Smart Cannabis Vending Machines Introduced in the US

American company American Green has installed the first smart vending machines for cannabis products, called American Green Xpress (AGX). These machines are capable of verifying a customer’s identity and age.

Vending Machines Sell Cannabis via Driver’s License Verification

The first two devices appeared in St. Augustine, Florida. To purchase cannabinoid products, a customer must scan their driver’s license using a mobile phone and present the scanned image to the vending machine’s camera. The machine verifies the person’s information using software developed by Vsblty, which utilizes artificial intelligence and Internet of Things (IoT) technology.

American Green Xpress Vending Machine Features

Customers who confirm their age can also scan their finger veins using an M2SYS sensor and save their personal information in the system. This allows them to buy cannabis products by simply placing their finger on the scanner, instead of authenticating with their driver’s license each time.

Lindel Creed, Head of Automated Technology Development at American Green, predicts that recreational marijuana will be legalized at the federal level in the US within the next two years. If the ban is lifted, demand for cannabis will rise significantly, and the company, a market leader in marijuana vending machines, expects to profit greatly. As a result, American Green sees strong potential in the AGX machines.

Robots Won’t Replace Human Cannabis Sellers

The cannabis vending machine market is developing slowly for two main reasons. First, machines that verify customer identity are expensive—about $16,000 each. Second, owners face bureaucratic hurdles. For example, selling cannabis through vending machines is prohibited in Canada.

Currently, vending machines are mainly installed in large cannabis stores to reduce wait times. In Colorado, cheaper devices called Anna are used; these do not identify customers but instead send order information to a salesperson for confirmation.

Anna Cannabis Vending Machine

According to a report by Global Market Insights, the international smart vending machine market is expected to grow by 10% annually, reaching $15 billion in sales by 2027. Demand for these machines will increase thanks to the use of software and biometric scanning technology.