Remember back in the day at bars and bowling alleys when there were those cigarette vending machines with the knobs? Well, think of this as the 2020 version of those!
Matt Frost is founder and CEO of Anna, what he calls a “tricked out vending machine” designed to take and fill orders for marijuana products. The first ones landed at Strawberry Fields dispensary in central Pueblo, where customers can now purchase flower, edibles and vape oils without having to interact with a budtender. They’ll debut at a second dispensary, Starbuds in Aurora, sometime this year.
Anna set up four vending machines inside Strawberry Fields, so customers still need to show identification and check in to use them. Each one displays a digital version of the menu on a 27-inch touch screen where patrons can fill their virtual basket and pay with cash or a debit card. Anna then dispenses the items, offering a grab-and-go experience.