Recreational drug tourism

Travel for the purpose of obtaining or using drugs

Recreational drug tourism is travel for the purpose of obtaining or using drugs for recreational use that are unavailable, illegal or very expensive in one's home jurisdiction. A drug tourist may cross a national border to obtain a drug that is not sold in one's home country, or to obtain an illegal drug that is more available in the visited destination. A drug tourist may also cross a sub-national border (from one province, county or state to another) to do the same, as in cannabis tourism, or purchase alcohol or tobacco more easily, or at a lower price due to tax laws or other regulations.

Empirical studies show that drug tourism is heterogeneous and might involve either the pursuit of mere pleasure and escapism or a quest for profound and meaningful experiences through the consumption of drugs.

Drug tourism has many legal implications, and persons engaging in it sometimes risk prosecution for drug smuggling or other drug-related charges in their home jurisdictions or in the jurisdictions they are visiting, especially if they bring their purchases home rather than using them abroad. The act of traveling for the purpose of buying or using drugs is itself a criminal offense in some jurisdictions.

## By country/region

[edit]

### India

[edit]

Malana, India is famous for its production of Indian hashish or so called Malana Cream, attracting foreign tourists. Indian pharmacies also sell many generic drugs at prices far lower than in the US.[1]

### Africa

[edit]

In some places of north Morocco like Chaouen Cannabis is planted for Hashish production. There is a big attraction for some European and American consumers because of its low price.[2]

### Europe

[edit]

A sign of a cannabis coffee shop in Amsterdam

In Europe, the Netherlands, and especially the Dutch capital, Amsterdam, is a popular destination for drug tourists, due to the liberal attitude of the Dutch toward cannabis use and possession. Drug tourism thrives because legislation controlling the sale, possession, and use of drugs varies dramatically from one jurisdiction to another.

#### Netherlands

[edit]

Warning sign in Amsterdam after 3 tourists died after taking white heroin that was sold as cocaine

In May 2011, the Dutch government announced that tourists would to be banned from Dutch coffeeshops, starting in the southern provinces at the end of 2011,[3] and the rest of the country by 2012,[4] though this was never made into law and thus coffeeshops throughout the Netherlands continue remain open to tourists as of May 2016.[5] On 25 November 2014 two British tourists aged 20 and 21 died in a hotel room in Amsterdam, after snorting white heroin that was sold as cocaine by a street dealer.[6] The bodies were found less than a month after another British tourist died in similar circumstances. At least 17 other people have had medical treatment after taking the white heroin.[7]

### North America

[edit]

Drug tourism from the United States occurs in many contexts. Americans between the ages of 18 and 21 may cross the border into Canada or Mexico to purchase alcohol legally. Conversely, many Canadians travel to the United States to purchase alcohol at lower prices due to high taxes levied on alcohol in Canada. Americans living in dry counties also frequently cross county or state lines to purchase alcohol. Due to the fact that cannabis is now legal in Canada, Americans may cross the border to purchase it legally. Many US states also have legal cannabis, many Americans cross state lines to purchase legal cannabis to bring back.

Many Americans cross state lines to purchase cigarettes, crossing from a jurisdiction with very high cigarette taxes to a jurisdiction (such as another state or an Indian nation) with lower cigarette taxes. This occurs particularly in the Northeastern United States, where states levy among the highest tobacco taxes in the nation.

#### Canada

[edit]

As of October 2018, Cannabis consumption and possession in limited amounts is legal in Canada.

#### United States

[edit]

Main article: Marijuana tourism in the United States

Since the legalization of Cannabis in Alaska, Arizona, California, Connecticut, Colorado, Delaware, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nevada, Montana, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, Washington state and Washington D.C, many drug tourists from states and countries where cannabis is illegal travel to these states to purchase cannabis and cannabis products. [citation needed]

#### Mexico

[edit]

The sale and possession of psilocin and psilocybin are prohibited under the federal health law of 1984. However, this prohibition is mostly unenforced against indigenous users of psilocybin mushrooms. As a result, the towns of Huautla de Jiménez and San José del Pacífico (both in the southern state of Oaxaca) have gained notoriety for their association with magic mushrooms, and constitute a safe haven even for non-indigenous users.

