Peak Experiences: The Ups and Downs of a Catskill Mountain High

The sweeping views and dizzying speeds always make skiing a (mountain) peak experience.  Add ganja on the gondola to the mix, and the winter outing can either reach exhilarating new heights or trigger an avalanche of unpleasant consequences. The verdict? It depends.

“I’m aware people ski while high because I’ve personally picked up more aromas since New York legalized cannabis,” says Scott Brandi, president and executive director of the Ski Areas of New York (SANY) organization.  

“But I believe you should save your high for after you ski,” he adds.

With 52 sites, New York State has more ski areas than any other state. Virtually all subscribe to a code of conduct that explicitly emphasizes safety and implicitly prohibits using anything that could compromise judgment or the senses. Since New York green-lit recreational consumption in 2021, incidents involving cannabis have been exceedingly rare. As a result, most ski operators prefer to look the other way and vacationers have responded accordingly. 

“I skied high for decades,” says Jim, 57, a Westchester resident and lifelong cannabis aficionado, “But I was super aware of which strains to use, how much to take, what delivery systems worked best, and how to time a high.”

Like the vast majority of buzzed budsters, Jim never had a problem on the slopes. Ski patrollers, too, consider alcohol a far greater threat. 

“It’s like an in-joke, but we see the number of accidents goes way up right after skiers have had lunch – with drinks,” says Brian Smith, marking his 33^rd year as a ski rescuer at Campgaw Mountain Ski Areas in Bergen County, New Jersey.  

Pinning a “driving while intoxicated” charge on a stoned skier is almost unheard of, but it's technically possible to classify a skier’s boards as “vehicles” enabling high-speed transport. Short of that, most people on a cannabis high, ski right under the radar.

“We may find out about that only after someone has an accident,” says Smith. Still, he and his fellow patrollers are convinced that skiing while high, like driving drunk, is just a bad idea.”

Those who have done it for years, though, say bad outcomes only occur among inexperienced and uneducated weed users. People should not barrel down a hillside at breakneck speed. Instead, truly cannabis-savvy skiers like Jim recommend that every skier should know their tolerances and their limits.

“If you use something you’re familiar with and understand how your body processes it, cannabis can make you a better skier,” he asserts.  

Research hasn’t yet confirmed that, but in a 2022 Journal of Cannabis Research study on the link between cannabis and physical activity, two-thirds of participants credited weed for increasing “focus/concentrate” and “heightening enjoyment,” A similar percentage reported that cannabis “enhances the mind-body-spirit connection.”  

Whether future studies will zero in on mountaintop cannabis or not, veteran downhillers say there are factors you should take into account before skiing stoned. 

Liability

“If you’re involved in a collision under the influence and then found to be the at-fault person, it can dramatically increase your personal liability,” Brandi says.

State Status

While NYC area states allow recreational cannabis, Attorney Jay Hack, of Gallet Dreyer & Berkey LLP of White Plains, notes that many states are not as permissive. 

“For instance, in Idaho, cannabis is a strict ‘no no’, and if you’re caught using at Sun Valley, you risk arrest,” says Hack. 

Transport

Cannabis transported within New York state must be secured in a sealed container and, Hack adds, don’t think about crossing state lines with a stash.

“It’s federally illegal and can get you arrested,” Hack notes.

Since the decision to indulge or not is a matter of unique perils and payoffs, anyone thinking about skiing stoned needs to approach the decision with awareness and honesty.

“Hey, the truth is that skiing has its risks and we’re very upfront about it,” says Brandi. “You can take a fall, have a collision, or get seriously injured if you don’t have all your senses working.”

His ardent advice: take the slow road and delay the buzz until the apres-ski hours.