A new report has concluded that more skiers are arriving in Colorado looking to buy marijuana on their ski holiday than was expected when the state voted to legalise limited recreational drug taking last year.
Among the findings of the study, which was commissioned by Colorado state marijuana regulators and conducted by the Marijuana Policy Group, which is run in conjunction with by the University of Colorado, is that tourists rather than Colorado residents are buying up to 90% of drugs sold in ski towns. Tourism businesses have also sprung up which collect skiers from their flights in to Denver airport then deliver them to the new drug shops before taking them to their ski accommodation.
The legalising of marijuana sales, which began on January 1st, caused a number of issues for the states ski industry. All areas were keen to stress that skiing or boarding while intoxicated by drugs or alcohol was strictly prohibited. Some also pointed out that their slopes are on US National Forest land – federal land which is subject to federal laws, which continue to say marijuana use on them is illegal.
Before the law came in to force some ski resort towns voted to block the establishment of shops selling drugs.
There was also consternation when the idea was put forward that drug strength should be graded with a similar colour coding top ski run steepness.
Colorado has collected more than $35 million in marijuana taxes and fees this year.
Tourists tend to pay the full retail price for the drugs whereas many Colorado residents have cards which allow them to purchase the drugs at reduced rates, normally due to a medical condition.