Cannabis Goes Virtual – The Potential of Weed Apps

Always wanted to buy weed in an app? In the future, we could see cannabis go virtual with it. With looser guidelines, marijuana lovers could potentially buy weed using online apps.

This cannabis ecommerce news comes from recent developments with Apple’s App Store. Back in July, Apple published new guidelines on which apps they allow in their store and which they don’t. One major change allows cannabis pharmacies to submit business-related apps that make the buying process easier.

How cannabis could go virtual

For businesses, Apple’s decision means that marijuana sales could be streamlined a lot. Currently, most pharmacies do their business in-store – customers come in, shop, and then leave. Although some stores do business online, the restrictions imposed by the App Store policies have proven difficult for many. But with Apple’s looser guidelines, pharmacies could start doing business online without facing the same restrictions. As a result, pharmacies could get in touch with customers in new and easier ways. We all know how easy online purchases can be with features like one-click buying. In due course, buying weed could become similar.

As with any new business opportunity, Apple’s guidelines also open the doors to innovators looking to set new standards in this new online environment. We can expect an influx of weed apps within the next year. There will likely be some initial chaos as companies try to figure out how best to go about things. But standards will likely emerge over time, and we may see new industry leaders who have managed to adapt to the demands of online sales.

Weed apps and other online stores

While Apple has changed its mindset about weed apps, the same cannot be said for some of its competitors. Google’s Play Store still retains a ban on any app that makes it easier to buy or exchange cannabis. What’s more, even CBD products are banned, which means you can’t even buy something with a hint of cannabis. It should be noted, however, that Google’s guidelines are from 2019, so we may see changes soon.

Changes seem imminent at Amazon. In the second quarter of 2021, the tech giant campaigned for United States cannabis legislation. Exactly what they advocated remains a mystery, but the company also announced its support for the Marijuana Opportunity Reinvestment and Expungement Act of 2021. These developments suggest that Amazon may follow Apple’s moves in deregulating cannabis apps. When that happens, I wouldn’t be surprised if Google follows suit to keep up.