In a move that should concern parents and public health advocates alike, DoorDash has decided to join the troubling trend of normalising drug use by launching home delivery of cannabis products. The same app that brings you tacos and groceries will now deliver THC-laden gummies and beverages right to your doorstep. How convenient – and how utterly irresponsible.
Marketing Spin or Drug Delivery?
The company’s gleaming press statements talk about “helping eligible customers find new products to safely enjoy while they unwind.” Let’s call this what it really is: making drug consumption as casual as ordering a pizza. Their marketing spin about “evolving preferences” and “decompressing” cleverly masks the reality that they’re essentially becoming drug runners with a fancy app.
Sure, they’re technically staying within federal law by limiting products to less than 0.3% delta-9 THC on a dry weight basis. They’ve also implemented age verification systems, much like they do for alcohol delivery. But these safeguards hardly address the broader societal implications of making intoxicating substances available at the tap of a screen.
A Troubling Vision of Mainstream Cannabis Consumption Trends
Most concerning is the company’s cited Harris Poll survey, suggesting that 75% of adults aged 21-65 are considering incorporating THC/CBD products into their 2025 routine. Rather than raising alarm bells about this disturbing trend, DoorDash seems to be celebrating it as a business opportunity.
Some cannabis industry executives are, predictably, jumping for joy. Adam Terry, CEO of Cantrip, speaks enthusiastically about “breaking into the new ecosystem of direct delivery.” However, more sobering voices like Mike Khemmoro from Mango Cannabis raise valid concerns about the looser regulatory framework for hemp-derived products compared to state-regulated cannabis businesses.
States Struggle to Regulate Intoxicating Hemp Products Amid New Moves
The timing couldn’t be more problematic, with several states including Illinois grappling with regulations on intoxicating hemp products. New Jersey recently saw a ban put on hold, while California implemented emergency regulations last September. Instead of waiting for clearer regulatory frameworks, DoorDash has chosen to barrel ahead.
The company’s partnership with Cann, offering promotional discounts on THC drinks, feels particularly tone-deaf. Nothing says “responsible business practices” quite like discount drugs, right?
What’s next? Will we see “bundle deals” where you can add THC gummies to your burger order? Perhaps a “happy hour” for hemp-derived products? The slippery slope from here isn’t hard to imagine.
While DoorDash executives celebrate their expansion into this controversial market, communities across America continue to struggle with substance abuse issues. The normalisation of drug use through mainstream delivery platforms only serves to compound these challenges.
Profiting from Public Health Risks? Corporate America’s Priorities
The harsh reality is that this move represents everything wrong with corporate America’s rush to profit from substances that should remain strictly controlled. DoorDash may have found another revenue stream, but at what cost to public health and social responsibility?
Perhaps it’s time for regulators and lawmakers to take a harder look at whether delivery apps should be permitted to branch into controlled substances at all. Until then, we can only hope that consumers will think twice before treating drug delivery with the same casualness as ordering their daily coffee.
After all, just because something can be delivered to your door doesn’t mean it should be. (WRD News)
