Have you ever strolled down to your dispensary at the wrong time, meaning there’s a lineup of like-minded consumers out the door? Been there, done that, but how do we change it? Some states are adopting what‘s called Marijuana Vending Machines to help consumers beat the rush, purchase their goods fast, and browse through menus on their own.

Just like you would purchase a snack or beverage at a vending machine, the concept is the same with marijuana. The idea was created to give consumers a faster experience and allow them to skip the line, purchase a product through contactless methods, present ID, and make secure payments.

Cannabis vending machines offer the same menu as behind the counter, allowing the consumer to purchase whichever product they please.

First, let’s break down the differences between marijuana vending machine legality in Canada and the United States. Up north, Canada’s Cannabis Act states that selling marijuana through a “self-service display” or a “dispensing device” is prohibited, reports say. However, there are talks of some law changes that would allow automated sales, which might be sooner than later, seeing that Canada’s review of the federally legal industry is overdue.

Let’s head south. In the United States, only two states have automated marijuana vending machines legal and only for medical use. These states are Arizona and Colorado, but it shouldn’t be long until others like California and Oregon hop on board.

The one remaining challenge is navigating the machine‘s legality for recreational purposes, as all cannabis vending machines in the country are currently for medical patients.

The straight answer is fast and easy access. Because marijuana vending machines currently exist for medical purposes, this allows patients to find a machine like they would an ATM. Simply pop in, spend a few minutes in front of the machine while navigating through the menu, and checkout.

No one with a medical card should have to wait in line to receive their medicine, and if the patient has other underlying conditions, a contactless purchasing method might be ideal. Another neat thing is how some companies creating vending machines are working on letting patients swipe their medical card and government ID to make a profile with face ID recognition for easier future purchases.

As mentioned earlier, marijuana vending machines are currently only available for medical patients in Arizona and Colorado. These states are looking into placing vending machines in remote areas to give patients in rural areas an easier experience rather than traveling to the nearest big city with a few dispensaries.

That said, these machines are currently available to use in a handful of dispensaries throughout both states. As marijuana vending machines continue to grow in popularity, we expect other states to quickly adopt this helpful tool to help patients access their medicine in a fast and easier way.