British Columbia residents will soon be able to order cannabis products from Uber Technologies’ (NYSE: UBER) Uber Eats delivery service thanks to a new partnership with the renowned cannabis platform Leafly Holdings Inc (NASDAQ: LFLY).
The companies announced the news on Monday and B.C. customers will be able to order cannabis to their doorstep as of Tuesday. A total of 13 local retail locations owned by seven companies in Vancouver and Victoria will initially be providing their merchandise through the app in the province.
The news follows Uber Eats commencing pot delivery in Ontario last October, marking the first time that cannabis had been available on a major delivery platform like this anywhere in the world.
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The first cannabis retailers providing products through the app will include Sea to Sky Cannabis, North Shore Cannabis, Queensborough Cannabis, Original Farm Cannabis, 4Twenty Cannabis, Leisure For Cannabis and ARCannabis.
“We are thrilled to work with Uber Eats to help licensed retailers bring safe, legal cannabis to people across the province,” said Yoko Miyashita, CEO of Leafly.
Consistent with applicable laws in the province, Uber Eats drivers seeking to deliver cannabis will be required to get a Selling it Right certification from Responsible Service BC. Those drivers will require customers to present their ID upon delivery and verify that they are sober before handing over the order.
“This partnership will help us expand and reach even more people in Vancouver. Just like the in-store experience, our provincially certified delivery staff understand and comply with local regulations around cannabis transactions, including checking ID,” said Aaron Sinnathamby, CEO of ARCannabis.
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Cannabis retail stores currently delivering with their own vehicles in the Vancouver area include ARCannabis, Dutch Love and Trinity Tree Cannabis.
Uber’s stock rose by 1.91 per cent Monday to US$32.08 on the New York Stock Exchange.
Leafly’s share price shot up by 11.77 per cent to US$0.36 on the Nasdaq Exchange.
rowan@mugglehead.com
