A local company aims to make dispensing medical marijuana as simple and secure as a withdrawal from an ATM.
Aliso Viejo’s Dispense Labs unveiled today the Autospense, an automated dispensary that looks like a vending machine. Founder Joe DeRobbio prefers to call it a “dispensing system.” With its proprietary software and security features, he said, the Autospense bears little resemblance to a break-room snack vendor.
“These are very sophisticated machines,” he said.
The self-contained systems could be located anywhere, DeRobbio said, and the company will likely lease them to qualified dispensaries for $1,500-$2,000 a month. To use, patients must swipe a registration card, then enter a PIN number. Payment may be made with cash, credit or debit, then a door opens to release the product.
For after-hours purchases, the Autospense must be surrounded by a vending cage that is only accessibly by swiping the registration card. Fingerprint recognition offers one more step of security.