Uber and Leafly have combined to bring an exciting partnership to cannabis consumers in Toronto. Below is a press release from Uber Eats outlining the ambitions and strategy of this partnership.
'Starting today, Monday, October 17, Torontonians can order safe, legal cannabis and get it delivered straight to their homes thanks to a partnership between Uber Eats, a global leader in e-commerce and delivery technology, and Leafly, a leading online cannabis marketplace and information resource. Torontonians 19+ can place orders from local licenced cannabis retailers in the Uber Eats app, and have it delivered to their door by the retailer’s CannSell-certified staff. This is the first time cannabis delivery will be available on a major third-party delivery platform in the world.
“We are partnering with industry leaders like Leafly to help retailers offer safe, convenient options for people in Toronto to purchase legal cannabis for delivery to their homes, which will help combat the illegal market and help reduce impaired driving,” said Lola Kassim, General Manager of Uber Eats Canada. “Over the last few years, we have invested heavily in our delivery business and selection has expanded tremendously. Uber Eats has grown quickly to become a versatile platform usable by diverse businesses large and small.”
“Leafly has been empowering the cannabis marketplace in Canada for more than four years and we support more than 200 cannabis retailers in the GTA. We are thrilled to work with Uber Eats to help licenced retailers bring safe, legal cannabis to people across the city,” said Yoko Miyashita, CEO of Leafly.
“Hidden Leaf has been providing safe, legal cannabis to Torontonians at three locations over the last year and a half,” said Marissa and Dale Taylor, owners of Hidden Leaf, one of three currently participating retailers in Toronto. “We are a small business and this partnership is a great way for us to expand our reach and grow our business across the city. Just like the in-store experience, our CannSell certified delivery staff understand and comply with local regulations around cannabis transactions, including checking ID.”
How it works:
Head to the Uber Eats app and select the “Cannabis” category or search for one of the licenced cannabis retailers. You will see a warning that you must be of legal age to enter the virtual storefront.
After this, you navigate the menu of the retailer to place an order. You must be within the delivery radius of the licenced cannabis retailer in order to be able to place an order.
Just like ordering takeout or other items using Uber Eats, you will be notified when the licenced retailer accepts the order and the estimated time of delivery.
In accordance with provincial regulations, the order will only be delivered by the licenced cannabis retailer’s own CannSell-certified staff. Independent third-party delivery people will not deliver cannabis.
When the delivery person arrives, your age and sobriety will be verified as required by regulations.
This partnership will help combat the underground illegal market, which still accounts for over 50% of all nonmedical cannabis sales in Ontario. Further, recent research from Public First shows that some cannabis users drive after consumption with 1 in 7 (14%) of cannabis users admitting to having driven a vehicle within 2 hours of consuming cannabis. Delivery options like those available through Uber Eats are expected to help decrease impaired driving and improve safety on the road.
The first three cannabis retailers are:
Hidden Leaf Cannabis
Minerva Cannabis
Shivaa’s Rose
About Uber Canada
Uber’s mission is to create opportunity through movement. Co-founded by Calgarian entrepreneur Garrett Camp, Uber started in 2010 to solve a simple problem: how do you get access to a ride at the touch of a button? More than 10 billion trips later, Uber is building products to get people closer to where they want to be. By changing how people, food, and things move through cities, Uber and Uber Eats open up the world to new possibilities. For more information, visit uber.com.
About Leafly
Leafly helps millions of people learn about cannabis each year. Our powerful tools help shoppers make informed purchasing decisions and empower cannabis businesses to attract and retain loyal customers through technology services. Learn more at Leafly.com or download the Leafly mobile app.'
