Athens welcomes its first cannabis vending machine

Greece legalized medical cannabis in 2017 and in 2018 she allowed domestic production in the hope of attracting foreign investment. It recently granted its first production licenses And the country's cannabis craze doesn't stop there: the capital is now hosting its very first cannabis vending machine.

CBD in the Heart of the City

Tourists and locals will be able to purchase cannabis products 24 hours a day without having to interact with other people. They will have a choice of 450 different products and two payment options: cash or credit card. Since recreational cannabis is not legal in Greece, the vending machine contains only CBD products THC-free.

The machine is owned by Hemp Oil. Christos Botsis, the company’s director, explains: «Our company presented this idea at the Balcannabis Expo, and it was unveiled today by Stamas Pesmatzoglou in the heart of the city.”. »Next week we're also going to launch a cannabis products store, and we're getting ready to install these kinds of vending machines in lots of hotels and tourist areas.".

The Growth in the Number of Retailers

These types of machines are becoming increasingly common in the cannabis industry. Indeed, they are convenient for businesses because they require no staff and can reach more consumers by operating 24 hours a day and being located in high-traffic public areas. A recent report from Global Market Insights shows that demand for vending machines will experience steady growth of 16% through at least 2024.

Hemp Oil It is not the first company to choose this distribution option; these types of machines already exist in the United States in states where cannabis is legal. One Step Vending, An American company, in fact, had the same idea and has installed vending machines offering CBD-infused products—such as candies, oils, beverages, coffee, and tea—in Brooklyn, and plans to expand throughout New York. Its operations will likely be hampered by the current crackdown which is affecting the dietary supplement industry in the Big Apple.

In France, too, the concept has been adopted by Weed Paradise, in the Vosges region, which sells CBD herbal teas for €2 from vending machines.