A new kind of weed dispenser

There's no stopping progress! In the United States, a company selling medical cannabis called American Green and based in Phoenix, Arizona, has recently created a highly sophisticated, biometrically-verified cannabis dispenser. Called «The ZaZZZ», the machine can also serve alcoholic beverages or tobacco. Its aim is to change the way adults-only products are purchased.

The process is simple: before using the machine, users must register online to confirm their identity, age and a copy of their doctor's prescription. The machine will then identify the user using biometric recognition: his or her fingerprints will serve as the access key to the dispenser. An infrared light scans the finger to recognize the consumer's identity.

18 machines of this type have already been installed in States where medical cannabis has been legalized.

According to the’American Green, the medical cannabis company has installed its first machine in Las Vegas last month.

NORML's executive director told the American website USA Today that «the sole purpose of the prototype is to visualize potential buyers. A customer who consumes cannabis sets up an account with a government-issued ID or, if applicable, a medical prescription. Finger analysis verifies that this is the right person, as the machine is equipped with a camera».

The company American Green is now working on installing more machines in the coming months. She also wants to extend this type of machine to other products reserved for adults, such as medicines and pregnancy tests.

Even if this kind of machine is intended to be efficient and practical, some people may balk at the very idea of associating their personal data with the purchase of products subject to sensitive issues. What's more, the machine eliminates all contact with a budtender whose main role is to advise patients on their use of medical cannabis. Sad!

Mehdi Bautier