Colorado, which was among the first U.S. states to legalize cannabis for recreational purposes, has taken things one step further by introducing weed vending machines. Just like the vending machines that sell candy bars, beverages and the like, Colorado’s weed vending machines will dispense products at the touch of a button.

Consumers who wish to try this convenient shopping tactic can do so by visiting the Strawberry Fields dispensary in Pueblo. Inside the retail store are four pot vending machines, each of which is capable of holding a maximum of 2,000 products. 

Displayed through the window of Colorado’s cannabis vending machine is a variety of edibles, pungent flower and vape oils; providing customers with the utmost diversity in terms of product choices.

“Customers browse their favorite cannabis products, add to their bag, and request checkout,” reads an excerpt from the Colorado dispensary’s website. 

COVID-19 outbreak served as the perfect debut opportunity for Colorado’s cannabis vending machines 

According to Matt Frost – CEO of the vending machine company, which is named “anna” – the machine is specially crafted to serve “experienced cannabis customers who don’t necessarily need that one-on-one interaction with a budtender.”

The CEO boasts experience in healthcare data analytics. With this expertise, he has successfully developed a retail self-checkout system that can better serve the expanding cannabis industry. His motive for doing so was triggered by the tedious waits that consumers face in many stores in the midst of COVID-19-influenced panic-buying.

“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,” Frost said, adding that, “with COVID and social distancing and contactless, definitely we have an appeal there, as well.”

Methods of obtaining cannabis products in the U.S. are broadening

Cannabis consumers in the U.S. are continuously being granted new opportunities to buy pot products, from buying online and in-store. Moreover, amid the COVID-19 outbreak, consumers are being offered the chance to collect via pick-up services or have their goods delivered to their doorstep.

Aside from Colorado’s cannabis vending machines, consumers can also simplify their hunt for the best buds on the market by using online resources like Weedmaps, which makes it easy to browse online menus from nearby retailers and read customer reviews to make informed buying decisions.

According to Website Express Digest, Starbucks dispensary in Aurora will soon welcome another of the anna vending machines to further satisfy Colorado’s growing consumer demographic.