Denver: Major get high marijuana tourism advertising campaign in the smokes?

Come to Denver and smoke pot. Get high in Denver. Mountain High.

Come to Denver and smoke pot. Get high in Denver. Mountain High. High is more fun- Dope is more fun – you won’t find this or similar slogans in travel and tourism advertisements in Denver, Colorado yet.

Of course marijuana officially became legal in Colorado yesterday.

With all the hype leading up to this historical moment, you might be surprised that Denver’s tourism board hasn’t officially announced any plans to begin a most likely highly effective pot tourism campaign. We were, too, until we did some digging. According to a source close to the situation who spoke to the magazine Jaunted on the condition of anonymity, Denver’s tourism board “risks funding if it even mentions pot in any of its campaigns.”

Ah, the politics at play! While we think it’s a bummer that there’s hesitation in the air, we do expect that hard-nosed directive to slowly mellow out over the course of the next year, mostly due to the fact that dollar signs always end up winning out in this country. The legislation allows for the sale of marijuana to out-of-state visitors despite being a state law, which says something in itself. We will no doubt eventually see packages, tours, and farm visits entertaining tourists in the Mile High City – it’s just a matter of when the picky details of the politics get ironed out.

Until then, you’ll have to do your own dirty work when it comes to exploring the Mile High City as it relates to marijuana.

If you’re planning a visit this winter, here are a few things to remember:
ยท Buying pot is basically the same process as buying a bottle of booze. Enter the store, select a product/variety of a certain quality/price, show your ID, pay, leave and enjoy your purchase in a private setting.
ยท If you’re from out of state, you can only buy a quarter-ounce at a time.
ยท Residents with a Colorado ID can purchase up to an ounce.
ยท Both locals and visitors can legally possess up to an ounce at a time, but neither can smoke in public.
ยท Denver Airport has forbidden pot possession on airport property and travelers are still not allowed to fly with it.

That little part about not smoking in public is perhaps the most important rule we’d like to see respected. It’s one thing to light up on a hiking trail in the woods somewhere, but please do not go trouncing around downtown Denver with a joint in your mouth, especially if you’re a tourist. Whether you agree or not in principle is hardly the issue.

The public smoking of marijuana may become a point of discussion in the coming years, but for now you have to show respect for those who may still be adjusting to this historical change, and avoid ticking-off policymakers who might already be skeptical.

In a few weeks, we’ll check back in and see how the city is holding up once the dust settles, and we’ll continue to monitor the “pot tourism” situation as well. Marijuana might be the reason people come, but given all the great development happening in Denver’s met area, it certainly won’t be the only thing that leaves an impression on visitors.

About the author

Avatar of Linda Hohnholz

Linda Hohnholz

Editor in chief for eTurboNews based in the eTN HQ.

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