California Opens First Weed Vending Machine: Rad or Bad?

by SodaHead News Posted 2012/04/24 22:00:00

Related Topics: Weed, Marijuana, 420, weed vending machine, California

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	Rad	548 votes	65%
	Bad	300 votes	35%

Japanese vending machines sell everything from beer to veggies, so why shouldn't California set up vending machines for its biggest cash crop? Well, it's illegal for starters, but that's not stopping The Dispensary Group from launching the state's first automated marijuana dispenser so patients can get their relief when the shops are closed. Of course, you need a medical marijuana card to use it, and there are a few more "by the ways" for potential customers.

According to Dvice, the machine (called the AutoSpense) requires a special swipe card, a thumbprint, and a pin code to function. Oh, and it's under constant surveillance. We assume an electrified metal cage comes down around you and alerts a SWAT team if you get the pin code wrong, but then again, we're just guessing. So, tell us: Does California's first weed vending machine sound like a good idea?

+39

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Incognito 2012/04/25 16:30:50

Rad

+25
Our government claims that Marijuana is illegal because it is a health hazard. Meanwhile, cigarettes and alcohol, which are far worse for your health are legal. Not to mention pharmaceuticals, some food additives, and other things in our enviornment, remain to be huge obstacles to good health. So where is the logic?

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AskZilla to Lady Yui 2012/04/28 09:35:32 (edited)

It is my business as a tax payer, if it's hides behind some "flasher's" cloak of medicine, like it currently does.

And it is my business, if it causes me to get sick, which it does. Next?

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Lady Yui to AskZilla 2012/04/30 21:35:30

You getting sick is YOUR problem. And no, being a taxpayer doesn't make other people's recreational activities any of your business. Or maybe you think that I, as a taxpayer, should get to have a say in what YOU are allowed to do for fun. Something tells me that if I decided to inform you that I didn't like what you did for fun and that therefore you were no longer allowed to do it, you wouldn't just sit there and say okay.

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AskZilla to Lady Yui 2012/07/10 23:50:22
loves b... to AskZilla 2012/04/27 06:48:53

+3
I have the same allergy and sinus problems and if MJ is treated like cigs in CA then I'm fine with anyone smoking it, just hopefully they would take care not to get smoke around me. No smoking indoors, or near buildings etc. I would be fine with that.

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Starchild 2012/04/26 07:35:05

Rad

+1
The product descriptions look pretty informative, with photos of the strains, listings of THC content, etc.

The thumbprint requirement is a deal-breaker though. I wouldn't buy marijuana from it for that reason alone. Too much Big Brother stuff in society already, let's not encourage it.

Marijuana is healthier than sugar-water, so why should you be required to give a thumbprint to buy cannabis from a vending machine but not Coca-Cola?

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MiinaNiemi03 2012/04/26 05:48:38

Bad

+1
Could you imagine the amount of people who would camp around those machines, ready and willing to rob someone or even kill them in order to steal their fresh purchase? Well, at the same rate I guess that would be natural selection at it's finest. So maybe I should have voted 'yes'.

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uninfor... to MiinaNi... 2012/04/26 06:36:19

People prepared to kill others over a little weed have problems that are not caused by weed. If talking trafficable quantities then yes killing happens but then it's only business not personal.

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heirsof... to uninfor... 2012/04/26 14:33:37

+1
This past Tuesday a guy smoked marijuana with his buddies, then sprayed them with bullets killing 3 of them. Here's the WFTV Channel 9 weblink:
http://www.wftv.com/ap/ap/cri...

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uninfor... to heirsof... 2012/04/28 02:55:41

I think you missed my point. people that are prepared to spray people with bullets have problems that are much greater than the fact that they have smoke.

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SoD 2012/04/26 05:38:25

Bad

+1
I adamantly oppose substance prohibition. In fact, the only thing I loathe more are people hypocritical enough to ban Happy Meals in lieu of intoxicants.

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Josh Stephens 2012/04/26 04:35:11

Rad

+1
Let's doozit!

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Depsycho 2012/04/26 04:28:49

Rad

+2
It's still a head-scratcher why it's illegal to this day, yet cigarettes - containing far more harmful chemicals as well as the high risk of addiction (marijuana has LITTLE TO NO risk of this by the way) - are perfectly fine as long as you're of age.

We're overdue for legalization and regulation anyway. Imagine the profit businesses would draw in.

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stl.sha... to Depsycho 2012/04/26 14:32:16

+1
I smoke cigarettes (and have an occassional beer) and I'm getting taxed "to death" for my vices. I don't smoke weed, but I think it should be legal. It might cause some *issues, at first, but after awhile, I believe things would situate themselves.

*NOTE: By "issues" I mean, people are possibly going to go overboard, at first. Kind of like someone turns 21 and can legally buy beer for the first time. Sometimes, they go on a bender (some don't, though). If everyone of a legal age could smoke buy & smoke weed... There just might be a lot of first-timers trying it out because it's not illegal anymore. Since they've never tried it, they might not handle themselves well (trying to drive, etc).

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Depsycho to stl.sha... 2012/04/27 04:37:41

+1
I get what you mean about issues, but really, kids do the SAME thing with alcohol once they turn 21 - not all, certainly not me, but some do.

