Marine vet puts military logistics to work with launch of NYC pot home delivery service
The metro area’s first home delivery cannabis service is now taking orders. The Cannabis Place, launched by retired Marine Osbert Orduna, is the first disabled vet to open a state-approved marijuana sales business. Based in Queens, the business is well-equipped with extensive surveillance and GPS technology, which is not surprising given Orduna’s prior experience supervising a unit responsible for convoy security and protecting supply lines in Iraq.
Four of the seven workers hired so far are military veterans. They leverage their skill sets for the cannabis delivery operation, which has a robust communication and dispatch system similar to what was used in Iraq. Staff can communicate live, and everything is under surveillance. This is to ensure safety while making deliveries, which are tracked in real-time using the company’s GPS system, with customers receiving a text message when the delivery is nearby. Payments are all made online via ACH Venmo, and there’s no cash exchange.
Orders of cannabis products for home delivery need to hit a minimum of $150, with same-day or next-day deliveries from noon to 8 pm, seven days a week. The company has cultivated a loyal customer base, which is mostly middle-aged and older, and deliveries cover Queens, Brooklyn, Manhattan and Long Island. Nassau County has refused to approve pot stores in its neighborhoods, but locals can order weed directly from The Cannabis Place.
FAQs
What is The Cannabis Place?
The Cannabis Place is the first licensed cannabis home delivery service in the New York Metro area.
Who owns and operates The Cannabis Place?
The Cannabis Place is owned and operated by retired Marine Osbert Orduna and his newly opened firm, The Cannabis Place.
What geographic areas does The Cannabis Place deliver to?
The Cannabis Place delivers cannabis products to Brooklyn, Queens, Manhattan, and Long Island. About half of the deliveries are in Nassau and Suffolk counties.
What are the hours of operation for The Cannabis Place’s delivery service?
Same-day or next-day deliveries can be made from noon to 8 pm, seven days a week.
What payment methods does The Cannabis Place accept?
Payments are made online through ACH Venmo, with no cash exchange. Customers will soon be able to pay directly with a debit and credit card.
What products does The Cannabis Place offer?
The Cannabis Place offers a range of cannabis products, including weed, vapes, edibles, beverages, and ointments.
What is the minimum amount required for home delivery?
The minimum amount required for home delivery is $150.
Is there a delivery fee?
No, there is no delivery fee.
Is The Cannabis Place hiring?
There is no information available on hiring plans at this time.
NYC Pot Home Delivery Service Launched by Marine Veteran Utilizing Military Logistics
Osbert Orduna, a retired Marine and the son of Colombian immigrants, is breaking barriers in the cannabis industry as the first disabled veteran to open a state-approved marijuana sales business. Orduna operates The Cannabis Place, the metro area’s first licensed home delivery cannabis service, from a small base in Queens dedicated to delivering legal weed right to customers’ doorsteps. The sophisticated set-up includes extensive surveillance and GPS technology integrated into the entire operation, similar to those used by the military, law enforcement, and delivery app services like Uber and Lyft, to ensure safety and prompt delivery. Under state law, all New York cannabis products must be lab-tested before ordering.
There are currently only a dozen retail dispensaries operating throughout the state, including seven in New York City. However, some towns in Suffolk and Nassau counties have opted out of selling cannabis in storefronts, leaving a massive business opportunity for delivery services. Orduna’s Cannabis Place delivers to Brooklyn, Queens, Manhattan, Long Island, Nassau County, and Suffolk County, free of delivery charge. Customers make payments online via ACH Venmo, with plans to enable payments directly using a debit and credit card. There’s a minimum $150 purchase of cannabis products for home delivery, and customers get a text message when delivery is nearby, with same-day or next-day delivery available. The average order is $300, though some orders exceed $1,000.
At The Cannabis Place, Orduna leverages his logistical knowledge gained from serving in the military to run the budding pot delivery business successfully. His five-member staff includes four military veterans who serve as mobile budtenders and operation leads, employing skill sets comparable to those they used in action. All deliveries are tracked in real-time using the company’s GPS system to route drivers depending on traffic, with the staff communicating live at all times. The minimum $150 purchase for home delivery includes products such as weed, vapes, edibles, beverages, and ointments that have undergone quality grading by a network of 26 regular cannabis users who rate the products on a scale of 1 to 10.
Many customers appreciate the convenience and discretion of the home deliveries, especially middle-aged and older individuals looking to manage stress and anxiety. The Cannabis Place accepts orders only from customers at least 21 years old and requires photo identification documentation. Orduna works closely with the “justice-involved” in the cannabis industry, including minorities convicted of marijuana-related crimes when possession was outlawed, to rectify the collateral damage of the war on drugs. Although disabled vets are eligible for cannabis licenses, those convicted of cannabis offenses were among the first to receive licenses to right the wrongs of that war. Though preferring ex-cons over vets stirred resentment, Orduna partnered with Khaled Ahmed, general manager of The Cannabis Place, who was incarcerated for selling marijuana when it was illegal.