Opening up marijuana sales in Colorado to nonresidents would dramatically expand the market of consumers, benefiting the pot industry in the state as well as tourism.
Entrepreneurs looking to profit from Colorado's legalization of recreational pot use are praising proposed rules that could encourage marijuana tourism.
The task force drawing up regulations to govern the marijuana law recommended late Tuesday that state legislators shouldn't require those purchasing pot to be residents.
The state has already allowed the sale of marijuana for medical purposes to those with a doctor's prescription.
Marijuana growers and sellers want nonresidents to be allowed to take marijuana out of the state.
"You're going to see an instant spike in demand because of the sheer excitement of people," said Jason Katz, chief of operations at Local Product of Colorado, a medical-marijuana dispensary.
"Colorado will inevitably become a tourist destination for anyone who wants to smoke marijuana without being potentially threatened or being a criminal."
Reflecting some concerns however, the task force recommended that tourists should be able to purchase only small amounts of marijuana and suggested potentially putting up notices at stores and airports warning travelers not to take marijuana out of the state.
Will signs at stores and airports stop marijuana buyers from taking as much as they want out of the state?
Are Colorado authorities naïve or are they caving in to pot growers and sellers?
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