### South America

[edit]

In South America, some tourists are attracted to Amazon basin villages to try a local religious sacrament called ayahuasca, which is a mixture of psychedelic plants that is used in traditional ceremonies. Similarly, tourists in Peru try hallucinogenic cactus called San Pedro which originally has been used by local tribes.

#### Bolivia

[edit]

"Route 36" is an illegal after-hours lounge in La Paz, Bolivia, and, according to The Guardian, the world's first cocaine bar.[8] Although cocaine, an addictive stimulant derived from the coca plant, is illegal in Bolivia, political corruption and affordability of locally produced cocaine have resulted in Route 36 becoming a popular destination for thousands of drug tourists each year.

#### Colombia

[edit]

Colombia's reputation as the cocaine capital of the world has attracted tourists, to the dismay of locals. In Medellín, a small industry has grown around sites related to Pablo Escobar. Drug dealers are cashing in too, selling cocaine to visitors at prices much cheaper than their homelands. There are also “make your own cocaine” tours in parts of the country; however they are highly illegal.[9]

### Oceania

[edit]

In Australia, the Australian Capital Territory and South Australia have a more liberal approach to cannabis use, promoting interstate drug tourism, particularly from Victoria and New South Wales. In addition, some areas of northern New South Wales have a liberal recreational drug culture, particularly areas around Nimbin where the annual MardiGrass festival is held. Discreet Local Guides may also be a source of plants.

## See also

[edit]

* Drug policy of the Netherlands
* Recreational drug use
* Route 36 (bar), the world's first cocaine bar in Bolivia

## Notes

[edit]

1. ^ "Specialty Drug Classes That Are Costing Consumers an Arm and a Leg". The Motley Fool. 2015-10-24. Retrieved 2015-10-25.
2. ^ El Mundo (In Spanish). Hashish Christmas: This Is the Cannabis Tourism from Madrid to Rif.
3. ^ Tourists Face Weed Ban In Dutch Coffee Shops, Sky News, May 28, 2011
4. ^ Tourists to be banned from Dutch cannabis cafes, NY Daily News, November 14, 2011 ,
5. ^ Many coffeeshops in the Netherlands are still open to tourists. Find one you like.
6. ^ Drugs expert claims rogue dealer caused Amsterdam deaths BBC.co.uk
7. ^ British tourists who died ‘after snorting white heroin’ named The Guardian
8. ^ Franklin, Jonathan (August 19, 2009). "The world's first cocaine bar". The Guardian. London. Archived from the original on January 12, 2017. Retrieved August 20, 2009.
9. ^ Vorobyov, Niko (2019) Dopeworld. Hodder, UK. p. 187-195

## References

[edit]

* Belhassen, Y., Santos, C.A., & Uriely, N. (2007). “Cannabis Use in Tourism: A Sociological Perspective.” Leisure Studies, 26(3), 303–19.
* Bellis, M. A., Hale, G., Bennett, A., Chaudry, M. & Kilfoyle, M. (2000). "Ibiza Uncovered: Changes in Substanceuse and Sexual Behaviour amongst Young People Visiting an International Night-Life Resort." International Journal of Drug Policy, 11(3), 235–44.
* De Rios, M. (1994). "Drug Tourism in the Amazon: Why Westerners are Desperate to Find the Vanishing Primate." Omni 16, 6–9.
* Josiam, M. B, J. S. P. Hobson, U. C. Dietrich, & G. Smeaton (1998). “An Analysis of the Sexual, Alcohol and Drug Related Behavioral Patterns of Students on Spring Break.” Tourism Management, 19 (6), 501–13.
* Sellars, A. (1998). “The Influence of Dance Music on the UK Youth Tourism Market.” Tourism Management, 19 (6), 611–15.
* Uriely, N. & Belhassen, Y. (2005). “Drugs and Tourists’ Experiences.” Journal of Travel Research, 43(3), 238–46.
* Uriely, N. & Belhassen, Y. (2006) “Drugs and Risk Taking in Tourism.” Annals of Tourism Research, 33(2), 339–59.
* Valdez, A., & Sifaneck, S. (1997). "Drug Tourists and Drug Policy on the U.S.-Mexican Border: An Ethnographic Investigation." Journal of Drug Issues, 27, 879–98.

