10 of the best 420-friendly vacation destinations around the globe
Summer might be not so soon, but it’s never too early to start planning your next holiday destination! You might be looking for a place that has a distinct qualification: somewhere you can smoke some cannabis legally and peacefully. Look no more! Here are ten of the most beautiful 420-friendly places to visit on your next vacation. Pack your favourite vape and let’s go on a trip.
Lisbon, Portugal
If being cannabis-friendly was ranked on a scale of 1 to 5 with 5 being completely legal, you’d find Portugal rated at a 4.5 according to Webehigh.org. It’s not exactly legal, meaning that you won’t find open markets, but cops tend to look the other way if people are otherwise behaving themselves.
Freetown Christiana, Copenhagen
Christiana is a largely autonomous neighbourhood found in the capital of Denmark, Copenhagen. The city isn’t big—roughly one-eighth of a square mile and boasting only about 900 residents. An open-air market located on the unfortunately-named Pusher Street is there to greet cannabis consumers. Be sure to haggle for better prices. In the rest of Denmark, cannabis is largely tolerated so long as it is not bothering other people.
Denver, Colorado
Colorado passed recreational marijuana laws back in 2012, coming in slightly before Washington. It’s no wonder that the state has the most-developed “cannatourism” market in the world. Here, you’ll find bed and breakfasts that cater to stoners, along with tours where you can see every aspect of the industry, from cultivation and dispensaries to edibles. There’s also a highly-praised craft beer scene to shake things up a bit.
Montevideo, Uruguay
Montevideo is the capital of this tiny South American country that became the first country to legalise cannabis in 2013. The only catch is that only legal citizens can grow the plants or purchase cannabis from a pharmacy. That just means that you’ll have to make friends on your vacation—don’t worry, the locals are friendly and laid back.
Amsterdam, Netherlands
Amsterdam is most definitely the Mecca of 420 vacation destinations. It hosts the world-famous Cannabis Cup, which has led to the rumour that cannabis is legal. However, travellers and residents alike are allowed to carry up to 5 grams and are welcome to purchase cannabis at one of the many coffee shops.
Negril, Jamaica
Reggae music, murals of Bob Marley—Negril is just what you would expect it to be—including the white sand beaches. Technically, possession of under two ounces is considered a petty crime, resulting in just a fine. However, locals are always usually willing to sell freshly-picked ganja from plants up in the mountains. Bonus: if you have a medical marijuana card from your home state or country, you can apply for access to medical marijuana in Jamaica.
Seattle, Washington
Nicknamed the Emerald City long before the legalisation of recreational marijuana in 2012, Seattle boasts both things to do in the city and nature getaways in gorgeous National Parks. Rules regarding how the cannabis must be sold in sealed bags or containers and against open smoking in tour vehicles have prevented the cannatourism scene from being as vibrant as Colorado’s, but tours aren’t hard to find and book.
Tel Aviv, Israel
Israel is the global leader in cannabis research, thanks to having legalised cannabis in 1992, though only for research purposes. That’s okay, though, because recreational cannabis has been decriminalised too. People often light up freely in Tel Aviv and the beaches and architecture provide the perfect backdrop for a cannabis getaway.
Puerto Viejo, Costa Rica
Puerto Viejo is a small, coastal city located along the southern Caribbean coast. Bicycles are the primary form of transportation and cannabis is part of a mindset called “pura vida.” After lighting up, lounge on the beach or go exploring in the rainforest to catch sight of colourful toucans and howler monkeys.
Portland, Oregon
Quirky and Dionysian are two ways to describe Oregon that would be the most apt metaphors of this northwestern city. Food, art, beer, sex, and of course, nature, are all things that draw tourists to this cannabis-friendly destination. Farms in southern Oregon are producing cannabis that rivals the quality of the famed Humboldt Triangle, and it’s all available in one of the many dispensaries located in the city.
