New year, new cannabis trade rules

Cannabis legalization continued to expand this year in the United States, and nascent markets are maturing. Here are some exciting updates that could open new opportunities for entrepreneurs.

Weed On Wheels in California

As of January 1, 2023, cannabis delivery vehicles in California will be able to carry $10,000 of cannabis, up from $5,000 currently. In addition, all inventory can be "unordered", that is, not reserved for a specific customer. This is a relaxation of current California regulations which state that no more than $3,000 of an allowable $5,000 total of carried inventory may be ordered. "This is a huge opportunity," said Chris Violas, managing director of BLAZE, which specializes in providing software for the cannabis retail industry, including tracking and managing delivery vehicles. .

Holding inventory that isn't advertised is also called the "ice cream truck model," Violas said. But that doesn't mean delivery vehicles qualify as rolling cannabis stores because the driver is carrying cash and cannabis that could attract thieves. Instead, a retailer can send notifications to interested customers that the vehicle is in their neighborhood if they want to buy from the inventory it carries. This is more efficient for the retailer and can result in more sales than a delivery truck returning to base between deliveries.

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