DEWEY BEACH, Del.- As Delaware politicians weigh legalizing recreational marijuana in the first state, some wonder how legalization could impact tourism.
Carol Everhart, the President and CEO of the Rehoboth Beach-Dewey Beach Chamber of Commerce says her organization has major concerns.
"If it was legalized across the United States, that would be one thing," she explains. "But when it is legalized in a small geographic area it can change the demographic of the visitor, perception, all those types of things." Everhart says other places that have legalized marijuana have seen upticks in hospital visits, which in part can push back against a "Family Friendly" image. "It's not a moral issue," she says. "It's certainly not a decision issue of who may or may not wish to use marijuana, but it can negatively impact tourism." But some in Rehoboth and Dewey say legalizing marijuana will impact the entire state, not just their stretch of beaches. "If they are going to do it, they are going to do it across the state," says Dewey Beach Commissioner Paul Bauer. Bauer isn't worried that legalizing marijuana will push away tourists or bring in new ones for that specific reason. "People aren't coming here for that. They are coming here for other reasons," he says. "We have great beaches, we have a lot of fun going on here in town, some shopping, some restaurants--these are reasons people are coming here anyhow." The Rehoboth Beach-Dewey Beach Chamber of Commerce did not take an official stance on legalizing marijuana. Everhart says they will act accordingly if Delaware chooses to legalize it.
