Recreational Cannabis Delivery in Denver: The Future is Now
Colorado marijuana laws have been evolving since marijuana was legalized for recreational use in January 2014. One of the latest developments is cannabis delivery, which Denver marijuana dispensaries began to offer in August. In this article, we'll look at what it means for marijuana business owners and customers to have a new way of getting their weed delivered right to their doorsteps.
Marijuana Delivery in Denver: How Does it Work?
As you might expect, legal marijuana delivery looks a little different than the marijuana delivery you may have received before cannabis was legalized. It does not involve meeting in a Burger King parking lot, or an electric scale and little zip-lock baggies. The delivery of cannabis is now regulated by the state of Colorado's Marijuana Enforcement Division and dispensaries and delivery services are required to adhere to strict regulations.
Marijuana Delivery Services
The procedure for delivering recreational marijuana is not much different than that of any other courier service. Although you shouldn't expect your local dispensary to be listed on GrubHub, it won't be long before you will be able to do a simple Google search or download an app that will quickly show you several 24-hour marijuana delivery services in Denver.
There are now several Denver dispensaries with a delivery license, and the list is growing quickly. You will soon have the ability to compare pricing, terms of service, and any other factor that is important to you. Many of the Colorado weed delivery companies are straightforward about their procedures, so all you need is an email or phone call to find out everything you need to do.
The Road to Legal Marijuana Delivery in Colorado
Laws were first passed in Colorado in 2019 to allow for marijuana delivery. It took a long time for those laws to actually come on the books because it took lawmakers a long to figure out the details.
Cannabis laws are so new that each regulatory choice establishes a precedent. As a result, most green states have taken a measured approach to expanding new privileges. The state government first debates issues, performs case studies, and analyzes data.
Further complicating the issue is that state law that was passed simply made delivery legal in the state. It did not lay out the details of how it would work. Instead, that onus was put upon local municipalities. And it has taken the cities a long time to work out the details.
First, There was Medical Marijuana Delivery
As with most new marijuana policies, the addition of delivery came first to medical marijuana. By early 2021, there were three cities - Denver, Boulder, and Superior - allowing for medical delivery.
When medical delivery was first allowed, only Boulder and Superior were quick to take advantage. Two licenses were granted, and thus far, as a percentage, medical delivery in Colorado is still virtually non-existent
It's conceivable that the same scenario might play out with recreational deliveries, but there appears to be a lot more interest from dispensaries, at least initially. Due to the fact that there is a much larger recreational customer base, this makes sense. It could be, simply, that the hoops dispensaries had to jump through just weren't worth jumping through for medical-only deliveries.
The COVID Impact
The pandemic has shed light on the need for making everyday goods accessible to people who are confined at home. This surely had some impact on the progression of the marijuana delivery roll-out in Colorado. There will be many cases to study as recreational marijuana delivery in Colorado expands. California is an excellent case study of a state that has effectively granted a large number of cannabis delivery licenses.
There is no doubt that safe, successful cannabis delivery can be done. Colorado will likely follow other states' successful strategies when laying out their own approach for this extremely useful service.
States Having Success with Marijuana Delivery
The states that have currently legalized cannabis delivery are California, Oregon, Maine, Nevada, Massachusetts, and Michigan. Of these, California is the most evolved. The state has hundreds of authorized dispensaries that are allowed to provide a well-regulated delivery service.
There are additional states that have issued "emergency" marijuana delivery regulations to address the COVID-19 situation. Nevada is one example. It's difficult to determine what will happen with these states now that they've legalized delivery. In any case, as you can see, the practice of delivering cannabis is still in its early stages.
How Other States' Delivery Systems Work
Every state will address the delivery service issue differently, but in all situations, some form of licensing is necessary. California is a great example of how cannabis laws can be expanded to accommodate the needs of patients. California has hundreds of dispensaries now licensed by the state to provide cannabis lawfully, as mentioned before. In every case, companies seeking to obtain legal delivery licenses must adhere to state safety and quality standards, which is definitely beneficial to you, the customer.
Denver's Social Equity Plan
One of the unique aspects of delivery legalization in Denver is that, until 2024, delivery licenses will only be granted to delivery serves and dispensaries that file approved social equity plans with the city.
Colorado residents who have never had a marijuana license revoked and satisfy one of the following social equity criteria are eligible for a license:
- Applicant lived in an opportunity zone or a disproportionately impacted area between 1980 and 2010
- Applicant or immediate family was arrested, convicted or suffered civil asset forfeiture due to a marijuana offense
- Applicant’s household income doesn't exceed 50% of the state median income
The bills' social equity applicant structure would replace the city's current lottery system for distributing marijuana licenses, and there will be no limit on the number of businesses or cultivations. Denver officials claim that by limiting social equity applicants, they are attempting to make up for the damage caused by the War on Drugs and the unequal persecution of disadvantaged groups for marijuana-related offenses.
How To Order Marijuana Delivery in Colorado
Of course, one of the biggest benefits of visiting a dispensary is that you can see all of your choices in front of you. You may look at all of the goods, make judgments based on what appears to be best, and even talk with a knowledgeable "budtender."
Clearly, the majority of these charms are lost when using delivery services. You'll be able to view the options solely through photographs and reviews. Because of this, you won't be able to examine any goods thoroughly until they arrive at your home. There's a good chance you'll have a smaller range of alternatives to pick from.
As delivery becomes part of the reality in Denver, the local cannabis industry will certainly be experimenting with ways to enhance the delivery experience. Some dispensaries will provide a very thorough catalog that includes many strains and edibles, while others will just have a couple of basic options. You won't get the complete dispensary experience no matter where you go, but if you shop around, you may discover dispensaries that appeal to you more than others.
A Superior Option for Recreational Delivery
One of the better options for recreational cannabis delivery in Denver is Diego Pellicer - Denver Recreational Dispensary. Long known for having one of the best in-store dispensary experiences, Diego is working on bringing that VIP experience to the streets.
Diego Pellicer - Denver Recreational Dispensary
2949 W Alameda Ave.
Denver, CO 80219
720-787-4909