Marijuana vending machines are now available in Colorado, allowing for contactless purchasing during COVID-19 pandemic.
Colorado has welcomed the first marijuana vending machines, allowing weed lovers to purchase their favourite products in a quick and easy fashion.
A startup company called Anna has begun deploying the machines in Pueblo, with each one able to hold more than 2,000 weed-based products.
The new development in the industry fits in with an era of contactless purchasing, allowing knowledgable consumers to grab their favourite cannabis products without seeing a human face. Products available include flowers, edibles, vape oils, infused beverages, and balms; with long lines becoming a thing of the past.
The machines by Anna, who plan to expand within the state, come at a time when COVID-19 restrictions have limited in-shop buying.
Cannabis Customers Can Now Buy Marijuana From Vending Machines In Colorado.
When will this happen for BOMBAY ? pic.twitter.com/2EseJdcUrU— Darth Vader (@Silent_Gardn) August 19, 2020
However, Colorado is one of the many states that have listed cannabis retailers as essential businesses, allowing for online orders and curbside delivery, with marijuana sales in Colorado setting records in May and June.
With an increased demand for online ordering, Anna CEO Matt Frost saw an opportunity in the market by introducing the contactless system for those who don’t need a real human to talk them through the products they want to buy.
How weird is it that there’s marijuana vending machines in my state but it’s still illegal in others?
— k r i s t a (@helloookrista) August 19, 2020
There are literal vending machines dispensing marijuana, but we’ve still got people doing time for this shit? pic.twitter.com/CqGiZUs2BB
— Courtney Burgett (@court_burgett) August 18, 2020
Frost said, “There are experienced cannabis customers who don’t necessarily need that one-on-one interaction with a budtender. They know what they want before they walk in, they’re ready to go in and out.”
He continued, “By doing this we’re giving more time back to the people who do need hand-holding and want that education from a live person. With COVID and social distancing and contactless, definitely we have an appeal there as well.”
New marijuana vending machines are showing up in Colorado. We had one growing up. His name was Uncle Danny. Give it money, it gives you back pot. I don’t know if the machine will insist on smoking it with you and then ask if he can get a lift to the bar.
— Warren Kluck (@warrenkluck) August 18, 2020
The vending machines are located inside Strawberry Fields dispensaries, so consumers can show identification beforehand. Equipped with a touchscreen, users can fill out their virtual basket and pay with cash or debit card.
How long before promises to have marijuana vending machines installed next to coke-bubblers are made in captain speeches?
Stuck in augmented reality? Lost the password to your crypto wallet? Ran out of disk space for big data? Forget the bullshit, meet the Next Big Thing, a revolutionary hardware platform of the future: MARIJUANA VENDING MACHINES.
— Konstantin Anoshkin (@anoshkin) August 19, 2020
