An eclectic list of places to visit if you want the best cannabis experiences.
Cheerfully smoking a joint while eating a club sandwich in the sunlight in Amsterdam.
Wandering the streets of Pai, Thailand during their water festival after eating an infused brownie.
Are you wondering what the best places are for cannabis tourism?
We wondered that, as well, and decided to compile a list of the top cities to visit for an awesome cannabis experience during your travels.
1. Amsterdam
Coffee shops.
You probably already know about them. Amsterdam has long been the champion city of cannabis travel.
There’s not much need to dive any further into detail on the subject in this post.
2. Upper Peninsula, Michigan
Since we started with somewhere you’d expect, let’s move on to somewhere you probably didn’t expect.
However, if you’re from the area, you’ll already know what I’m talking about and why it’s worth a visit.
Be warned, however, cannabis tourism here is likely to be more rugged than you might be looking for.
We’re talking spotty cell phone service, people.
Welcome to the Upper Peninsula of Michigan.
Yes, Michigan has two peninsulas: the one you might know that looks like a mitten, and the one you probably assume is Canada.
It’s an easy mistake to make if you look at the cannabis laws.
Didn’t you know that Michigan recently legalized recreational cannabis?
And where there’s legalized recreational cannabis, there are places to travel for unique experiences.
While you won’t find recreational dispensaries open just yet, medical patients can access the plethora of medical dispensaries before heading to the UP.
According to the Michigan Medical Marihuana Act, “a registry identification card, or its equivalent, that is issued under the laws of another state…shall have the same force and effect as a registry identification card issued by the department.”
So, load up and head north.
Before getting to the Upper Peninsula, you’ll cross the longest suspension bridge in the Western Hemisphere, the Mackinac Bridge.
Once in the U.P., you’ll have access to beautiful waterfalls, gorgeous state parks, endless rivers frequented by moose, black bear, and large migrational birds.
Of course, keep your consumption as private as possible.
You can still be cited for cannabis if caught with it by a federal agent in a national park, for example.
If you choose to take your cannabis tourism experience to the U.P., be sure to visit Kitch-iti-kipi.
Its natural beauty blends so well with cannabis that it can’t be missed.
3. Barcelona, Spain
Let’s kick it back over to Europe.
Where Amsterdam has coffee shops, Spain has social clubs.
But they are not equivalents.
In Spain, social clubs are not open to the public.
You can’t walk into any social club you like and order cannabis, but that doesn’t mean it’s difficult to get in, either.
Now, some clubs are difficult to get into.
You need a personal reference from someone who is already a member of that club.
Other clubs have waiting lists that you’d need to join as they limit the number of club members.
These types of clubs you might not want to focus on if you’re looking for cannabis tourism in Europe.
Instead, hop on Weedmaps and check out a few clubs around where you’ll be staying.
Read the reviews, see what people say about them and how they treat tourists.
Email, call, DM, or otherwise contact the club and inquire about how you can acquire an invitation to the club.
Some of them will have you call them.
Others will have a short questionnaire for you.
The easiest to join will simply say something like, “come in any time with this email and attached reference number and we’ll get you set up.”
In those cases, you can show up during the hours they indicate, fill out a form or two, and be let in.
Some clubs have 50 types of flower and concentrate on the menu, some of them of questionable quality.
Others have 5, all of them sparkling with trichomes and smelling like marijuana heaven.
Some clubs cater to gamers and television watchers.
One is an art studio.
Another has a pool table.
Look around, there are hundreds of clubs to speak with if you want to try out some unique varieties of cannabis while traveling the world.
4. Pai, Thailand
The first thing to say about Thailand is that cannabis is illegal in Thailand.
If you’re caught with it, you could end up in a Thai prison or face very steep fines, at the very least.
Buying it should be done with caution.
Transporting should be taken with care.
Consumption in public would be unwise.
However, despite the risks, there is a thriving cannabis tourism industry in Thailand.
Moreover, Thailand recently became the first Southeast Asian country to legalize medical marijuana, so their stance against its consumption appears to be relaxing.
If you went today to Pai, Thailand, you might think that cannabis is already legal.
Pai is a hippie retreat in many ways. It’s a quirky city located in the hills of Northern Thailand that makes it easy for people to find cannabis in their Asian travels.
Connecting with other tourists, or even better, the expats, is a good way to find cannabis in Thailand.
However, you might also be able to find a bar where it’s openly being consumed and not very secretly sold.
How is that possible in a country where it’s illegal?
Some say the cops take bribe money from the establishments to leave them alone, others say they occasionally get raided.
Take caution, but enjoy the Land of Smiles.
Visit in April during their Songkran Festival and you’ll be treated to a cannabis tourism experience that you never imagined.
As it’s colloquially known, the “Water Festival” is a time to load up your squirt guns, fill your buckets with water, and get involved in a nation-wide water fight.
That kid walking down the street? Soak him.
That lady driving that motorcycle?
Aim for her raincoat, she’s definitely wearing one in her anticipation to get drenched on her way to work at 7-11.
Do you have a better place that you’d recommend for a unique cannabis tourism experience? Let us know in the comments!