Weed lovers in Colorado can now get their favourite products more easily after the state welcomed the first marijuana vending machines. Located in Pueblo, the machines can accommodate up to 2000 cannabis products each.
Easy weed purchase
In an era where contactless purchasing is becoming popular by the day, the Strawberry Fields cannabis dispensary in Colorado has launched four-pot vending machines to ensure consumers get their products without seeing a human face.
The machines are operating at one location in Pueblo, with plans to install another one at the Starbuds dispensary in Aurora. This new development in the cannabis industry will enable customers to get their favourite products including flowers, edibles, and vape oils without going face-to-face with a budtender.
The process with marijuana vending machine is easy, as customers only have to identify their favourite cannabis products, add to their bag, and request checkout. The idea behind this innovation is to harmonize a retail self-checkout system to the marijuana industry.
Self-checkout system
Matt Frost is the founder and CEO of anna, a company that invented the pot vending machines. According to Frost, the machines will enable consumers to buy their products in the same way they do with groceries, pet supplies, and more.
Matt calls it a “tricked out vending machine” whose innovation was inspired by the long and tiresome dispensary waits witnessed in Massachusetts. Some stores even required a scheduled pickup time for pre-ordered products.
With an increased demand for online ordering and curbside pickup prompted by the COVID-19 pandemic, Frost identified an opportunity to help update the market by introducing the contactless purchase system.
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. 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, Frost said.
The marijuana vending machines were located inside Strawberry Field so consumers can show identification and check in to use them. Each vending machine comes with a digital version of the menu displayed on a 27-inch touchscreen. Clients can fill their virtual basket and pay with cash or debit card. The machine then dispenses the selected items, giving users a grab-and-go experience.
According to Frost, the company will soon launch the anna app, which will allow customers to pre-order their products and check out quickly using the machine. The machine dispenses only cannabis products—no other snacks.
