Recreational drug tourism

Recreational drug tourism is a subset of tourism that involves individuals traveling to a different country or state for the purpose of obtaining or using drugs that are illegal or regulated in their home country. This form of tourism is often driven by differing drug laws and regulations between countries, as well as the availability and quality of certain substances in different regions.

History

The concept of recreational drug tourism has been in existence for several decades, with the 1960s counterculture often associated with the early instances of this phenomenon. During this period, many individuals from Western countries traveled to regions such as South Asia and Latin America in search of mind-altering substances that were either illegal or heavily regulated in their home countries.

Types of Recreational Drug Tourism

There are several types of recreational drug tourism, each associated with a specific substance or group of substances. These include:

• Cannabis tourism: This involves travel to regions where cannabis is legal or decriminalized, such as certain states in the United States, the Netherlands, and Uruguay.

• Psychedelic tourism: This involves travel to regions where psychedelic substances like ayahuasca, peyote, or magic mushrooms are legal or traditionally used. This often includes regions in South America and Mexico.

• Opiate tourism: This involves travel to regions where opiates like heroin are more readily available or of higher quality. This form of drug tourism is less common due to the high risk and severe legal penalties associated with opiate use.

Legal and Ethical Issues

Recreational drug tourism often raises a number of legal and ethical issues. These include the potential for increased drug trafficking, the exploitation of local communities, and the risk of tourists engaging in risky or harmful behavior while under the influence of drugs.

See Also

• Drug liberalization
• Drug policy
• Drug culture