Home delivery of cannabis officially launched in Massachusetts

Home cannabis delivery has officially begun in Massachusetts, with at least 2 companies Lantern, a sister company to popular alcohol delivery service Drizly, says it now serves the Boston area. Your Green Package, meanwhile, says its teams of drivers have hit the road in the Northampton area in the western part of the state.

These companies are among the leading to benefit from the creation of new state licenses for the delivery of recreational cannabis. To date, the Massachusetts Cannabis Control Commission has awarded 11 delivery licenses.

Supporters of cannabis legalization have been hoping for this decision for a long time, not least to make the local cannabis industry more equitable. The financial investment and regulatory approvals required to open a traditional cannabis dispensary are sometimes too much for minority entrepreneurs.

«This type of license is a major piece of the equation for making Massachusetts» cannabis industry more diverse, equitable and inclusive," Aaron Goines, president of advocacy group Massachusetts Cannabis Association for Delivery, in a statement at the time.

Delivery of medical cannabis was already authorized in the state. For adult use, consumers had to go to a store, or could recently order online and pick up their pack «to go» near dispensaries since the coronavirus pandemic.

Massachusetts legalized medical cannabis in 2012 and recreational cannabis in 2016.

Two types of license and strict rules

The licensing process creates two new types of cannabis businesses: «couriers» who transport orders from an established retail store, and «delivery operators» who can buy products from manufacturers and sell them to customers. There is also a third type of 'delivery authorization» that allows existing cannabis operators to make deliveries.

According to the State Cannabis Commission, nine of them have a courier license and two have a delivery license.

State regulations also lay down strict rules for the delivery process. Delivery vehicles must have at least two employees and be equipped with GPS tracking, a secure storage area and other protective devices. Customers must also provide photo ID for verification, and the door transaction is recorded on an employee body camera.

For the first three years, delivery licenses are reserved exclusively for participants in the state's programs to encourage minority entrepreneurs to enter the cannabis industry. State regulators say more than 500 applicants are initially eligible.