It is now possible for citizens of Washington to buy their legal marijuana with Bitcoins, as some of the dispensaries in Spokane, Washington has decided to accept the cryptocurrency as a payment method. It is the first time that drugs can be bought with Bitcoins legally in the US and shows that places like SilkRoad may not be needed in the future.
Marijuana is illegal on a federal level, making it hard for the dispensaries to accept any sort of credit card payment and find banks willing to hold their funds. Bitcoin has been the saviour for several of the legal marijuana distributors and has helped them help people. Eliminating a large part of the cash they receive also makes it more safe for the shops, removing a large risk for theft and robbery.
The American government is working on creating new rules that will help the legal marijuana businesses get into the American banking system, but since it is going to take a long period of time more and more of the businesses turns to alternative payment methods.
Marijuana is currently legal for recreational use in Washington and Colorado and can be used as a medical substance in 20 states across the US.