10. Blazing a Trail: Cannabis Tourism in the United States RACHEL F. GIRAUDO 1 Abstract This chapter introduces the nascent study of cannabis tourism. It offers a defi- nition of cannabis tourism and provides the context for the development of this sector in recent years given the legalization of cannabis for adult use in multiple states. It also discusses major trends in cannabis tourism and suggests potential research in this area. Introduction Cannabis tourism in itself is not a new phenomenon. Humans have incorpo- rated cannabis in pilgrimage for at least hundreds of years, such as the Hindu Holi festival and Kanwar Yatra. For well over a century, Americans have used cannabis recreationally, traveling to acquire and consume the plant. However, now that public opinion about cannabis is much more favorable, and canna- bis is legal for adult use in over ten states, there is pressing need to not only understand the science of the plant but also how the plant permeates social life. 2 This chapter discusses the effects of legal cannabis on travel and tourism in the United States. Cannabis tourism is a timely topic insofar as the legalization of adult- use cannabis in several states in the United States, and countries around the world, has drastically expanded a newly legal and regulated market for the plant in these places, attracting a variety of people to visit and even relocate in order to have access to it. Given the broad scope of cannabis tourism, this contribution attempts to do three things: (1) introduce and define cannabis tourism (2) discuss major trends in cannabis tourism, and (3) suggest potential research in this area