Uber is making its first opening into the marijuana market, as Uber Eats users in Ontario, Canada will soon be able to order cannabis products in the app.
Customers will be able to order a special section of the app from the Tokyo Smoke retail store and then pick it up from a nearby store.
“Uber Eats users will need to verify their age in the app and then be able to pick up their orders within an hour,” the company said.
The company declined to say whether the offer would be extended further to Canada and the United States.
Under Canadian law, although marijuana use has been legal since 2018, its delivery is still illegal.
Uber has been focusing on the thriving cannabis market for some time.
In April, CEO Dara Khosrowshahi said the company would consider delivering cannabis as soon as it is allowed under U.S. law.
Illegal producers
Although the sale of cannabis for recreational use became legal in Canada three years ago, illegal producers still control a large share of sales. This is something the government is trying to fix.
Uber said its partnership with Tokyo Smoke would help adults in the country buy safe, legal cannabis by fighting smugglers.
The Canadian cannabis market is projected to continue to expand in the coming years with industry research firm BDS Analytics expecting sales to grow to $ 6.7 billion by 2026.
“We will continue to monitor market opportunities closely. “And as local laws evolve, we will explore opportunities with merchants operating in other areas,” said an Uber spokesman.
Demand for cannabis products rose sharply last year as people stayed home during the lockdown.
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