Marijuana Vending Machines

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Vending machines in California dispense 'medical marijuana'

Mark Emery, Canada's prince of pot, must be toking with envy today. California unveiled vending machines that dispense medical marijuana. That's right, you can get your pop, your chips and pretzels ? and the pot to spur your big ol' snack attack ? all in one convenient location.

The first two were activated today in Los Angeles at licensed cannabis clubs. State voters approved doctor-prescribed marijuana in 1996 for patients suffering serious pain or nausea who don't get relief from other drugs. But don't head to L.A. if you're just a party guy looking for easy ? reputable, even ? access to a little grass for private use.

As USA Today reports:

This is how the AVMs ? Anytime Vending Machines ? work:

? Customers bring their prescriptions for approval at the AVMs, housed in enclosed room guarded 24/7.

? They are fingerprinted and photographed.

? They receive a pre-paid credit carded loaded with their individual profiles.

? They choose their dosage (3.5 grams or 7 grams) and one of five strains of marijuana.

? The marijuana is in capsule form and dispenses in vacuum-sealed packages.

? They can buy no more than 1 ounce a week.

How does this happen? Marijuana remains banned by the 1970 Controlled Substances Act and the U.S. federal government does not currently recognize any legitimate medical use, the confirms.

The operators reportedly think that vending machines issuing prescription drugs could become a common sight in the U.S. In fact, there are plans for machine-vended pharmaceuticals like Vicodin, Viagra, and Propecia.

NationalPost

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Marijuana vending machines in US

Vending machines distributing the drug marijuana are to begin operating in the US state of California.

The machines can only be used by people who have been prescribed the drug for health reasons.

Patients will have to provide a prescription, and be fingerprinted and photographed before being allowed to use the facilities.

Eleven US states allow the medicinal use of marijuana, primarily for pain relief, but it remains controversial.

Vince Mehdizadeh, owner of the Herbal Nutrition Centre in Los Angeles, where one of the two first machines is based, said it would allow patients to buy extra supplies whenever needed.

Series of checks

Once the users have been photographed, fingerprinted and have shown their prescription, they will be issued with a card which can be used in the machines, he told KWTX News 10 in the US.

"They'll be greeted by a security guard right there. They'll slide the card in and they'll fingerprint in to verify that it's them," he was quoted by KWTX News 10 as saying.

"A camera takes a picture of them, verifying that they're actually at the machine. And they get the medicine and they move on."

The operators think that vending machines issuing prescription drugs could become a common sight in the US.

Proponents say marijauna is a valuable tool for relieving pain and stimulating appetite in the sick.

However, it remains banned by the 1970 Controlled Substances Act and the US federal government does not currently recognise any legitimate medical use.

BBC