In that aspect... alcohol is as dangerous as weed and vice-versa. We went through this when there was a ban on alcohol decades ago and look what came of it - legalized and regulated.

(I'm also with you on the taxes of cigarettes. Not a smoker, but it's ridiculous to pay $50+ by the carton or $7+ by the pack, give or take 10-20 bucks to those amounts depending where you get it from.)

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stl.sha... to Depsycho 2012/04/27 05:43:15

+1
It would take about a generation for the "newness" to wear off if marijuana were legalized (and taxed). Older folks won't care too much. Middle age would try it. Younger folks would go nuts. I know, those are pretty broad generalizations, but that's the average of each group.

As the young generation grows up and gets used to weed being legal, they'd slow down. When they have kids, though...

I agree that with each new generation it wouldn't be as much of a big deal. The biggest problem? No one in DC wants to "pull the trigger" or "start the ball rolling" on legalizing weed. They're scared of how the population would take it. Scared of older people not voting for them, etc.

All this is a big reason why I'd like to see Ron Paul get the presidency...
http://www.issues2000.org/tx/...

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Gracie ~Gun Totin' Gracie~ 2012/04/26 04:21:18

Rad

+1
Next it will be crack machines.

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Ssgtwaldo 2012/04/26 03:51:05

Rad

+1
Sounds good to me! I want the first one in my state. I'll make a fortune!!!!

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Mel 2012/04/26 03:27:01

Bad

+2
What's to stop the machine from being broken into?

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stl.sha... to Mel 2012/04/26 14:34:12

+1
Or stolen? It's happened to ATMs already...

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Mel to stl.sha... 2012/04/26 17:36:49

+1
I think they should actually be in the marijuana shoppes for quick service, if the place is crowded

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stl.sha... to Mel 2012/04/26 21:46:05

I have to wonder who are the people showing up after hours to buy "legal" weed? Is there some reason they can't get there between 9 AM and 5 PM?

I know the legal "pharmaceutical" shops are pretty busy, but they're not kicking people out at closing time just because it's "time to go home..."

I agree with your idea. Makes more sense to expedite the process. At least there are employees, cameras, and other witnesses there if someone tries to use the machine for anything other than legal reasons.

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Mel to stl.sha... 2012/04/26 22:52:07

Some people might have a hard time getting off owrk so what they should do is have a machune close to the window with a heavy cage around it and a camera, and then they can put their med card in it and get what they want and pay with a debit/credit card. And have the machine alrmed.

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heirsof... to Mel 2012/04/26 14:37:24

+1
My college buddies were always robbing our school's vending machines.

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Mel to heirsof... 2012/04/26 17:40:14

Geezuz *LOL* That could have turned out badly

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DrGreen 2012/04/26 03:23:06

Rad

+1
Looks like a beautiful thing. Wish I didn't live in Pennsyltucky, were marijuana will get you more time then rape.

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Cat 2012/04/26 02:08:10

Rad

+1
I'm jealous.

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sodabox 2012/04/26 00:24:13

Rad

+2
But will the feds arrest anyone that tries to use it?

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jönsi 2012/04/25 23:50:30

Rad

+2
Weed is a natural plant with 0 chemicals. It helps the sick and calms them down! Why wouldn't it be rad?

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Ssgtwaldo to jönsi 2012/04/26 04:05:22

+2
Last time I looked Tetrahydrocannabinol is a chemical.. As is anandamide and 2-arachidonoyl glyceride (2-AG) and endocannabinoids.....

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john n to Ssgtwaldo 2012/04/27 03:12:09

You must have looked in the wrong place, the last time that I cheeked THC was an organic substance, and chemicals were produced in laboratories. The real danger that we all face is this kind of misinformation. By the way, the Rave was a mistake…

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Ssgtwaldo to john n 2012/05/01 20:47:28 (edited)

+1
Opium is an organic substance, however, it's still a chemical no matter how you cut it. Same with THC. Here is THCs chemical structure....

You can believe what you want. I don't care.... I have the feeling that I've been toking a lot longer than you've been alive.... I'm a charter subscriber of NORML..

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heirsof... to jönsi 2012/04/26 14:41:36

Here's the story of a guy in Winter Haven, FL last Tuesday, who smoked dope with his buddies, then sprayed them with bullets, killing 3 of them:
http://www.wftv.com/ap/ap/cri...

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john n to heirsof... 2012/04/27 03:16:55

+1
Harry Anslinger: The Gore Files (History does repeat itself) Propaganda as usual...

http://www.theweedblog.com/ma...

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Zach 2012/04/25 23:09:54

Bad

+1
I'm surpised that it was california and not Vegas

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joe mauro 2012/04/25 23:02:22

Rad

+1
soon i hope

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aherbert 2012/04/25 22:19:58

Rad

+1
Hey if it is for medical reasons I am cool with that plus it generates tons of funds in taxes!

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DizziNY to aherbert 2012/04/26 11:34:32

+3
Medical reasons or not doesn't matter. Legalize it.

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aherbert to DizziNY 2012/04/26 15:16:19

+1

I am cool with that too .... if cigs and liquor is legal why not?

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Margarita ValdÃ©s RabÃ 2012/04/25 22:05:01

Rad

+1
that´s what i cla revolutionary tech

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Eleni Pink 2012/04/25 21:52:29

Bad

+1
so now they encourage people to smoke weed!!! well done

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