5 Drug Tourism Destinations To Visit Around The World

Tourism is one of the largest industries in the world. While there are many types and subtypes of tourism such as eco-tourism, experience tourism, wellness tourism, there are also some which are less talked about (but definitely more thriving): sex tourism, dark tourism (literally), slum tourism and drug tourism.

Now, for those of you who don’t know what Drug Tourism is, it can be seen as travel undertaken for the purpose of using or obtaining drugs which are not available, are illegal or very expensive in one’s home jurisdiction. Drug tourism (also called as Narco-tourism) includes both within countries and cross country (sub-national border i.e. from one province/county/state to another) travel, where one’s travel experience involves the consumption and use of drugs that are illegal or illegitimate either in the visited destination or, in the country of origin.

# Mexico

Many tourists are unaware that Mexico has decriminalized even the harshest drugs. Small amounts of marijuana, cocaine or meth, heroin, LSD and more are all legal in Mexico for personal use. While the drugs are legal, the caveat is that the amounts deemed “personal usage” is pretty conservative, and being caught with more can result in heavy jail time. Be careful of the corrupt officers who try to exploit the tourists for a bribe and also be aware of how some regions purportedly enforce these more than others.

# Laos

Southeast Asia has a ‘strong drug culture’ especially in the golden triangle, Laos, Myanmar and Thailand. Due to the remoteness of the areas, lack of communications, and the scarcity of resources it’s quite tough to control or monitor narcotics trafficking in these countries. Arguably the largest concentration of drugs in Southeast Asia can be found in Vang Vieng, Laos, which is well-known for its lazy river and is widely famous among drug tourists. Despite being illegal, cannabis culture is followed quite openly here. One can find some restaurants with a “happy” menu which has various infused foods, sometimes along with “magic” goods containing psychedelic mushrooms.

# Colorado, US

The state of Colorado in the US has legalized marijuana for recreational purposes since 2012. While this has eased the process to access pot, it also flung the door wide open for drug tourists from the US and abroad. It’s still illegal to smoke pot in public and in most hotels, but visitors can buy up to a quarter of an ounce of marijuana for their personal use from the Pot shops all over the bigger cities. Just remember that you aren’t allowed to fly or drive out of the state with drugs.

# Peru

Peru is known for its production of Ayahuasca, a psychedelic brew made from a specific blend of plants, vines, and shrubs, which is used for ceremonial and healing purposes by the indigenous cultures of the Amazonian region. This hallucinogen drug is used in shamanic rituals of the Amazon region and which is completely legal throughout the country. But be warned, Ayahuasca is not to be taken lightly. Besides hallucinations, the drug’s other side effects include vomiting and diarrhoea. Plus, it can be poisonous in even small amounts.

# The Netherlands

One destination in Europe that is known far and wide, for its liberal attitude towards toward cannabis use and possession is Amsterdam. The capital city of the Netherlands is a common drug tourism destination for travellers from all over the world because the legislation controlling the sale, possession, and use of drugs varies dramatically from one jurisdiction to another. This is the reason drug tourism thrives in the Netherlands. The city is filled with coffee shops where the customers can order pot or hash right off the menu.