Marijuana Available in Vending Machines in Los Angeles

Imagine the ironic simplicity of being able to 'one stop shop'. Imagine vending machines that dispense soda (for cotton mouth), candy and chips (for munchies), and your stash all in one convenient location. Unfortunately, this is not the case with the new marijuana vending machines located in Los Angeles. These vending machines are neither simple or convenient, and they are certainly not for recreational use. (No candy and soda.)

However, I predict that Los Angeles is about to become overcrowded with recreational users faking an 'incureable headache' in a desperate attempt to gain a prescription for medical marijuana. Before you pack your bags and MapQuest the directions to Los Angeles, you should consider how secure and protected the access to these vending machines are.

Located in highly secure rooms that are guarded 24/7, the marijuana vending machines are nothing like the truck stop vending machines you may be picturing. Obviously a prescription is required to gain access to medical marijuana period, and access to the marijuana vending machines are even more protected. With a medical prescription, a patient must be fingerprinted and photographed in order to obtain the pre-paid access card.

According to 'Hot Button: Medical Marijuana Vending Machines Open in LA' , patients who have been prescribed medicinal marijuana and obtained an access card, can receive marijuana in capsule form out of these vending machines. The medication is dispensed in doses of 3.5 and 7 grams. Additionally, a patient is limited to only one ounce a week.

Eleven states have legalized marijuana for medicinal purposes, yet (so far) access to marijuana through these highly secured vending machines is only available in Los Angeles. Recreational use of marijuana is still illegal, though it has been slightly decriminalized in several places. A small fine and a slap on the wrist is often the worst punishment for possession of a small amount (a recreational amount) of marijuana.

Clearly, the marijuana machines are highly secure and not as simple or convenient as some may think. Still, it makes you think that someday, it might be possible to pick up all your party needs out of a vending machine. Sadly, this day is a long time in the future. "The Man" would not allow recreational use of marijuana to be legal (without a way to control the taxes on marijuana as a product). Therefore, recreational users continue to face legal risks.

However, marijuana is prescribed legally in 11 states for over 250 different conditions. From chronic pain to depression, marijuana is never the first prescription given and is offered only if no other medication has proven effective. It is not easy to cheat on a glaucmoa test, and it is not easy to fake multiple schlerosis. Clearly marijuana does have strong medicinal value, and hopefully someday patients who are prescribed marijuana can obtain their medicine more conveniently.

One can only hope for the same for responsible 'self prescribed' users.

(Please see supporting links for more stories relating to medical marijuana vending machines.)