#159, San Jose cannabis dispensary delivers in Teslas

Chris Lane is the chief marketing officer of Airfield Supply Co., a cannabis dispensary in San Jose, California. Its name is derived from the company's proximity to the San Jose International Airport. Its motto is "High Is A Place." The company is thriving in the Silicon Valley, where marijuana delivery is a competitive segment of the business community. Airfield Supply also recently determined it can more efficiently deliver its product. It added six Tesla Model 3s to its delivery fleet. Airfield Supply Co. in San Jose, California, has six Teslas in its cannabis delivery fleet. Co-hosts Bruce Aldrich and James Raia talk with Lane about the cannabis industry in the Silicon Valley and the Airfield's decision to utilize the electric sports car in its business. With sales increasing during the COVID-19 pandemic, Airfield’s delivery capabilities are a new benchmark across the industry, the company notes. Cannabis Delivery In Style — Tesla According to industry reports, Silicon Valley has had a 400 percent increase in marijuana deliveries since the pandemic began. "The Tesla fleet is an investment that will in time pay for itself and considering that with future updates pushed directly to the vehicle, the Model 3 will only become more sustainable over time," said company CEO Marc Matulich. "This is really central to who we are.” Lane, who discussed regulations of cannabis delivery vehicles, noted the efficiency of the Teslas in the company fleet. Airfield says it saves about $10,000 per Tesla annually or $60,000 per year compared to gasoline vehicles. “We’ve expanded our delivery program, reduced prices and minimum ordering costs in order to be a better neighbor to our customers and to make it just that much more affordable and convenient for everyone,” Matulich said. The six Teslas are outfitted with GPS devices for San Jose police to track them, as required by the city’s regulations, in addition to lockable containers and front and rear dash security cameras. "Using smartphones, customers can now pre-pay for pickup and delivery of cannabis purchases, allowing for 100 percent secure, one-click transaction processes that decrease wait times as well as the spread of germs," said Matulich. Lane also discusses customers' reactions to their orders being delivered in Teslas. The Weekly Driver Podcast encourages and appreciates feedback from our listeners. Please forward episode links to family, friends and colleagues. And you are welcome to repost links from the podcast to your social media accounts. The idea of more eyeballs on more content works for us. Support our podcast by shopping on Amazon.com. A graphic display at the bottom of the post links to automotive selections of the online retailer. But there's also a search function for anything available directly from the site. If you shop via this site, we receive a small commission. It helps us continue to produce independent content. The site began in 2004 and includes more than 700 reviews. The podcast is in its third year, and we've had a diverse collection of guests — famous athletes, vintage car collectors, manufacturer CEOs, automotive book authors, industry analysts, a movie stuntman and episodes from auto shows and car auctions. Please send comments and suggestions for new episodes to James Raia via email: james@jamesraia.com. All podcast episodes are archived on theweeklydriver.com/podcast Every episode is also available on your preferred podcast platform. Several of the more prominent platforms are listed below. Amazon.com Google Play iheartradio iTunes Spotify Stitcher