* v
* t
* e

Recreational drug use

Major recreational drugs

| Depressants|

* Barbiturates
* Benzodiazepines
* Carbamates
* Ethanol (alcohol)
* Alcoholic beverage
* Beer
* Wine
* Gabapentinoids
* GHB
* Inhalants
* Medical
* Nitrous oxide (recreational use)
* Hazardous solvents
* contact adhesives
* Gasoline
* nail polish remover
* Paint thinner
* Other
* Freon
* Kava
* Nonbenzodiazepines
* Quinazolinones

|

Opioids|

* Buprenorphine
* Suboxone
* Subutex
* Codeine
* Lean
* Desomorphine
* Krokodil
* Dextropropoxyphene
* Darvocet
* Darvon
* Fentanyl
* Diamorphine
* Heroin
* Hydrocodone
* Hydromorphone
* Dilaudid
* Methadone
* Mitragyna speciosa
* Kratom
* Morphine
* Opium
* Oxycodone
* /paracetamol
* Tramadol

Stimulants|

* Amphetamine
* Arecoline
* Areca
* Betel
* Caffeine
* Coffee
* Energy drinks
* Tea
* Cathinone
* Khat
* Cocaine
* Coca
* Crack
* Ephedrine
* Ephedra
* MDPV
* Mephedrone
* Methamphetamine
* Methylone
* Methylphenidate
* Modafinil
* Nicotine
* Polacrilex
* Salt
* Tobacco
* Theobromine
* Cocoa
* Chocolate

Entactogens|

* 2C series
* 6-APB
* Benzofury
* AMT
* MDA
* MDMA
* Ecstasy
* Molly

Hallucinogens|

| Psychedelics|

* Bufotenin
* Psychoactive toads
* Vilca
* Yopo
* DMT
* Ayahuasca
* LSA
* LSD-25
* Mescaline
* Peruvian torch
* Peyote
* San Pedro
* Psilocybin / Psilocin
* Psilocybin mushrooms

|

Dissociatives|

* DXM (recreational use)
* Glaucine
* Inhalants
* Nitrous oxide (recreational use)
* alkyl nitrites
* poppers
* amyl nitrite
* Ketamine
* MXE
* Muscimol
* Amanita muscaria
* PCP
* Salvinorin A
* Salvia divinorum

Deliriants|

* Atropine and Scopolamine
* Atropa belladonna
* Datura
* Hyoscyamus niger
* Mandragora officinarum
* Dimenhydrinate
* Diphenhydramine

Cannabinoids|

* THC
* Cannabis (Marijuana)
* Hashish
* Hash oil
* Neocannabinoid / synthetic cannabinoids
* JWH-018
* APICA
* APINACA
* Spice

Oneirogens|

* Calea zacatechichi
* Silene capensis

Club drugs|

* Cocaine
* Quaaludes
* MDMA
* Ecstasy
* Molly
* Nitrous oxide (recreational use)
* Poppers

Drug culture

| Cannabis culture|

* 420
* Cannabis consumption
* Cannabis cultivation
* Cannabis edible
* Cannabis rights
* Cannabis rights leaders
* List of cannabis rights organizations
* Cannabis smoking
* Cannabis Social Club
* Cannabis tea
* Cannabis vaping
* Head shop
* Legal history of cannabis in the United States
* Legality of cannabis
* Marijuana Policy Project
* Medical cannabis
* NORML
* Cannabis and religion
* Stoner film

|

Coffee culture|

* Coffee break
* Coffeehouse
* Latte art
* Teahouse

Drinking culture|

* Bartending
* Beer culture
* Beer festival
* Binge drinking
* Diethyl ether
* Drinking games
* Drinking song
* Happy hour
* Hip flask
* Nightclub
* Oktoberfest
* Pub
* Pub crawl
* Sommelier
* Sports bar
* Tailgate party
* Wine bar
* Wine tasting

Psychedelia|

* Psychonautics
* Art
* Drug
* Era
* Experience
* Literature
* Music
* Microdosing
* Smart shop
* Therapy

Smoking culture|

* Cigarette card
* Fashion cigarettes
* Cloud-chasing
* Loosie
* Smokeasy
* Smoking fetishism
* Tobacco smoking

Other|

* Chasing the dragon
* Club drug
* Counterculture of the 1960s
* Dance party
* Drug paraphernalia
* Drug tourism
* Entheogen
* Hippie
* Needle sharing
* Nootropic
* Party and play
* Poly drug use
* Rave
* Religion and drugs
* Self-medication
* Sex and drugs
* Urban legends about drugs
* Whoonga

