Cannabis Delivery
The modern era in which we live is much more convenient than that of prior generations. Convenience is a luxury, and there is no mistaking that here in California, we will pay for it. We take an Uber to work wearing the clothes (most likely) ordered via delivery online. Then order coffee through an app so we don’t need to wait. Seemingly effortless, we’ve grown up, and therefore, become accustomed to these modern technologies. So much so, that drive the world we live in, and that will shape the future to come.
In an already competitive and continuously show-stopping era, what revolutionary ideas could the future possibly hold? Cannabis is now legal for adult use in California, and it has been paving way for new businesses and products. It is creating jobs and presenting opportunities that would otherwise be nonexistent. This plant is molding our future. So naturally, when you know better, you do better. Delivery, even for cannabis, when it’s raining and cold outside is better. Or maybe, for those days you just don’t want to get dressed. For those days, there are drones. For the future days of the cannabis industry, it would seem, the possibilities appear endless. From 24-hour availability, less room for error, & complete operational control, it seems that drones are a natural choice for cannabis delivery. Drones are less likely to be involved in vehicle accidents or to make errors in judgment. Arguments against drone delivery extend further. There is always the question, as with any other autonomous vehicle, what if?
Here in California, the Bureau of Cannabis Control has shut down the possibility of cannabis delivery via any autonomous type vehicle. Emergency regulations introduced rules requiring deliveries of cannabis only via face to face contact. “Deliveries may be made only in person by enclosed motor vehicle. Cannabis goods may not be visible to the public during deliveries. Cannabis goods may not be left in an unattended vehicle unless the vehicle has an active alarm system. Vehicles used for delivery must have a dedicated, active GPS device that enables the dispensary to identify the geographic location of the vehicle during delivery.” Regulations in all industries are necessary, so it only makes sense to put them in place for cannabis. Companies should be able to see the location of drivers carrying their products while delivering.
As with any other recreational or truly medicinal ‘drug’, proper dosing is recommended and cannabis should also never be left unattended. While it’s nearly impossible to overdose with cannabis, you still wouldn’t want someone who has never had an interaction with THC/CBD to get their hands on another patients deliveries.
For now, the idea of delivery via drone has been shut down, but there is still hope for continued growth of the cannabis industry. Cannabis activist who seek to debunk lies, and fight for fair laws regarding cannabis in San Diego and surrounding areas, are what embody the San Diego Cannabis Delivery Alliance (SDCDA). Their mission is simple: ensure the safety of the public and the access to cannabis. They do this by using a network of legal delivery services here in San Diego. The group plans to be advocates not only for San Diego but for places like Sacramento, and potentially further. They hold networking events and have community outreach in the hopes of unifying the delivery services within the area. Seeking to educate our state representatives on how pressing the matter of cannabis delivery is in our communities.
As of August, eight licensed delivery services in San Diego can legally delivery medical cannabis. Hundreds of delivery services operate within San Diego lawfully, yet only until Jan. 1, 2018. This has led to a closer look and crackdown by local law enforcement. Elizabeth Wilhelm, the CEO of the SDCDA in an interview with CANNA Business Now, estimated that there were two or three hundred delivery services here in the county, and as few as 10% are doing everything they need to do with compliance.
