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California Bans Drones From Delivering Marijuana (theverge.com)

Posted by BeauHD on from the regulatory-rules dept.

In what will surely be disappointing news for a host of start-ups promising to deliver marijuana by drone like MDelivers and Eaze, California's Bureau of Cannabis Control has recently unveiled new regulatory rules that will ban drones from delivering marijuana. "The Bureau is currently developing regulation surrounding weed use and sales under the Medicinal and Adult-Use Cannabis Regulation and Safety Act (MAUCRSA) after recreational marijuana was legalized in California," reports The Verge. From the report: "Cannabis goods will be required to be transported inside commercial vehicles or trailers," the proposed program description reads. "Transportation may not be done by aircraft, watercraft, rail, drones, human powered vehicles, or unmanned vehicles." Under the rules, deliveries can only be made by licensed retailers, "in person by enclosed motor vehicle," and the vehicles used for deliveries must have a GPS that allows the seller to track the package. The Bureau also specifically states that those delivering the cannabis aren't allowed to consume the substance while out on the delivery. Further reading: Ars Technica

11 of 82 comments (clear)

  1. Only 1 Q by Mr+D+from+63 · · Score: 4, Interesting

    Is this consistent with transport/delivery rules for other controlled substances (aside from alcohol)?

  2. Oh, snap! by cdreimer · · Score: 2

    Another brilliant business idea up in smoke!

  3. You can get high... by dskoll · · Score: 4, Funny

    ... but your pot cannot.

  4. They may have banned drones, but... by SuperKendall · · Score: 2

    ... did they think to ban delivery of MJ by ICBMM?

    Perfect transition of NK to a peaceful world power.

    --
    "There is more worth loving than we have strength to love." - Brian Jay Stanley
    1. Re:They may have banned drones, but... by sconeu · · Score: 3, Funny

      ICBMM? Inter-Continental Ballistic Marijuana Missile?

      --
      General Relativity: Space-time tells matter where to go; Matter tells space-time what shape to be.
  5. Re:No Bicycles either?? by Xenx · · Score: 3, Informative

    It also mentions that the pot needs to be in a locked box fixed to the inside of the vehicle or trailer. That rule wouldn't mean much if it was a locked box attached to a bicycle.

  6. FAA Jurisdiction? by GumphMaster · · Score: 2

    This may simply be a pragmatic issue. Once the cannabis is in the air it likely falls under Federal law regarding air navigation (The United States Government has exclusive sovereignty of airspace). Cannabis distribution is a federal offence. Best to keep the Feds out of this.

    --
    Patent litigation: A doctrine of Mutually Assured Destruction... in which everyone seems willing to push the button
    1. Re:FAA Jurisdiction? by blindseer · · Score: 2

      The federal government already has a ban on cannabis, how does transporting it by a drone change that? Or any means of transport by air, water, or rail? (Rail? Why ban rail transport?)

      Obama let this ride for years and now Trump and his DOJ has to do something about this eventually. It will be a year into this administration real soon now. I'll give a pass for a few months because he has to appoint people and deal with a lot of other damage left on his desk. He's given a lot of non-answer answers when asked about it before. At some point the law needs to change or be enforced. The status quo is a mockery of the rule of law.

      --
      I am armed because I am free. I am free because I am armed.
    2. Re:FAA Jurisdiction? by GumphMaster · · Score: 2

      The Federal government has stated that it will not step in if a State chooses to allow recreational/medicinal cannabis provided there is a regulation system in place (i.e. what CA is trying to do). However, if the trade is interstate or leaves the State's jurisdiction then bets are off (especially given the present politics). If the cannabis is in the air then it is (arguably) no longer in California's jurisdiction. CA may simply be avoiding any legal ambiguity surrounding this mode of transport.

      Alternatively, it may be that this delivery mode does not: guarantee that the merchandise is delivered to the intended, legal recipient; provide security of the payload in case of forced or misdirected landing; or accommodate random checks of the legal bona-fides of shipments in transit.

      As for the other modes of transport: who knows. I am sure some bureaucrat has a rationale that makes sense in government-speak.

      --
      Patent litigation: A doctrine of Mutually Assured Destruction... in which everyone seems willing to push the button
  7. Have to wonder by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Insightful

    Fucking military weapons are shipped with less rules.

  8. Re: these are Proposed Guidelines, not rules by slazzy · · Score: 2

    And they'll wonder why the black market and crime around it still thrives...

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    Website Just Down For Me? Find out