MODESTO, Calif. — Visit Modesto is passing around a "digital cannabis travel guide" for marijuana consumers.
The MoTown CannaPass will allow users to learn about dispensary shops in the community and also learn about state and local laws while shopping for the best cannabis.
"The Motown CannaPass started about a year ago. We saw a parallel between the likes and desires of canna users and canna-curious to the amenities in Modesto which helped start the business," CEO of MoTown CannaPass Todd Aaronson said in an interview with ABC10.
CannaPass is similar to beer passes and the beloved "Modesto Loves Dogs" passport the community has seen.
Though recreational marijuana has been legal in California since 2016, Modesto's City Council held its first meeting on cannabis permits and applications two years later.
Aaronson said city and elected officials were on board with supporting the digital cannabis travel guide. He said before the concept was formalized he presented webinars to city and elected officials and didn't get any negative feedback.
Aaronson acknowledges Cultivar Strategies as their first and foremost partner that "helps to train frontline workers in how to communicate with individuals who ask about cannabis."
"The last thing we want to happen is for someone to walk up to a hospitality worker and ask, 'Where do I get blank?'" Aaronson said.
Aaronson said before landing his partnerships -- with Visit Modesto, Cultivar Strategies, and now Cookies on a corporate level -- he faced a lot of challenges finding businesses to partner with him. He said it was almost like a government worker calling to offer cannabis services.
"Some people are here just for the health impact of CBD, whether it’s my sister-in-law who has nerve damage --- whatever it is, be wise and know what you can acquire and how you can acquire it," said Aaronson to potential buyers.
For more on the MoTown CannaPass, call Visit Modesto at 209-526-5588 or visit www.motowncannapass.com.
Watch more ABC10:These four women are kicking down the door of the cannabis industry