Legality of drug use

| International|

* International drug control conventions
* 1961 Narcotic Drugs
* 1971 Psychotropic Substances
* 1988 Drug Trafficking
* Other treaties addressing drugs
* Law of the Sea Convention
* Convention Against Doping
* Council of the European Union decisions on designer drugs

|

State level|

* Drug policy
* Decriminalization
* Legalization
* Prohibition
* Regulation
* Supply reduction
* Policy reform
* Demand reduction
* Drug Policy Alliance
* Harm reduction
* Law Enforcement Action Partnership
* Liberalization
* Latin America
* Students for Sensible Drug Policy
* Transform Drug Policy Foundation

Drug policy
by country|

* Australia
* Canada
* China
* Czech Republic
* Germany
* India
* Laos
* Netherlands
* Philippines
* Poland
* Portugal
* Romania
* Slovakia
* South Korea
* Soviet Union
* Sweden
* Switzerland
* United States
* Just Say No
* Office of National Drug Control Policy
* School district drug policies
* California
* Colorado
* Maryland
* Oregon
* Virginia
* United Kingdom

Drug legality|

* Alcohol legality
* Anabolic steroid legality
* Cannabis legality
* Cocaine legality
* Methamphetamine legality
* Psilocybin decriminalization in the U.S.
* Psilocybin mushrooms legality
* Salvia legality

Other|

* Arguments for and against drug prohibition
* Cannabis rights
* Capital punishment for drug trafficking
* Cognitive liberty
* Designer drug
* Drug court
* Drug possession
* Drug test
* Narc
* Politics of drug abuse
* War on drugs
* Mexican drug war
* Plan Colombia
* Philippine drug war
* Zero tolerance

Other

| Drug
production
and trade|

| Drug
production|

* Coca production in Colombia
* Drug precursors
* Opium production in Afghanistan
* Rolling meth lab

|

Drug trade|

* Illegal drug trade
* Afghanistan
* Aruba
* Australia
* Bangladesh
* Belize
* Benin
* Bhutan
* Bolivia
* Brazil
* Burma
* Cambodia
* Chile
* China
* Colombia
* Costa Rica
* Cuba
* Cyprus
* Dominican Republic
* El Salvador
* Estonia
* Finland
* Germany
* Haiti
* Honduras
* India
* Indian Ocean region
* Iran
* Italy
* Japan
* Kenya
* Kosovo
* Kyrgyzstan
* Laos
* Latin America
* Latvia
* Malaysia
* Mauritius
* Moldova
* Nigeria
* Norway
* Oman
* Panama
* Papua New Guinea
* Paraguay
* Philippines
* Poland
* Portugal
* Puerto Rico
* Russia
* Saint Kitts and Nevis
* Seychelles
* Slovakia
* South Africa
* South Korea
* Spain
* Suriname
* Switzerland
* Taiwan
* Thailand
* Turkey
* Turks and Caicos Islands
* United Arab Emirates
* United States
* Venezuela
* Darknet market
* Pharmaceutical distribution
* Beer shop
* Cannabis shop
* Liquor store
* Liquor license

Issues with
drug use|

* Abuse
* Addiction
* Date rape drug
* Dependence
* Driving impaired
* Drug harmfulness
* Effects of cannabis
* Drug-related crime
* Fetal alcohol spectrum disorder
* Long-term effects of cannabis
* Neurotoxicity
* Overdose
* Passive smoking
* of tobacco or other substances

Harm reduction|

* Drug checking
* Drug legalization
* Drug rehabilitation
* Needle and syringe programmes
* Opioid replacement therapy
* Pharmacovigilance
* Reagent testing
* Regulation of therapeutic goods
* Responsible drug use
* Substance abuse prevention
* Supervised injection site
* Trip killer

Countries by
drug use|

* Alcohol consumption
* Cocaine use
* Cannabis
* Annual use
* Lifetime use
* Opiates use
* Tobacco consumption

