Technology

Cannabis vending machines evolve, but face hurdles

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November 3, 2020

A new cannabis vending machine, called Anna, has hit the market in Colorado, with other states on the horizon, but the automated dispensers must overcome a host of challenges to become a regular part of the marijuana retail landscape, according to a Marijuana Business Daily report.

The machines can improve customer throughput and reduce wait times, and can serve as additional sales venues in stores and as points of sale in remote areas that can't support a full dispensary.

Challenges for marijuana vending machines include:

• Regulations favoring human oversight of cannabis transactions.
• Technical issues such as integration with point-of-sale systems.
• Limited product capacity,.
• Costs that might make cheaper solutions more attractive.