The global health crisis drastically altered travel patterns across the globe, and the Croatian coast was far from immune. Before the pandemic, cannabis tourism in Croatia was a rising yet specialized segment, attracting visitors from countries where cannabis remains illegal. Many came for the country’s ambiguous regulatory stance of cannabis laws, notably in seaside towns where personal consumption and modest growing were tolerated. Tourists often mixed sunbathing with herb use, visiting unofficial cannabis shops or participating in casual cannabis circles.

As COVID-19 swept through in early 2020, international travel came to a virtual halt. Croatia restricted entry to non-residents, and lockdowns restricted movement within the country. Cannabis tourism, which was fueled by overseas tourists, suffered a sharp decline. dispensaries norway that built their business around travelers saw a plummeting income, and a number folded for good. Local operators who had developed weed-friendly lodgings or ran cannabis excursions lost their main source of income in weeks.

The disappearance of international travelers also affected the cultural fabric of cannabis tourism. Events like cannabis education seminars, mindfulness retreats featuring hemp extracts, and plant-centric eco-tours were canceled or moved online. These activities had helped foster a sense of community among visitors and locals alike, and their loss eroded the grassroots scene.

As restrictions eased post-2020, Croatia’s tourism industry began to revive, but cannabis tourism lagged behind significantly. Travelers remained risk-averse, and global attitudes grew more conservative toward cannabis, making international visitors less willing to travel to where cannabis was in a legal gray zone. Additionally, Croatia’s government initiated a policy review of cannabis laws, with crackdowns on informal shops and a legislative moves to standardize therapeutic access, which unintentionally deterred recreational tourists.

While some local entrepreneurs adapted by targeting local consumers and marketing hemp-derived wellness items, the dream of Croatia becoming a European cannabis tourism hub was temporarily shelved. The pandemic revealed the instability of niche tourism built on legal ambiguity. Moving forward, any resurgence of weed-focused tourism will likely depend on definitive legal frameworks, informed community outreach, and a more sustainable approach that merges economic growth with ethical governance.