Cannabis Dispensaries in the Metaverse

Crypto is an exceptionally volatile territory, but nothing seems to discourage tech companies from investing there. VR dispensaries that can also be accessed via web browser, are essentially online weed shops where visitors can purchase cannabis and paraphernalia to be shipped to their home address.

The metaverse is a futuristic, more immersive, next-level version of the internet, and for what it's worth, it has already accommodated the first cannabis dispensaries. Up until now, a handful of digital dispensaries have been launched at Ethereum-based game worlds such as Decentraland and Voxels (previously CryptoVoxels).

As of most recently, it was the Crypto Cannabis Club, an NFT community of stoners, and the launch of their metaverse dispensary was accompanied by a real-time gathering event in downtown LA. 

This particular club has 6,000 members who use a "toker," an NFT that displays a stoner quality character, with which they can get discounts or access in-person events as part of the community. The floor price for a toker currently sits at around 0.15 ETH, or roughly $300, and this price may grow (or drop?) in the future!

Who Supports VR Dispensaries?

Is it people with previous experience in the cannabis sector? In the case of the Crypto Cannabis Club, the answer is yes! And all they need for this business model to function is people who are into VR and into cannabis as well.

Reportedly, the CEO of the Crypto Cannabis Club metaverse dispensary is Ryan Hunter, former COO at Willie Nelson's cannabis brand, Willie's Reserve. 

The club founders are Kevin and Jim Fitzpatrick, who both have nearly a decade of experience in the cannabis sector before entering the crypto sphere as recently as 2020. They are using the power of community to embed the cannabis industry into the metaverse. 

NFTs can really be anything digital, including drawings, music, portraits and other works of art. An NFT is used as a deed of ownership to an item; it could be a profile picture, collectible, or video game item, and it can have a utility such as access to special virtual and real-life experiences. China and Hong Kong are the two top places with the highest search interest in the "NFT term" and OpenSea is currently the biggest NFT marketplace with over 2 million traders and above $32b in sales. 

Each NFT collection has a worth and attracts a community of people. The Crypto Cannabis Club for one was launched in 2021, and it unites people because of cannabis. Launching a digital cannabis shop on Voxels seemed the next logical step for this cannabis club and that is where the club will continue to exercise its NFT value.

How Does Metaverse Dispensaries Look Like?

The Crypto Cannabis Club's dispensary launched in time for the 4/20 unofficial cannabis holiday and is now available for all to explore in Voxels. If you've ever played Minecraft, the sight of the venture will ring a familiar tone.

At first glance, entering this dispensary in the virtual realm may feel like a solitary experience. The venue is situated alongside other virtual objects. It has pixelated versions of cannabis plants. There may be a few other avatars roaming the space or none else but your avatar.

How can you buy weed, you may ask? Real-world weed brand logos are all over the place but don't expect to see any sort of AI vendor, a possible replacement of the budtender, to approach you with a special offer. At least not for now. All that visitors have to do is click on the brand logo and they will be redirected to that particular brand. 

In addition, the Club offers its own branded marijuana products, and residents from California can order and have them delivered via a separate link embedded in the metaverse realm.

While this doesn't sound like the ideal cannabis dispensary shop (it certainly doesn't smell like weed once you enter), the lure is again in the NFTs. You don't have to have an NFT to be part of the fun, but membership means perks such as discounts on featured weed products and access to gated online and offline events.

Like other virtual communities, the Crypto Cannabis Club hosted a virtual launch party when it opened its VR shop, accompanied by live music from a DJ. Simultaneously it organized an in-person meet-up in Los Angeles. 

These activities would be no different from what other metaverse investors are currently doing—hosting virtual parties as part of their PR or other activities such as inviting virtual speakers or organizing movie nights. All is game until it maintains interest and visits.

It may sound a bit complicated for someone who is novel to the concept, but there's currently a great deal of excitement surrounding NFTs. It's easy to anticipate the number of VR cannabis ventures may grow steady in the future. Ultimately, it comes down to consumers and where they find thrill in supplying their stash. 

If you are entertained by the idea that you can have weed delivered to your doorstep via the metaverse, then checking out the latest Voxels venue and similar virtual sites certainly is something you do want to explore. All the way, you may even discover a new favorite brand of weed.