Tourism Officials in Colorado not Ready to Promote Cannabis

Officials at the Colorado Tourism Office have stated that they have no plans to promote recreational cannabis right now, but they are going to provide visitors with information on state cannabis laws instead.

Director of the Colorado Tourism Office, Cathy Ritter, recently stated that cannabis is illegal under federal law, and cites that as the main reason for not trying to promote recreational cannabis use. She also mentions that cannabis is not a major driving factor for tourists, but that the state could benefit from a focused effort to educate incoming visitors.

Ritter elaborated on the topic following her recent keynote speech on Colorado tourism, “I do believe we need to make it clear to our travelers what to expect when they come to a state where marijuana is legal.” She also continued to mention that many out-of-state visitors are not aware that simply smoking cannabis in public is prohibited, and thus future visitors could benefit from some much needed education on how to safely use cannabis according to state law, according to The Coloradoan. “It’s just good practice to make certain visitors have a good understanding, a good perception on what to expect when they come to visit any destination,” Ritter stated.

The State Health Department has already begun educating more incoming tourists through a more focused ad campaign to direct interested visitors toward online ads for the Good to Know campaign on Colorado’s cannabis laws. The Department’s Retail Marijuana Education Manager, Ali Maffey, added that even when connecting potential visitors to information online, it’s difficult to teach visitors the rules during their short few days of traveling in the Colorado, “It’s really hard to reach tourists in the three days they’re here,” Maffey stated. The Health Department also advertises on radio spots and through brochures that are available at various tourism offices in order to reach a wider audience.