Canada: The Cannabis Tourism Dream
This article was first published in the Destinations Issue of Fat Nugs Magazine, published in April 2025
It’s no secret that Canada loves cannabis – it’s part of our fabric. We’ve had skin in the game forever and with our relatively relaxed drug laws, it’s no wonder we’ve magnetized outlaws, outcasts, and patients alike, each looking to take a few less glances over their shoulder. Ironically, when these kinds of people meet, bonds are quickly built, and community is formed in force.Canadian Cannabis Tourism
For ages, said community has been shrouded in mystery behind cloak and dagger, forced to operate without protection and under substantial risk. Like many countries, we have fought valiantly for our medicinal programs, and with the legalization of cannabis in 2018, a major victory was won. Since then, cannabis has increasingly become a viable and dependable medicinal alternative in the daily lives of so many here in Canada, and the world is taking notice. A vibrant cannabis-based tourism market is on the horizon, and whether it’s cannabis weddings, farm-to-table infused dinners, cannabis competitions, Ganjier seminars, group education, or stigma-breaking expos, effective leadership is needed and is vital to reach our potential. Misinformation, stigma, and hyperbole still run rampant in the world and is a pivotal issue that needs to be addressed as we move into this new era. Our community of cannabis educators here in Canada is responding in force, bringing sharp focus to the importance of quality-driven education on a mass scale. We have worked relentlessly to create a new age of cannabis. One that not only breaks the age-old stigma but effectively brings tangible information to those in need. Archaic laws and stoner movie stereotypes have shaped our collective persona as either criminals or idiots, the irony of which is not lost on most of us running cannabis businesses now. As a proud medicinal patient and educator, it’s been my personal mission to provide information wherever I can to empower people with community-focused education, and I am excited for the future. I genuinely believe cannabis tourism and hospitality are the keys to engaging the world effectively when it comes to cannabis education, and am proud to say that companies like Meristem Cannabis Consulting, EduCanNation, the Canadian Cannabis Tourism Alliance, and the Cannabis Institute are working hard to make this dream a reality. We’re excited to welcome you to our home
Visiting Canadian Stoner Paradise
Whenever I’ve travelled, cannabis has always been at the cornerstone of my plans. How will I find some? What’s the risk? How much will it cost? I genuinely need to build a plan and budget around it wherever I go. It’s vital to me and I’m certain now I’m not the only one. This fact has unfortunately put me in some incredibly sketchy and often disappointing situations throughout the years. I admit, even some frankly dangerous ones. I often used to dream – “What would it be like to have a worry-free vacation based around cannabis?” Personally, I’m on an island, away from big city life trying to slow time down with my family. Peace, quiet, and a big old bag of weed. I am experiencing my kind of hospitality and am feeling at home away from home, surrounded by craft cannabis shops, culture, and local history. I’m surrounded by nature, and whether I am enjoying a relaxing sauna, hiking, golfing, sightseeing, or enjoying local art and culture, I am openly celebrating being who I am. A proud stoner, plain and simple. I’m rejuvenating, healing, and returning to balance all with the added comfort of knowing that all of it is safe, encouraged, and legal.Galiano Grow House in British Columbia, Canada
I am at 1 Winstanley Road on Galiano Island – I am at the Galiano Grow House. Located in Western Canada, on British Columbia’s southernmost gulf island, sits a small farm with a huge bed and breakfast dedicated to doing things the Canadian way. The name Galiano Island carries immense weight in Canada and has long been home to illicit cannabis operations. Surrounded by endless wildlife and beauty, it is immersed in Canadian cannabis history and steeped in lore – something owner and operator Adam Clarke is happy to share a story or two about. Adam and his crew, Sean Gallant and Kathrin Mathias, farm and operate this land as Galiano Grow House Inc. – and it is a stoner paradise. Upon your arrival, you will be greeted by a beautiful three-story cottage nestled in over three hundred live hemp plants set amongst a background of red cedars. Hands-on tours of the hemp fields, medical education classes, and seminars on cultivation are offered, with plans to offer a smokable CBD flower to the public soon. Like many cannabis enthusiasts, I’ve come to find a deep appreciation for nature and am a traditionalist at heart. Through my years of growing cannabis, I have come to appreciate all forms of cultivation, especially when it comes to responsible agriculture. This means that for me, eating fresh, locally sourced food is as important as smoking fresh, top-quality cannabis. Whether it’s being eaten, smoked, studied, or grown, I personally want quality around me in every form on my vacation. I want different ways to ingest fresh farm-to-table cannabis and food, to enjoy and learn about cannabis from seasoned educators, and to do this all in a place that provides a genuine experience. At Galiano Grow House, you will find it all.
During your stay, you will also hear the nearby wood-fired greenhouse crackling away. Music to any dedicated epicurean’s ears. With a dedicated focus on growing sustainable micro-greens, Adam and his team help produce fresh food for the farm and the community here, year-round. Among these businesses is the “Oxeye” – a local coffee shop with farm-to-table style offerings, just a 15-minute walk down the road.
Where do I venture if I need some cannabis, I hear you ask? The true beauty of it is at Galiano, you will simply walk a few short steps over to the “West Coast Weedery” – a fully licensed on-site cannabis facility.
With this addition to the farm, Adam and his team are excited to do an even deeper dive into community-focused cannabis education, allowing anyone to fully understand how the cannabis smoked on-site is grown and cared for, and how true quality is created.
Partnering with seasoned cannabis cultivator – Dustan McLean, Adam and his team have launched this micro-production facility right on-site at Galiano Grow House, bringing the top-quality cannabis you deserve, and the education needed to use it effectively. With a clear focus on creating only the finest selection, West Coast Weedery aims to be people’s choice for small-batch curated cannabis.
All shopping will be done through the “farm-gate” retail store, and before you ask, a farm-gate store is akin to the attached shop one would visit at the end of a winery tour, for reference. With experienced and invested staff on hand, ready to tell you the story behind every plant, it provides the freshest cannabis you can enjoy, hands down.
Talking with Adam, Dustan, and his team, it is clear to see a genuine passion for the plant and their island. Adam discussed hosting cannabis competitions, concerts, and events, engaging the local cannabis culture and community on-site. Events that I can assure you I will be attending.
As a dedicated fan of music, I was also excited to hear about his current side project of building a recording studio on the farm.
“Our hope in the future is that we can work with the community to bring in local musicians and help push that music to market for them. We are excited to have both cannabis and music in our lives on the farm and look to quality of life before anything else. Living on Galiano is a privilege of which we all are very aware of. We harvest rainwater for growing, use sustainable farm practices, and maintain a healthy ecosystem for future generations to enjoy.” – A Clarke. (Interview February 2025)
Can you imagine it? No more wondering if you’re going to be put in a back alley situation to buy some overpriced boof. No more worrying about getting robbed for your passport. No more sweating whether you’re going to end up in jail instead of on your return flight.
Instead, follow your nose up north here to Galiano Grow House, where you will be welcomed like royalty. We love our cannabis and want to share it with the world. I’ll see you there!
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