Medical Marijuana Dispensing Machine
Thats right! A medical marijuana ATM. Herbal Nutrition Center(HNC), a popular cannabis co-op in Los Angeles has erected the very first Anytime Vending Machine. This AVM is going to be located in an isolated room with 24/7 security.
Although it’s not as easy as putting in money and receiving marijuana, it is a great resource for medical patients. To use this machine you first of course must have a medical marijuana prescription. Once your approved by HNC, you’re fingerprinted and given a pre-paid(1/8 or 1/4Oz with a limit of 1 ounce per week) credit card that has your personal information associated with it. Once you’ve got that you can go use the machine to receive your medication. Although the meds are limited to 5 strains(including OG kush, Purple Kush, and Wild Cherry) right now there are plans to expand that in the future and possibly even include prescription pills such as pain pills and Viagra.
The innovative aspect of this has some definite pros and cons. The good thing about this is obvious; it’s a convenient way to get your meds even if a co-op is closed. A very small downside to these machines is the inability to preview the marijuana. If you’ve been a medical marijuana patient long you know that separate batches of the same strain can be extremely different. Another thing that I’ve heard from other patients is the concern that this could bring bad publicity. Although there is clearly no way for a minor to use this, vending machines are definitely related to candy machines and kids in the public eye.
In my oppinion this is a good step forward in providing medical marijuana patients with meds in a safe and convenient manner. Here is CNNs story on the machines which open on monday.
on January 29th, 2008 at 9:56 am
It is time for all states to do this.