OAKLAND (KPIX 5) -- Vending machines are commonly known for dispensing snacks and sodas, but machines dispensing medical marijuana have created a buzz among California dispensaries. Over 800 items per Autospense machines. For sale or lease. San Diego is next. $60K per machine.
Students at Oaksterdam University in Oakland check out the Autospense medical marijuana vending machine. (CBS)
OAKLAND (KPIX 5) -- Vending machines are commonly known for dispensing snacks and sodas, but machines dispensing medical marijuana have created a buzz among California dispensaries.
The modern day vending machine came of age in the United States in 1888, selling gum on New York train platforms. Since then, machines have sold everything from food, to tickets, even electronics, but medical marijuana?
"It doesn't take vacations, doesn't take coffee breaks, doesn't go to lunch," said Rick Barrera of Dispenselabs. The machines also don't sample the product.
A couple of Southern California companies have been working on pot vending machines for a while, and are now offering them for sale or lease to marijuana dispensaries. The companies claim the machines offer a high-tech, no pun intended, way of managing inventory as well as a better way to serve experienced patients.
"They're going to want convenience just like they want at Home Depot or Target or the grocery store, where they want to get in and get out because they have their lives to lead," Barrera said. "They don't want to spend their whole day at the dispensary."
Barrera's company makes Autospense, which can hold almost 800 marijuana-related items.
Oaksterdam University in Oakland allowed an Autospense machine to be brought in, so students learning about the cannabis industry could take a look.
Melanie Ryan came from Puerto Rico to Oaksterdam to study how to be a "budtender." Ryan said, "You get the ATM dispensary and you get your budtenders, so that's even better 'cause you don't have to mess with a big line and inventory getting all, you know."