* v
* t
* e

Tourism

Types|

* Accessible
* Adventure
* Agritourism
* Alternative
* Atomic
* Backpacking
* Beachgoing
* Bicycle touring
* Birth
* Business
* Culinary
* Enotourism
* Cultural
* Archaeological
* Film
* Literary
* Bookstore
* Tolkien
* Music
* Pop-culture
* Dark
* Disaster
* Holocaust
* War
* Domestic
* Ecotourism
* Shark
* Experiential
* Extreme
* Fashion
* Garden
* Genealogy
* Heritage
* Identity
* Geotourism
* Industrial
* International
* Volunteering
* Jungle
* Justice
* LGBT
* Medical
* MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, Exhibitions)
* Nautical
* Orphanage
* Recreational drug
* Red
* Religious
* Christian
* Halal
* Kosher
* Pilgrimage
* Rural
* Science
* Sensory
* Sleep
* Slum
* Smart
* Space
* Lunar
* Sports
* Sustainable
* Urban
* Virtual
* Visiting friends and relatives
* Wellness
* Wildlife
* Safari
* Scuba
* Yoga

Hospitality industry|

* Bed and breakfast
* Boutique hotel
* Convention center
* Cruise ship
* Destination spa
* Front desk
* Guest house
* Guest ranch
* Heuhotel
* Homestay
* Hospitality management studies
* Hostel
* Hotel
* Manager
* Inn
* Motel
* Pension
* Referral chain
* Resort
* Hotel
* Island
* Seaside
* Ski
* Town
* Restaurant

Terminology|

* College tour
* Convention (meeting)
* Destination marketing organization
* Escorted tour
* Excursion
* Factory tour
* Gift shop
* Grand Tour
* Holiday
* Honeymoon
* Hypermobility
* Journey planner
* Package tour
* Passport
* Perpetual traveler
* Road trip
* Roadside attraction
* Souvenir
* Staycation
* Tour bus service
* Tour guide
* Tour operator
* Tourism geography
* Tourism minister
* Tourism region
* Tourist attraction
* Tourist gateway
* Tourist trap
* Touron
* Transport
* Travel
* Travel agency
* Travel behavior
* Travel document
* Travel insurance
* Travel medicine
* Travel survey
* Travel technology
* Travel visa
* Travel warning
* Travel website
* Vacation
* Visitor center

Travel literature|

* Guide book
* Outdoor literature
* Tourism journals
* Travel magazines
* Wikivoyage

Trade associations|

* American Bus Association
* American Hotel and Lodging Association
* American Hotel & Lodging Educational Institute
* BEST Education Network
* Caribbean Tourism Organization
* European Travel Commission
* Historical Archive on Tourism
* Life Beyond Tourism
* Musement
* Pacific Asia Travel Association
* South-East Asian Tourism Organisation
* Tourism Radio
* Travel and Tourism Competitiveness Report
* World Federation of Travel Journalists and Writers
* World Tourism Organization
* World Tourism rankings
* World Travel and Tourism Council
* World Travel Monitor

Trade fairs and events|

* Akwaaba African Travel Market
* Arabian Travel Market
* Cruise of the Kings
* Festival del Viaggio
* FITUR
* ITB Berlin
* World Tourism Day

Issues|

* Heritage commodification
* Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on tourism
* Impacts of tourism
* Leakage effect
* Overtourism
* Tourism improvement district
* Tourist tax

Lists|

* Adjectival tourisms
* Attractions
* Bibliography
* Casino hotels
* Casinos
* Cities by international visitors
* Convention and exhibition centers
* Cruise lines
* Hotels
* Largest
* Motels
* Passenger airlines
* UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage Lists
* World Heritage Sites by country

* Category
* Commons
* WikiProject

* v
* t
* e

Neoshamanism

Key people|

* Taisha Abelar
* Jeanne Achterberg
* Carlos Castaneda
* Florinda Donner
* Hans Peter Duerr
* Michael Harner
* Jeremy Narby
* Don Miguel Ruiz
* Víctor Sánchez
* Hank Wesselman

Publications|

* Shamanism: Archaic Techniques of Ecstasy (1951)
* The Teachings of Don Juan (1968)
* A Separate Reality (1971)
* Dreamtime (1978)
* The Four Agreements (1997)
* Visionseeker (2002)
* Intelligence in Nature (2005)

Related|

* Modern paganism and New Age
* Plastic shaman
* Recreational drug tourism
* Toltecayotl
* Urban shamanism

Authority control databases: National |

* Czech Republic

|

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