Cannabis Tourism USA: Colorado, California, Nevada and More — A British Visitor's Guide

Amsterdam was long considered the world cannabis capital. But since the US legalisation wave, tourists from around the world have been heading elsewhere — to Denver, Las Vegas, Los Angeles and Portland. These cities offer cannabis experiences that eclipse the Dutch coffeeshop in variety, quality and professional atmosphere. A destination guide to the best cannabis cities in the United States, written with British visitors in mind.

Denver, Colorado: Where It All Began

Denver is historically the most significant cannabis city in the world — it was here in 2012 that the first full recreational legalisation anywhere on earth took effect. The city has built an entire tourism industry around it: cannabis tours, cannabis bed and breakfasts, cooking classes and guided dispensary tours.

• LivWell Enlightened Health — largest chain in Colorado, multiple Denver locations, reliable quality and budget-friendly prices
• The Green Solution — high quality and broad range, friendly staff well-used to international visitors
• Starbuds — popular Colorado chain, often good daily deals
• Cookies Denver — streetwear meets cannabis, premium feel, Berner brand

Prices in Denver: expect to pay roughly £20-40 for a quality eighth (3.5g) before tax, with Colorado adding around 26-28% in combined taxes.

Las Vegas, Nevada: Cannabis on the Strip

Las Vegas is the only major city in the world where cannabis tourism and casino entertainment go hand in hand. Nevada permits licensed cannabis consumption lounges — and Vegas has more of them than anywhere else.

• NuWu Cannabis Marketplace — open 24/7, one of the largest dispensaries in Las Vegas
• Planet 13 — the largest dispensary in the world, over 40,000 square feet, a tourist attraction in its own right
• Jardin Cannabis — award-winning dispensary north of the Strip, excellent staff

Prices: roughly £12-18 per gram equivalent for quality flower. Hotel rooms remain prohibited in most properties.

Los Angeles, California: West Hollywood and Beyond

• MedMen West Hollywood — the "Apple Store of cannabis", premium design dispensary
• Cookies Melrose — Berner brand flagship, streetwear and cannabis
• Glass House Farms Dispensary — own farm, freshest products, near Venice Beach
• The Artist Tree WeHo — cannabis and art combined

San Francisco: History and the Avant-Garde

• Harborside Oakland — pioneer dispensary since 2006, broad medical and recreational selection
• SPARC — multiple SF locations, known for quality and community focus
• The Apothecarium — elegant design, emphasis on wellness

Seattle, Washington: Coffee Culture Meets Cannabis

• Have a Heart — Seattle chain, fair prices, approachable staff
• Uncle Ike's — Capitol Hill, well-known local brand
• Vela — Capitol Hill, premium boutique feel

Portland, Oregon: Best Prices, Most Relaxed Atmosphere

• Cheapest prices: $5-10 per gram is common (roughly £4-8)
• Many small boutique dispensaries with craft cannabis focus
• Food truck culture pairs well with dispensary tours

Chicago, Illinois: Cannabis in the Midwest

• Rise Dispensaries — largest Illinois chain, multiple Chicago locations
• Sunnyside — professional setup, broad selection

Practical Tips

• Always bring your passport — 21+ is mandatory, UK ID accepted
• Cash is often better — federal banking restrictions affect card payments
• US cannabis commonly reaches 20-30% THC — start very small
• Edibles: 30-90 minutes to take effect — do not take more
• Never drive after consuming
• Never take cannabis toward any airport

Further Reading

• US Cannabis Guide for Tourists: Everything You Need to Know
• US Cannabis Laws State by State: The Complete Guide