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Subscribe to RSSNow that Colorado and Washington have legalized marijuana, entrepreneurs are embarking on what is being called "the green rush." NBC's Pete Williams reports.
If a California company has its way, recreational marijuana users in Colorado and Washington state will one day be able to get their pot out of vending machines.
Such machines are already in use in some states where medical marijuana is legal, but now the maker’s founder says the company is working to adapt the machines to comply with new laws in Colorado and Washington, where adults can legally use marijuana for recreation.
The vending machines for medicine require a fingerprint scan to verify the identification of the patient, which is then linked to a prescription on file.
But as Washington and Colorado figure out how to create a legal pot market for the masses, Hollywood-based Medbox, a public company, is offering up its expertise in convenient delivery systems.
"One day we envision these machines to be accessed, when it's allowed, 24 hours a day," Vincent Mehdizadeh, the founder and chief consultant of a subsidiary of Medbox that produces, installs and consults on the vending business, told NBC News. "One day in the future that may happen, but for now these machines sit behind the counter as an inventory control and compliance tool."
He said the Medbox machines and consultancy are in high demand in states such as Arizona, Massachusetts and Connecticut that have published medical marijuana regulations. Dispensaries use them to keep marijuana from being pilfered and comply with laws.
So where will all that 'legal' pot come from? Sale of pot stymied
Medbox is now offering to work with Washington and Colorado officials who are mobilizing to create the framework for a legal marijuana industry - and to collect taxes on pot sales.
"These machines behind the counter act an inventory control and taxation tracking tool so that the states can effectively track the taxes and collect on them more efficiently with real-time reporting directly from the machine to the state database," Mehdizadeh said.
The company also helps operators get licensed in states that have licensing programs.
"We've probably been the most successful consulting firm in the marijuana business," he said.
Mikhail Carpenter, spokesman for Washington’s Liquor Control Board, said Medbox has been in contact with the state but at this point no outside vendors have been chosen to help with marijuana sales.
Under state law, marijuana and marijuana-infused products, Carpenter said, would have to be sold from inside the confines of a retail outlet.
“So I can’t imagine with the way the law is written that you would see vending machines on the street corner,” Carpenter told NBC News.
In November, Washington and Colorado voters passed initiatives to legalize the recreational use of marijuana. Those laws went into effect last month.
Buzzkill: Feds fire warning shot over pot legalization
In Washington state, voter-approved Initiative 502 made it legal for anyone 21 or over to possess up to an ounce of marijuana, 16 ounces of “solid marijuana-infused product” (pot brownies and such) or 72 ounces of “marijuana-infused liquid.
Washington’s Liquor Control Board has until Dec. 1 to develop rules for implementation of its new recreational marijuana law.
Watch the most-viewed videos on NBCNews.com
Colorado, under Amendment 64 to the state Constitution, legalized not only recreational use, but also home growing, which is still illegal in Washington.
Growing, selling and possessing marijuana remains illegal under federal law, and the federal government is reviewing options in both Washington and Colorado.
President Barack Obama last month weighed in on the issue, telling ABC’s Barbara Walters the federal government has more important things to do than go after recreational marijuana users.
“We have bigger fish to fry,” he told Walters.
Two Colorado University students are facing multiple felony charges after campus police say they fed marijuana-laced brownies to their unsuspecting classmates and professor. KUSA's Nick McGurk reports.
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Leave a Comment:
Treat it like alcohol, sell it in licensed stores. Nobody is going to get themselves fingerprinted for rec. weed. Vending machines are a nice idea, but the legal issues will make it unworkable. Even if they do get it approved, not many people will want to go through all that to buy a joint. Asking to show ID is about all people will put up with. Sales tax covers all sales. And home growers can be made to buy a license, as long as its cheap. Otherwise people wont comply.
Anyone thinking pot will be a gold mine in taxes, is fooling themselves. That said, it will make a reasonable amount of money. But over-taxing it will backfire, guaranteed. Remember, the idea is to put the blackmarket out of business, to do that it needs to be no more expensive than it is now, and hopefully cheaper if possible.
This is exactly what they intend to do in CO, with the exception that you can grow it at home with reasonable limitations.
