Image Source: Oregon rolls out marijuana delivery industry FOX25
Lets not pretend marijuana delivery is about stoners being lazy. The modern American consumer demands door to door delivery and instant service with as little effort as possible. This is evident with the booming services of Uber, Ubereats, Doordash, Amazon Prime and the likes.
Marijuana delivery has been successful and embraced by the illicit dealers and customers for decades. Some state lawmakers have made cannabis delivery services illegal most likely with the intention to avoid coming up against federal enforcement priorities outlined in the Cole Memo by preventing cannabis deliveries that may be diverted out of state. However, some states have allow and regulated cannabis deliveries.
Delivery services, for a cannabis business, if done right, can cut overhead costs and create great consumer loyalty. Delivery, if done wrong, creates safety risks, can be inefficient and costly.
Lets take a quick look at the states that allow for delivery:
Delivery
Alaska: When the Alaska recreational market is up and running, you should expect to see delivery services right away as it is allowed under the new laws. According to Ballot Measure 2, Alaska is calling for businesses for “delivering, distributing, or selling marijuana or marijuana products to consumers.”
Alaska previously banned MMJ deliveries outright, but the state has taken a different approach with recreational cannabis. Alaska may have legalized deliveries because it has so many “outposts” where there may be no local source of supply.
Arizona: Arizona allows for medical marijuana patient deliveries so long as licensed facilities follow Arizona Rules for transporting marijuana.
California: California has not directly addressed the delivery of MMJ at the state level. Instead, counties and cities decide whether to allow delivery, resulting in a patchwork of local regulations around the state.
Illinois: Illinois allows delivery by a patient’s primary caregiver, but otherwise prohibits cannabis deliveries.
Nevada: Nevada permits the delivery of cannabis from a retail Medical Marijuana Establishment to “[a] person who holds a valid registry identification card or his or her designated primary caregiver.” The delivery process is heavily regulated to ensure that product is not diverted while in transport.
Oregon: Oregon once banned it, but new rules allow for delivery of recreational marijuana in Oregon. The Oregon Liquor Control Commission has granted permits to dispensaries across the state, KGW-TV reports. The the delivery system, which includes stipulations such as that the marijuana must be transported in a locked box and secured to the delivery vehicle.
No Delivery
Colorado: Colorado prohibits delivery of recreational cannabis, but MMJ deliveries are allowed so long as they are not done for profit. Only a patient’s primary caregiver can make a delivery.
Washington: Cannabis deliveries are illegal in Washington, and this holds true for both medical and recreational marijuana. The State Senate recently passed Senate Bill 5052, which overhauls the State’s current medical marijuana laws (which laws formerly allowed for delivery). Despite massive changes in state law, the delivery of all cannabis is now illegal.
For more insight as to rules, profitability or making Delivery Plans for your cannabis business, contact us! or checkout rules on regulating cannabis deliveries in your state.
