Pot Farms as Tourist Attraction in Northern California

Humbolt County has long been associated with growing marijuana, now some see an opportunity to turn that association into tourist dollars.

1 minute read

November 30, 2016, 10:00 AM PST

By Casey Brazeal @northandclark


Marijuana

Soru Epotok / Shutterstock

Besides the election of Donald Trump as President of the United States, the November 7th election also resulted in the historic passage of Proposition 64 in California, a proposition which legalized recreational marijuana use for personal consumption by growers. In the Golden State, it is already legal to use marijuana for medical purposes. Will Houston writes in The Cannifornian that some in Humboldt County, a region with a long history of producing marijuana, intend, "…to open a cannabis tourism business in the county, which has been able to expand in other weed-legal states like Colorado and Washington."

Some legal questions remain. "As the federal government views marijuana as a Schedule I narcotic, other local tourism agencies like the Humboldt County Convention & Visitors Bureau are taking a watchful approach to the cannabis market," Houston reports. But that's not stopping local entrepenruer Matt Kurth from starting a business in cannabis tours. Houston writes, "the tours wouldn’t be limited to medical marijuana patients, Kurth said. If a tourist didn’t have a medical recommendation, they just couldn’t take any souvenirs."

Monday, November 28, 2016 in The Cannifornian

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Cover CM Credits, Earn Certificates, Push Your Career Forward

Logo for Planetizen Federal Action Tracker with black and white image of U.S. Capitol with water ripple overlay.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

June 11, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

Rendering of Shirley Chisholm Village four-story housing development with person biking in front.

San Francisco's School District Spent $105M To Build Affordable Housing for Teachers — And That's Just the Beginning

SFUSD joins a growing list of school districts using their land holdings to address housing affordability challenges faced by their own employees.

June 8, 2025 - Fast Company

Yellow single-seat Japanese electric vehicle drivign down road.

The Tiny, Adorable $7,000 Car Turning Japan Onto EVs

The single seat Mibot charges from a regular plug as quickly as an iPad, and is about half the price of an average EV.

June 6, 2025 - PC Magazine

White Waymo autonomous car driving fast down city street with blurred background at night.

Seattle's Plan for Adopting Driverless Cars

Equity, safety, accessibility and affordability are front of mind as the city prepares for robotaxis and other autonomous vehicles.

5 hours ago - Smart Cities Dive

Two small wooden one-story homes in Florida with floodwaters at their doors.

As Trump Phases Out FEMA, Is It Time to Flee the Floodplains?

With less federal funding available for disaster relief efforts, the need to relocate at-risk communities is more urgent than ever.

7 hours ago - Governing

People riding bicycles on separated bike trail.

With Protected Lanes, 460% More People Commute by Bike

For those needing more ammo, more data proving what we already knew is here.

June 16 - UNM News