This high-tech vending machine sells marijuana

Buying marijuana in Colorado became a whole lot easier this past year when the state legalized the drug for recreational use. It's about to get even easier, like buying a can of soda or

pack of gum—at least in select locations. Last week, a marijuana vending machine called "ZaZZZ" made headlines after Tranzbyte unit American Green unveiled the automated

dispensary. American Green plans to place the machine in a medical marijuana dispensary in Eagle-Vail, Colo. The machine, which uses an advanced ID-scanner to verify age and identity, should

begin selling to the public in three to four weeks, the chief operating officer of Tranzbyte told CNBC on Monday. Tranzbyte’s medical marijuana vending machine made its debut in Colorado

last week. Source: Tranzbyte "We looked at the market, and realized that the American people have voted," Tranzbyte COO Stephen Shearin said on "Squawk on the Street."

"It's legal, and as it comes out of the shadows and into the light, they should have the same efficiencies that you find in a grocery store or ... or somewhere else." Read

More'We're not Amsterdam': Is Colorado pot tourism a myth? Don't expect to see pot vending machines pop up at supermarkets, however. American Green's vending machine

can only operate inside marijuana dispensaries, Shearin said. Shoppers must also pass a two-pronged security test. Buyers must display identification at the door and swipe their ID card

through the machine. It's the same kind of technology that pharmacies use, he said. "If there's any doubt, no cannabis comes out," Shearin said. "We send you back to

the counter." _—By CNBC's Jeff Morganteen._