[figglestar]

This is maybe indirectly a good thing. Cash has a lot of advantages from a privacy perspective and I feel like it has lost a lot of luster with younger people in general. This may keep it alive.

Another poster mentioned that buying weed with cash is just a good idea as having credit card transactions at Bill's weed shop forever on your permanent record isn't a good idea.

[callalex]

There is no privacy in cannabis transactions, as the state legalization laws require extensive reporting, retention (!), and verification of identity for every sale. It’s not like alcohol sale laws where ID is only required at point of sale for age verification, the seller must keep a complete copy of identification on file for every customer/sale.

[paxys]

I have no idea what you are talking about. I have bought marijuana in at least 5 states (CA, WA, NY among them) and the only ID check is some dude at the door, similar to a bar. You buy whatever you want with cash and walk out.

Who has these kinds of requirements you are talking about?

[bitxbitxbitcoin]

In CA and NY it is entirely likely you went into an unlicensed dispensary.

[paxys]

What makes you think that? Which dispensary in CA tracks what customers are purchasing and sends that info to the government?

[bitxbitxbitcoin]

Just because depending on where you are in the state, the unlicensed ones could outnumber the licensed ones.

Every licensed dispensary in CA tracks what customers are purchasing. That's the whole point of seed to sale tracking and METRC.

Whether it's sent to the government and which part of it is another question.

[thefurdrake]

I go into a dispensary here and I have to show my photo ID and redcard to the person first at the entry cordon, then at the register when I make a purchase.

[paxys]

Showing your ID to a person (IDK what "redcard" is) is very different from the store recording who is buying what.

[lp0_on_fire]

Might be different for recreational in other states but here in the PA medical program, every single item dispensed is tied to your medical card #. Every single sales unit whether it's a few milliliters of tincture or an ounce of flower is uniquely identified with a serial/lot number.

The state also requires high def video surveillance of basically every angle in the dispensary and forces them to retain the data for 6 months for "investigative purposes".

So not only do they have record of the exact item I bought, when, and where, they have me on camera doing it AND can trace that item all the way back to seed.

I would hope a recreational program if the state were ever to adopt one would not be so invasive...but you never know.

[thefurdrake]

You're right, I guess I don't know for certain that they're doing it, but they do enter information into a computer after looking at my ID...

Who knows!

[thefurdrake]

I just had the presence of mind to look. I get medical, so the label on the packages has my name and license number on it.

So, presumably, that could be tracked?

[matthewdgreen]

Yes, but those records live with the state and not the Federal government. This matters a lot, particularly for people who may need to undergo Federal background checks.

[refurb]

Where is that? CA doesn’t require verification of identity.

[throwawaymobule]

I think CA expressly forbids it now, since loyalty-programmes were turning into a privacy risk.

[refurb]

But they never required it in the first place.

ID was checked for age when you entered stores.

After that, you can pay cash. It’s anonymous.