Pot Vending Machine Debuts In Colorado
The first-ever pot vending machine has been introduced in Colorado, which allows users to pick up the recently legalised product whenever they desire.
The device, which is filled with marijuana, has been fitted at Eagle-Vail, Colorado, and has been produced by American Green, Stephen Shearin’s company. It is entitled the Zazz machine, and was delivered to its location, which is outside Montana’s Smokehouse BBQ restaurant, on Friday.
Greg Honan, the owner of Herbal Elements, explained, “We’re looking forward to using the ZAZZ machine to easily track all this inventory – we’re gonna eliminate the middle man. It’ll go straight from the budtender right into our machine. There’s no room for theft by patients, employees – there’s no way to lose track of the inventory.”
So, how does the machine work? Patrons need to swipe their driver’s license in order to confirm that they are the correct age to purchase the substance. Plus, there are numerous cameras dotted around the machine, which are there to make sure that the same person swiping the card is the same as the one on it.
Shearin explained, “They would swipe their driver’s license at which point multiple cameras would allow us to use some advanced biometrics to make absolutely certain that the person who swiped the card is the owner of that card.”
Shearin also noted that he has taken extra precautions to make sure that minors can’t get the products, stating, “I’m a father of a 12-year-old daughter and I wouldn’t want her having access to it, so we paid close attention it that.”
Herbal Elements uploaded an image of the machine to their Twitter feed:
MEDIA:this photo may be used for any & all publications re:#zazzz & HerbalE. Photo cred Liz Ferron owner, Montana’s pic.twitter.com/mAthEfdu38
— Herbal Elements (@HerbalColorado) April 14, 2014
They have also taken this opportunity to clarify some points regarding the device too:
Just to be very, very clear; the #zazzz machine was in Montanas for display purposes ONLY. It will not be installed there.
— Herbal Elements (@HerbalColorado) April 14, 2014
The machine, when operating, will only be in a licensed facility furthering steps in compliance, age verification, & inventory tracking.
— Herbal Elements (@HerbalColorado) April 14, 2014
There has not been any marijuana in the #zazzz machine & will not be any marijuana in the machine until all authorities ok its proposed use.
— Herbal Elements (@HerbalColorado) April 14, 2014
Shearin confirmed that the vending machine wouldn’t be available in open public, but he hopes that could change in the near future.
“As time and laws evolve, who knows where it will be,” he said. “At that point, we’ll have higher security. But, at this point, it’s not something we have to address because versions one, two will never be in the town square.”
[Image via Liz Ferron & Herbal E/Zazz]
