We’ve all had those stoned moments where we drool over the munchies selection offered at the local vending machine. But, take a second to imagine a world where you can sort through different strains before plugging in a number and watching a sack fall into your palms. Miraculously, Phoenix medical cannabis technology company American Green is working to make the marijuana vending machine a reality.
American Green has recently unveiled a vending machine prototype that would sell regulated and age-restricted medical marijuana using a biometric verification system. This technology would enable the machine to properly screen customers, requiring patients to set up an account using a government-issued identification and valid doctor’s recommendation.
Upon purchase, the customer is prompted to verify their identity with a fingerprint scanner and facial recognition camera. While your average cannabis user might feel hesitant about this type of technology, this vending machine concept could be well suited for places like retirement homes, allowing seniors to obtain medical marijuana without having to trek to the dispensary.
This prospect would also be particularly beneficial in states that don’t allow delivery or sales outside of dispensaries. Other cannabis users might even feel more comfortable using this discreet method over risking face-to-face interactions at physical medical or retail locations.
Not only could this adult-use vending machine be used to properly sell legal cannabis, it also has potential for selling other strictly regulated goods, such as pharmaceuticals, casino chips, alcohol, and even guns. While some might argue that having these kinds of commodities in vending machines could lead to break-ins, placing them in safe and heavily trafficked areas should prevent this possibility.
The prototype doesn’t look like your classic vending machine, offering a touchscreen and sophisticated customer verification system. While it might seem like an outlandish concept, we already live in a world where iPhones and other expensive commodities are sold at the click of a button. As legalization continues to spread throughout the country, accessibility to cannabis will become increasingly important. What better way to efficiently sell product than through the quick and relatively painless vending machine method?
