Hit the slopes - and then a bong?
Marijuana legalization votes this week in Colorado and Washington state don't just set up an epic state-federal showdown on drug laws for residents. The measures also open the door for marijuana tourism.
Both marijuana measures make pot possession in small amounts OK for adults over 21 - and that includes visitors. As long as out-of-state tourists purchase and use the drug while in Colorado or Washington, they wouldn't violate the marijuana measures.
Of course, that's assuming the recreational marijuana measures take effect at all. That was very much in doubt Friday as the states awaited word on possible lawsuits from the U.S. Department of Justice asserting federal supremacy over drug law.
So the future of marijuana tourism in Colorado and Washington is hazy. But that hasn't stopped rampant speculation, especially in Colorado, where tourism is the No. 2 industry, thanks to a vibrant ski industry.
The day after Colorado approved recreational marijuana by a wide margin, the headline in the Aspen Times asked, "Aspendam?" referring to Amsterdam's marijuana cafés.
Colorado's tourism director, Al White, tried to downplay the prospect of a new marijuana tourism boom.
"It won't be as big a deal as either side hopes or fears," White said.
Maybe not. But many are asking about marijuana tourism.
Ski resorts are "certainly watching it closely," said Jennifer Rudolph of Colorado Ski Country USA, a trade association that represents 21 Colorado resorts.
"I guess you could say we're waiting for the smoke to clear," Rudolph said with a chuckle.
The home county of Aspen approved the marijuana measure more than 3-to-1.
Washington state already sees a version of marijuana tourism. Every summer, Seattle is host to Hempfest, which attracted 250,000 people over three days this year. For those three days, people are largely left alone to smoke publicly at a local park, even as police stand by.