Home growers required to buy a license. I like that idea, Freedom For Everyone. How about $200 for a dated yellow plastic band for the bottom of the plant. Limit, five per year per person. That would be up to $1000.00 per user that would go into the State coffers. Those who cannot afford the "grow your own tax", could buy their weed in a store. The store staff would ideally have to pay to complete a 'sellers' class and obtain a license. Lets say the class and license cost $1000. Like you say, this would not be a 'Gold Mine' for a state, but it would bring in a "reasonable" amount of money.
How much would such a plan add to the State budgets of say, Texas, North Carolina, or Nebraska, for instance? Just wondering! I don't care for the vending machine approach either; its too, I don't know, mechanical or something, and, like one poster said, it robs people of jobs. I like the idea of the 'Cafe' approach, like the Netherlands, with "daily specials" hand written on blackboards-much more charming:)
Pot can solve the Medicare crisis! -
"Crisis" is not on the approved conditions for medicinal marijuana.
Roll another one, just like the other one, you've been holding on it too long, sorry I can't remember the rest of the lyrics.
"You've been holding on to it.....And I sure would like a HIT".....Waiting for Columbus(1978)...Great....
Isn't it funny how many "conservatives" are totally against marijuana legalization. A true constitutional conservative should welcome the legalization of marijuana. I find it odd how many "conservatives" are actually "conservatives by convenience". It will probably be a cold day in Hell before my state legalizes marijuana, but I will welcome the day when we stop wasting money on a failed "drug war".
When you make something illegal, the net result is you end up making bad people very rich through the creation of a black market. You also lose all power to regulate it. History will support me when I say that people will tolerate regulation, but total prohibition of practically anything will make people angry and rebellious. Midway through alcohol prohibition, even the Women's Temperance League reversed their position and determined it was better to have booze legal than illegal. They got smart. Will we?
-Edge
Stop trying to read the book by looking at the cover.
Yes it is funny they feel that way since most of them wish ATF was a convenience store instead of a Federal Bureau.
Ok guys once again you have to be there. I have lived in WA since 1957. I have a lot of friends...Red and Blue. We ALL get along pretty well (so how about leaving us out of your little hate war first off). MOST of us, it is about split down the middle if anything more of the Reds, voted FOR legalization mainly for the added revenue. The ones against, again pretty much split down the middle, are freaked out-but still my friends-tea totalling anti drug and alcohol lunatics but MOST of those are in fact Blue. Again they are still my friends and we get along because they allow me my eccentricities with out condemnation as well. Louise L'Amour said it best, "The secret to getting on in life is making allowances for other folks". So you are right it IS funny how some of you think there are more Red folks against legalization. We do not see it here. And the ones that voted against it really have no problem with those that did. And I actually did voted against that other thing that became legal here...but like I said...gotta make allowances.
Edge of Idaho: "Conservatives by Convenience", interesting, that would make a great title for a current affairs book.
Here is where we are at...I have a right to buy and use pot in the State of Washington. It is a right because we voted on it, not the privilege they claim driving a car is. Now I could file a complaint with ah with who? because Washington is blocking my "right" to buy and smoke pot. Not the feds, it is illegal there. The ALCU? Now that is another issue all together. This is not a cut and dried (pardon the pun) thing. One thing...now that Medbox is involved, how about Washington using ONE company to distribute pot(a state backed monopoly with who knows who getting the kickbacks-something this Inslee guy is not beyond)...and Washington just got OUT of the liquor business by a voters mandate are they now going to get INTO to pot business? There is much to be sifted (again pardon the pun) through yet. I am just glad to be in on the cutting edge (not again) of this new and interesting endeavor. I still have not smoked any pot, since I quit 30 years ago, but it is nice to know I have the choice. Are we having fun yet? God Bless America!
Sorry I got ACLU wrong I am not high just mildly dyslexic.
Ethanol can be made from Hemp, save the corn for people and animals, and then make paper out of it. Save a tree.
That is one of the s hitty parts of this entire thing NOT ENOUGH people can get past the HIGH part of it all and see how many JOBS & TAX REVENUES that could be created from the INDUSTRIAL HEMP INDUSTRY that our forefathers had going at one time Till some got overly greedy in the timber & cotton biz !
The med & rec biz would be a small part of a bigger picture IF THE BLIND WOULD OPEN THEIR EYES !
I think I am going to rent " Reefer Madness" form Nitflix and laugh my AZZ off.
Indeed Perry, industrial hemp could be a huge cash crop. Potentially more valuable than cotton or corn.
CANT WAITE FOR THE DAY ! Only hope to live that long ?
