Cannabis users couldn’t live at a better time.
With over thirty MMJ-legalized states, thousands of licensed dispensaries birthed a new industry; cannabis delivery.
If driving to the dispensary is too much effort, use a service to have Mary Jane delivered to your door, it’s one of life’s greatest conveniences.
If you have cash, access to the internet, and a medical card (not required for delivery in all states), ordering cannabis is as easy as ordering a pizza.
Why Medical Cannabis Delivery became Increasingly Popular
In the early green-rush days, it seemed as though anyone with a connection could open a dispensary. This resulted in the opening of shady and unlicensed dispensaries that weren’t regulation-compliant.
Since then, much has changed.
The DEA began cracking down on these dispensaries, starting in California where policymakers passed a bill dubbed Proposition D.
This proposition punishes landlords that rent to non-licensed dispensary tenants, in addition to fining dispensaries located too close to schools, libraries or daycare centers.
It wasn’t long until dispensaries in violation of state/federal law were forced to shut down. One by one, store by store, dispensary owners had to retire their storefront, which left many strategizing recourses.
While being a proposition that looked great on paper, cannabis sales didn’t change, rather, the method of delivery did.
Dispensaries impacted by Proposition D were forced to close up shop. Left with a surplus of cannabis and no storefront to sell from, many chose to take their business mobile; paving the way to an explosive cannabis delivery industry.
In the past three years, the number of cannabis delivery services in the U.S. has nearly tripled. Three years ago, there were 877 registered cannabis delivery services in the states, today there are over 2,600.
This is according to Weedmaps; a platform for finding local dispensaries.
What’s required for cannabis delivery?
First and foremost, you will need residency in the state in which you reside, and in a state where medical marijuana is legal. There are over thirty of them, with Colorado, Washington, Maine, and Alaska being recreationally-legal territories.
Next up, you’ll be required to have a prescription. The process of acquiring one is a bit different for each state. Fees range from $15-$200 to acquire a medical marijuana card, depending on where you live. It’s important to keep in mind that no matter where in the country you live, a doctor’s recommendation will be required.
Did I just say a doctor? Yes, I did. Except for residents of Oregon and Hawaii, a physician recommendation doesn’t need to come from your primary care doctor, a retired physician’s recommendation works too. You can make of that what you will.
Finding a Delivery Service
Once you’ve satisfied the legal prerequisites and have obtained your MMJ card, it’s time to get the show on the road and the green to your door. For many, this isn’t so easy; after all, there are thousands of cannabis delivery services and many, many storefronts to select from. How do you choose your cannabis and delivery provider?
You may be wondering how you can even find or come across these services. Well, you’ll be happy to know that doing so couldn’t be easier.
With services such as Weedmaps and Leafly, finding a bud-delivery service is easier than ever before.
Leafly
Similar to that of Yellow Pages and Wikipedia, Leafly brands themselves as the leading MMH resource for Canadian and US residents. The map-based listings and in-depth strain-review guides have made Leafly the go-to platform for cannabis users countrywide.
You can create your own account and follow dispensaries local to your area. You can also track the dispensaries favorite strains and also receive exclusive discounts and promotions.
One thing I really appreciate about Leafly is their mobile-based apps, which are available on both Android and iOS devices. If you’re serious about staying on top of discounts, promotions, and cannabis news, it’s a must-have app that will provide hours of endless learning and entertainment.
Read about strains, plan a delivery, and much, much more with an app designed with the cannabis user in mind.
Weedmaps
Many would agree that if Leafly was the equivalent to Wikipedia, then Weedmaps would be considered its Yelp.
When visiting Weedmaps, all you need to do is input your location and the site will populate with dispensaries in your area. They will also display all of the delivery services, doctors for scripts, and lab-testing services within a twenty-mile radius of your location.
Each listing conveniently displays the contact details for each of the dispensaries and also includes their menu items, patient review, and operational hours.
Just as with Leafly, Weedmaps too offers both an Android and iOS app.
Before Ordering Cannabis
Once you’ve chosen a delivery service, the process is rather streamlined. A majority of dispensaries will require that you hold a membership. As such, as a first-time customer, you will often be required to provide a copy of the doctor’s recommendation in addition to a state-issued ID.
Once the doctor’s recommendation is acquired it’s best to take a photo of it with your phone. This way, in the event it’s ever lost, you’ll always have a backup preserved for future use (should it be needed). Plus, this will keep you from paying a replacement cost.
With thousands of dispensaries and many cannabis delivery services to choose from, getting cannabis to your door has never been easier than before.