Colorado tourism officials won’t promote marijuana
But state officials may advise visitors about marijuana laws
BRECKENRIDGE, Colo. (AP) — Colorado tourism officials say they will not actively promote the state’s legal marijuana industry for now, but they may start providing information advising people about state laws regarding its use.
Cathy Ritter, director of the Colorado Tourism Office, said federal law restricts what the state can do. She also said it’s not a major attraction for visitors.
“I do believe we need to make it clear to our travelers what to expect when they come to a state where marijuana is legal,” she said.
She said a lot of out-of-state tourists are unaware that they can’t smoke marijuana publicly and they need to be educated about the subject.
“It’s just good practice to make certain visitors have a good understanding, a good perception on what to expect when they come to visit any destination,” she said.
Ali Maffey, retail marijuana education manager for the state health department, said a campaign to educate residents has been effective, the Denver Post reported (http://tinyurl.com/h9gkpum ).
“It’s really hard to reach tourists in the three days they’re here,” Maffey said.
Maffey’s department is using the internet to identify people who want more information on the state’s marijuana laws and direct them to ads about the state’s Good to Know campaign on Colorado laws. The state is also using radio spots and brochures.
“If you are here and choose to use, we want to make sure people have information about the educated use,” she said.
— Associated Press
