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ID-verifying marijuana-vending kiosk launched in Colorado

May 2, 2014

What is believed to be the first age- and identity-verifying legal marijuana-vending machine in the U.S. has been launched in Colorado. The Zazzz Automated Marijuana Vending Machine has been installed by American Green, a subsidiary of Tempe, Ariz.-based Tranzbyte, at the Herbal Elements medical marijuana store in Eagle-Vail, Colorado.

The machine features radio frequency identification technology that checks users' driver's licenses to ensure that marijuana product is only distributed to legally-qualified individuals, iAfrica.com quotes AFP as saying.

In addition, the machine reports all transactions in real-time to the headquarters of medical marijuana company Altitude Organic, so that its operations can be constantly monitored, Tranzbyte said. This means that the machine can be refilled or repaired when needed.

Unlike legal marijuana-dispensing machines that sit behind the counter, Zazzz will be directly accessible by customers, the Denver Post's Cannabist blog reports.

Tranzbyte said in a news release that it will begin distributing its Zazzz marijuana vending machines within qualifying U.S. states and locales beginning next quarter.

Stephen Shearin, Tranzbyte's chief operating officer,told the Los Angeles Times that the vending machine installed at Herbal Elements is expected to be up and running in a few weeks, once regulations are finalized. Shearin said his company has two pending orders for additional machines — one in Colorado and one on the East Coast — with a lot of interest pouring in for others, the Los Angeles Times reported.

Users can buy their product of choice out of the vending machine with cash, Bitcoin or a special Zazzz card, the Los Angeles Times said. However, credit and debit cards cannot be accepted because of banking and commerce laws, due to the prohibition of marijuana under U.S. federal law.