Come out for a vacation, we'll keep a lite on! - Denver
And Sdero Woolley-about 65 miles north of Seattle a little east toward the foot hills.
Ha.....Ha.....Ha......Can't buy beer out of a vending machine. But by golly, under the Obama admin. you can BUY WEED out of one. . . . . .What's next ? Blow ? H ? The other kind of Blow ? Jimmy Beam ? I guess Obama's found a way to fund that gynormous Tax increase..........Weed !!!!
I'm for legalization but, C'mon......A Vending Machine ???? I can see every kid in Colorado with a pair of garden shears, waiting for some lil ol'lady to come out of a King Soopers. So the can lop off a couple of fingers, so they can beat the finger print scanner. Great Idea.....Really swell, no really, just swell.
You don't need fingerprints to buy weed in CO. What part of "regulated like alcohol" don't you people understand?
You need to read the WHOLE article. You jumped the gun on few things there. obama has nothing to with this. obama can not collect taxes on an illegal item...it would have to become legal at the federal level first. It is not. Because of the way the laws are written the vending machines would have to be IN a store run by adults. I am sure they will have security on them to check ID da da da. As far as lopping of old ladies' fingers? I think you have had enough for one night.
Are there even cigarette machines anymore? I'm trying to think hard, it's been a while since I've seen one.
While I am a strong advocate for decriminalizing marijuana, I don't advocate for unfettered access. At least walk into a store and show an ID.
I find this hilarious! These "vending machine" guys have been trying to make a profit from this for YEARS! Because it could ONLY be used in stores, and it would ONLY prevent employees from stealing weed, NO Colorado weed shops use it!! By law, the employees have to check ID, and they DO! So the "finger print" thing is a gimmick worthy of a cheap laptop! This is an OLD non-story!
I smoked pot once, it made me want to commit rape and murder ,Oh wait that should have read Folk off and kill time.
Reefer Madness - Three rapes, two armed robberies, and a murder..... from one joint. You just can't get sh!t, that good, anymore!....
I do not know who told you that was pot but you should not trust them.
So the hard core druggie just has to take your debit card and finger.
Drugs help keep the population down.
There are some folks that do not do drugs the world would be better off without.
You are right T-weed," drugs are a bet with the mind", Jim Morrison quote. I'm so glad hemp is a herb. If the Good Lord don't grow it or Bud don't brew it "don't do it".
I just hope my surgeon, or airline pilot isn't baked at work
OMG, you'd rather they be DRUNK!?! I'll take a stoned president, anytime! (Much less likely to start a war!)
There you have it !
The Liberal's contribution to the mental health issues in this country.
At least someone is making a contribution.
I would say that Peace of Mind is definitely a good start to improvong one's mental health.
I have to commend these states for standing up to government. Having this drug as a schedule 1 is a joke. I tried marijuana when I was young. I didn't like it so never did it since then. This lift on the drug could create millions of jobs in this jobless market. If more states lift the ban (which they will) then they can balance there budget. Except California they don't know what a budget is. They might as well have there own lousy federal reserve. People who say its bad for you and should be illegal have there heads in the sand. I have never heard a person on marijuana go on a mass murder spree. 90 percent of mass murders happen with people on psychotropic drugs or coming off psychotropic. This is little step towards getting are personal liberties back.
What's next?
About eight in 10 customers in the new marketplaces will be eligible for income-based federal aid to help pay their vending machine marijuana. Obamajuana. No worries, the middle class will fit the bill.
Stupid troll
See you in a little bit, got to go down to Uncle Buddy's Quicky Mart for a 6 pk of Bud and some Zig Zags.
I love reading these posts...it's better than television. Fiction, but entertaining.
Wonder grub , it's not fiction, it's reality. Vote S.T.O.P.P, state tax on pot and poontang. They both have been here forever and ain't going away. Debt solved.
See, you guys are real good at name-calling. Entertaining, like I said.
Smokin
The vendors with the munchie machines will make a killing if they locate them in close proximity to the pot vending machine. Too bad Twinkies are history they could have made a fortune.
Can I get it delivered as a side with a pizza?
Cheech and Chong vending machine company
I's be really happy to be able to grow 10-20 plants of my own...
That's a victory garden.
Even get an O or 2 from an online purchase. That would be nice.
Beautiful plant btw. God's creation.
ummmmmm big fried fish.......what was the article about again?
You guys are funny