Caribbean Destinations Gear Up for Pot Tourism Even While Weed Is Still Illegal
Photo Credit: Caribbean tourism officials are studying the impact of pot tourism as marijuana possession remains illegal throughout most of the region. Pictured are exhibitors at the Rastafari Rootzfest in Jamaica in 2015. Flickr / Beverly Yuen Thompson
Skift Take
Pot tourism has become a big business in places like Colorado where marijuana has been legalized. Caribbean tourism officials wish local governments would legalize the drug to get pot tourism experiences and events on the map.
Marijuana remains illegal in much of the Caribbean but tourism officials want to be prepared for if and when more countries legalize the drug and pot tourism experiences become possible.
Jamaica, which is famous for its Rastafarian history and traditions, decriminalized marijuana possession in 2015, but other governments in the region are moving much slower on the issue despite public opinion shifting towards legalization. Caribbean tourism officials feel that pot tourism could a boom for the region, and are looking at diversifying types of tourism offered as last year's hurricanes made the Caribbean rethink future growth plans.
The Caribbean is studying how pot tourism has developed in destinations where ma
