by Brittiany Ralls
As a cannabis patient I have found traveling to be difficult because of the availability of cannabis within other states. Plus the current scheduling of cannabis doesn’t allow for the crossing of state lines with your medicine. This has been something of a struggle since before legalization and still is an issue today. Being without my medicine isn’t always an option. This has limited the options available for travel and vacation spots for myself and a lot of patients. But with new states legalizing there comes more options all the time. Knowing where to find information is the hardest part of the battle.
So I’ll give you some ideas of what I do to find awesome places to visit that don’t break the bank and still allow for my cannabis use.
Going to states that have recreational cannabis available has been the go to option for travel seekers because of the ease of access. If you are over the age of 18 with an ID you can purchase in a few different states recreationally. Most of those states are tourist states already so they are great options when trying to decide on where to go for vacation. Be prepared to pay a little more than some expect because of taxes with recreational dispensaries. While this is always an option it may not be the most cost effective options for those of us who love to travel and see new places. Plus, there is a really good chance that you have already visited a lot of the more touristy places that have cannabis available. Being a medical patient may allow you the benefits of purchasing through medical dispensaries at a lower cost than that of recreational dispensaries.
When deciding where to visit for your travel plans I suggest starting with the states website that you want to visit and find out their views and laws on cannabis. This will remove states that aren’t cannabis friendly and let you know if that state has temporary patient licenses available for medical marijuana patients. Remember that just like with your medical card in your state, it may take a period of time for approval so make sure to plan at least 30-60 days in advance to submit your application. Once approved you should be able to shop in the approved state for a limited amount of time.
Make sure to plan your vacation time according to the approval period.
Vacation time is a time to relax and enjoy the simplicity of life. Having cannabis is an integral part of that for me and a lot of my friends and family. Even when I have others come visit we always plan ahead so that they are able to use the temporary license that Oklahoma offers to it’s out of state visitors. My loved ones like being able to shop in other states allowing them to try new strains and brands they may not have seen since there are so many options and most aren’t national brands yet. Making the experience quite fun for most and beneficial for your cannabis community since tourists are spending money in your state.