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After getting off to a bumpy start, marijuana delivery to homes in Medford is back on the road. “Our main purpose is to help people who cannot come to the store,” said Leo Silva, assistant manager at Emerald Triangle Dispensary, 246 E. 10th St. Following City Council action two weeks ago, Emerald Triangle has been averaging about seven deliveries a day to disabled people, veterans and those in hospice care. Emerald Triangle, which had state approval for home delivery, put the brakes on it in April after Medford Code Enforcement told the store that cannabis delivery violated city rules. After Emerald Triangle brought the matter to the attention of City Council, city officials drafted an ordinance to allow the service as long as the stores are licensed by the Oregon Liquor Control Commission. Emerald Triangle charges $10 for delivery on orders of $50 or more, and other local stores are looking at home delivery, as well. But the deliveries can be made only inside a secure structure inside city limits, according to state requirements. In other words, the deliveries have to be made inside a house behind a closed door. Silva said some people don’t feel comfortable letting someone inside their house. To comply with OLCC requirements, Emerald Triangle bought a used Volvo SUV with a secure box in the rear. The product is placed inside another box that is locked and opened only at the end of the transaction. Deliveries are made to both medical and recreational users. In a stroke of serendipity, the Volvo had a license plate at the time of purchase with the number “420,” a figure that has become synonymous with marijuana smoking. “We will be very discrete as much as we can with our vehicle,” Silva said. Like other dispensaries, Emerald Triangle goes through a verification process to make sure someone is providing legitimate identification to make sure they can buy cannabis. Under Oregon law, you have to be 21 or older. “People have tried giving us fake IDs,” Silva said. Sometimes a sister or brother takes their sibling’s identification to use it at marijuana stores. Similar protocols are in place to verify the identity and ability for someone ordering cannabis for a home delivery, he said. Emerald Triangle hopes to eventually deliver food and cannabis to homes. Silva said some people, including veterans, are still worried about the stigma associated with marijuana and prefer the anonymity of home delivery. Medford City Councilor Clay Bearnson, who voted to approve home deliveries of cannabis, said he was thinking of offering deliveries at some point at the cannabis store he owns. “It’s not the first thing on our list of things to do,” he said. Bearnson, who owns Oregon Farmacy in downtown Medford, said he checked in with the Oregon Government Ethics Commission to make sure he could vote on allowing cannabis deliveries. In Oregon, marijuana delivery isn’t new. Portland has allowed deliveries since 2016, but OLCC delayed giving permission until 2017. Under OLCC rules, marijuana can’t be delivered to motels, campgrounds or dorms, just residences. Eugene and Springfield have 23 cannabis shops that offer delivery, according to the Register-Guard. Reach reporter Damian Mann at 541-776-4476 or [email protected]. Follow him on www.twitter.com/reporterdm.