People have traveled to destinations in search of amazing food and beverages for many years. Just as they travel in search of the world’s best cuisine and wine, the same is now true for legal cannabis and cannabis-focused activities.
Thanks in large part to cannabis policies and regulations being modernized by governments in many parts of the globe, cannabis tourism is a booming sector of the wider emerging legal international cannabis industry.
“The global market for cannabis tourism was estimated at US$12.2 billion in 2024 and is projected to reach US$25.7 billion by 2030, growing at a CAGR of 13.2% from 2024 to 2030.” stated Research and Markets after conducting a recent cannabis tourism market analysis.
“Cannabis tourism is emerging as a lucrative niche in the travel industry, driven by the legalization of recreational marijuana in key destinations worldwide. Countries and states that have legalized cannabis are attracting visitors eager to explore dispensaries, cannabis lounges, and guided tours centered around cultivation and consumption experiences.” Research and Markets also stated.
Events and conferences are a big component of the current cannabis tourism sector. For example, I traveled from Oregon in the U.S. to Berlin, Germany back in April for the International Cannabis Business Conference. The B2B conference is Europe’s largest event of its type, with an estimated 5,000 industry leaders and policymakers in attendance.
Another example of a cannabis event that people from all over the world travel to is the Grow Up conference series in Canada. The event series occurs in multiple locations in Canada in any given year, and many travelers couple their conference experience with checking out the area’s legal cannabis options.
It is no secret that Spain is home to hundreds of private cannabis clubs, many of which offer some of the best cannabis flower and hash on the planet. Consumers and patients travel from all over the globe to Spain to visit cannabis clubs and enjoy other tourism activities.
The concept of cannabis tourism is not new, but much of the sector remains unregulated. As the international cannabis industry continues to go legal, demand for global cannabis tourism options will increase, in addition to more localized cannabis tourism options.