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Date: 4/19/2022
EASTHAMPTON – With final approval from the Massachusetts Cannabis Control Commission (CCC), Budzee Cannabis Delivery on 17 East St. officially began operations as an Amazon-esque wholesale cannabis delivery business on April 11.
According to Tara Smith, the press secretary for the state’s CCC, Budzee is the first adult-use marijuana delivery operator with a final license to receive a commence operations notice from the CCC. Once a licensee receives this notice, according to Smith, they are authorized to commence operations after a minimum of three calendar days.
Under the CCC’s current regulations, Social Equity Program participants and Economic Empowerment Applicants have exclusive access to the three types of delivery license models, including delivery operator, for a minimum of three years. This exclusivity period began as soon as Budzee was issued the CCC’s notice to commence operations. The commission may, by vote, decide to extend that period following a determination that the goal of the exclusivity period to promote and encourage full participation has not been met.
According to Kevin Perrier, co-founder and CEO of Budzee, the company delivers cannabis products and accessories to recreational customers in Easthampton from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. and to Southampton and Northampton from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. seven days a week. Delivery is always free with a specified minimum order amount.
In an interview with Reminder Publishing, Perrier – who is also the president and CEO of Easthampton construction firm Five Star Corp. – said that customers can choose between three different delivery options: express, same-day and scheduled. The express option, which is for customers that live within a seven-mile radius of Easthampton, will deliver cannabis orders in two hours or less. The same-day option, meanwhile, allows customers within a 20-mile radius to receive their cannabis or accessories on the day they place their orders. Scheduled delivery is ideal for customers planning ahead, according to Perrier. People who use this method will receive their orders during a two-hour window.
People can either order their product on the Budzee website, or through their phone application – which Perrier said should be available within the next week or so. Perrier anticipates that Budzee will deliver to more locations across the state – even as far as Boston – within the coming weeks and months.
“I suspect, depending on demand, we’ll be adding more zip codes quickly,” said Perrier. “I think we’re looking at Holyoke probably being next, depending on how busy we are. People can enter their zip code on the site to see if delivery is allowed … it’s kind of like ordering a pizza.”
The interior of Budzee’s warehouse features a large security room with cameras of the area, a storage room for cannabis accessories, a vault with the actual cannabis product and a sally port where five trucks are currently stored and used for delivery.
According to Perrier, Budzee will begin with one delivery truck per shift until demand increases, but they do anticipate using more trucks very soon. “We can have up to 20 trucks here if demand grows to that in the future,” said Perrier.
Budzee was founded by Perrier and COO Volkan Polatol, which is the same cannabis team that brought the soon-to-be-opened Honey Dispensary to Northampton, Dreamer Dispensary to Southampton and the cannabis manufacturing facility Wemelco Industries to Easthampton. Ezra Parzybok is Budzee’s social equity partner, compliance officer and third founder.
Budzee currently employs around 20 people and Perrier suspects that the staff could double “pretty quickly” as demand picks up in the next few weeks. “The CCC requires a driver and passenger in every vehicle,” said Perrier, referring to the delivery vehicles. “So. you’re talking four employees a day just to add to one car.”
According to Polatol, Budzee acquires their products from 25 in-house manufacturers within the state.
“It’s all state growers and manufacturers that you would see in a regular dispensary,” said Polatol. “There’s going to be a wide range of selection, and I think that’s what differentiates us from the courier model.”
Under the courier model, which is a mechanism already present throughout the state, couriers team up with one store and are beholden to their inventory. Under the delivery operator model, however-which is what Budzee utilizes-there is more flexibility with what is offered since they use multiple manufacturers.
“The courier models, it’s usually one brand that you’re shopping from,” Polatol. “Versus us, where it’s kind of like a regular recreational dispensary where you have a lot of options. If you’re looking for a tincture, if you’re looking for edibles, if you’re looking for flower or a pre-roll, anything you need, you’re going to have a wide range of products to choose from.”
Those interested can visit the Budzee website, https://www.budzee.com/.