Cannabis delivery in New York could improve retail sales as the state awaits approval on planned storefronts.
New Yorkers are currently awaiting the opening of retail cannabis stores in the state. The Office of Cannabis Management announced the approval of 36 retail licenses for various entities during a November 21 meeting. But high maintenance retail outlets will be slow to open.
Cannabis delivery in New York, which was also mentioned in the meeting, will fast track the system. It will allow customers to get the cannabis products they need. And it will help retailers make money while they wait for shops to open.
How Would Cannabis Delivery in New York Work?
Proposed regulations state that businesses would only be able to deliver weed through ground transportation. The recipient would be carded on delivery to ensure they are at least 21 years old. Services that run cannabis delivery companies in New York will be limited to employing no more than 25 couriers.
With many credit card institutions reluctant to deal with weed, the products will need to be paid for with debit card or cash only.
While companies will be assigned to specific counties for their retail operations, they may deliver across boundaries. So, a company located in Manhattan will be permitted to deliver in Queens and the Bronx, and even in Brooklyn, where retail sales are frozen due to a court injunction.
New operators may “fulfill delivery orders from a location obtained by the licensee that has been approved by the office.”
Why Push Forward with Cannabis Delivery in New York?
There are several reasons why the powers that be want to move forward with cannabis delivery in New York.
For one, it will produce income for retailers. Aaron Ghitelman, spokesperson for the Office of Cannabis Management released the following statement, “We are allowing adult-use retail dispensary non-storefront delivery as a means of jumpstarting adult-use cannabis product sales.” He also added that more operational details will be coming soon.
Currently, hundreds of millions of dollars’ worth of cannabis grown in New York remains warehoused waiting for sales outlets to open. Cannabis delivery in New York would ensure the cannabis gets to customers in need to benefit health and stimulate the local economy.
Dan Livingston, executive director of the Cannabis Association of New York trade group had this to say. “There’s a certain amount of excitement because we had the sense that delivery might not make that first cut. The fact that dispensaries are going to be able to run their own delivery is exciting because we know that that’s where the market is, In New York City in particular.”
Dan Felder, attorney and founder of Weed Law, representing a dispensary set to open in Queens points out that cannabis delivery in New York will allow licensed sellers to compete with unauthorized sellers that have opened up across the state. Despite the prevalence of cannabis storefronts in many areas, none have been licensed by the state to sell weed.
“It’s a whole universe that can be completely distinct from retail experience that a brand has. (Licensees) can be running two very significant and meaningful brand experiences that can cater to different offices completely,” Felder stated.
New License Holder Reactions
So how are new license holders reacting to the new of cannabis delivery in New York?
Naiomy Guerrors is getting ready to launch Nube NYC LLC in the Bronx. She grew up in Morris Heights during the height of stop and frisk policing and witnessed its negative impact on brown and black communities. Her brother had a cannabis related conviction qualifying him as a first-round licensee.
The family is currently reaching out to cultivators and working on a business plan. While Guerrero says that her family always planned for delivery to be part of their operations, she did not expect it to happen so quickly. However, she is aware that adaptability and flexibility are part of doing business.
“It’s an opportunity to sort of get moving faster than we would if we had to wait for these dispensaries to be built out or whatever it is that’s happening. In the end, I’d rather be doing deliveries than not be doing anything,” Guerrero stated.
Pros and Cons of Cannabis Delivery in New York
Cannabis delivery in New York, and all over the country, comes with its share of pros and cons. Here are some to consider.
Pros:
- More Convenient to Customers: Many people enjoy the convenience of weed delivery. It means they don’t have to leave their houses to run to the dispensary. It allows them to get more done in their busy day and/or focus on the things they enjoy. It is also beneficial to people who can’t leave their homes due to disabilities but require weed to treat their conditions.
- Good for the Economy: Cannabis delivery in New York would allow sellers to start making money while waiting for their storefronts to open. It will also provide jobs for weed delivery drivers and others who work in the business.
Cons:
- Risk for Delivery Drivers: The one downside of cannabis delivery in New York is that drivers run the risk of getting robbed or pulled over by police.
Cannabis delivery in New York will fast track the market getting it off to a rousing start. It will allow sellers to start making money and it will provide customers with the products they need to achieve optimal wellness. Sounds like a move in the right direction on all accounts.
