Will More States Adopt Cannabis Delivery? Hopefully!
Delivery is an excellent option for Californians who want to receive their cannabis in a safe way in their own home. At the height of the pandemic, pickup and even some delivery laws changed, which gave lawmakers the opportunity to see that permanent changes wouldn’t lead to doom and gloom on the streets. Now, more than ever, there’s a real possibility of legal cannabis delivery in recreational states (other than California, of course).
Current Legal Cannabis Delivery States
States that currently allow cannabis delivery are not always strictly recreationally legal states. In fact, many states that do not allow recreational use may allow medicinal delivery. These states have varying degrees of legality when it comes to cannabis delivery. While some states, like California, have delivery requirements pretty much on-par with brick-and-mortar requirements, others have a different approach. There may be certain instances where delivery is allowed or specifically prohibited.
This is the list of states that currently allow cannabis delivery. This list is accurate at the time of publication but might not remain accurate as laws are ever-evolving in cannabis markets across the country.
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- California
- Colorado
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Nevada
- New Mexico
- New York
- Oregon
- Rhode Island
- Vermont
Considerations in Cannabis Delivery
While the majority of states take a black-and-white approach to cannabis delivery, there are others where the terms are not quite as defined. For example, Washington has gift use cannabis delivery wording in its laws, but that does not allow dispensaries to use it as a loophole for offering full-service delivery. As more states adopt cannabis laws, the delivery laws may begin to become more concrete to allow for a standard set of rules that apply in all situations in individual states.
It’s important to always follow both state and local regulations when considering opening up delivery as part of the services that you offer. While the state may allow delivery, unless protected by those specific laws, local government may prohibit delivery. Work with a business advisor in your area who is well-versed in cannabis business law and is familiar with any regulations that you might have related to both sale and delivery in your business. Additionally, be sure to include any potential plans or even ideas for delivery in your business plan as the laws could change after you’ve established your business.
A Long Way to Go for Many
For states like Pennsylvania where recreational cannabis legalization is a long way off, even considering something like delivery may seem impossible. But, the good news is that with more states considering and legalizing delivery, there will be more of an opportunity for these states to automatically write delivery language into the laws that they’re creating. This eliminates both the frustration and confusion that come from having to readjust laws to meet new demands. As with other factors that go into cannabis legalization, we can expect to see states have laws and requirements that vary across the board as both cannabis and delivery become legalized.
Delivery Considerations
Take it from us, there are many challenges associated with opening up a dispensary dedicated to providing cannabis through delivery only. Even dispensaries that offer both delivery and in-store shopping face challenges that range from the sheer logistics of running a delivery business to both driver and cannabis-handler requirements. It’s important for businesses considering delivery to take everything into consideration from the way they are going to run the business to the customer base that they could potentially have in their area. By weighing all of these factors and looking at all the options, cannabis delivery businesses in newly legal states can set themselves up for success.
At Tahoe Harvest Collection, we are a Tahoe-based cannabis dispensary catering to a clientele interested in delivery. We provide a huge selection of products similar to what’s found in a brick-and-mortar store that are deliverable to your home, your vacation home or even a resort that you’re staying at. We provide exceptional customer service and a purchasing experience that puts you in the driver’s seat. Contact us today to learn more about the delivery options we have available or shop our hand-selected cannabis consumables and accessories.