcript: Senate lawmakers propose legislation that would federally legalize cannabis And a…
Cannabis legalization has become widespread across the United States. Many states have adopted medical cannabis laws, and several allow recreational cannabis. It is easy to get frustrated by the negative opinions of anti-cannabis activists and supporters. After all, much of what they argue is based on misinformation. This information was abundantly plastered into the public’s…
Have you recently given up smoking substances that contain nicotine? Well, you may have noticed that it’s really hard to stop because of your nicotine dependence. When you feel as though you need nicotine and can’t go without it, you are being held hostage by nicotine dependence. Fortunately, cannabidiol (CBD) was suggested to help reduce…
Did you know? Washington State, one of the states with the longest-running recreational cannabis marketplaces in the United States, still has policies in place that prevent Washington residents from growing cannabis at home. So… what gives? When anyone over 21 years of age can legally grow cannabis at home in so many other states, why…
Medical cannabis patients in Florida must now sign a new standardized consent form in order to legally partake. Doctors also have a…
On Wednesday, June 30, Governor Tom Wolf (D) of Pennsylvania signed medical cannabis legislation amendments into effect. The newly signed legal framework…
Congress has major cannabis-related bills to vote on. An Arizona hotel wants to become the first-ever cannabis-friendly hotel. Megan Rapinoe discusses her…
