South Phoenix medical marijuana dispensary The Mint has opened a drive-thru window as a safety protocol because of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. This is the second dispensary drive-thru to open in the state.

The Mint operates the largest medical marijuana dispensary in Arizona and the third-largest in the nation.

“The CDC is encouraging people to use drive-thru services whenever possible, so this new offering could not come at a better time,” said Eivan Shahara, Co-Founder and CEO of The Mint Dispensary. “As an essential service in Arizona, adding a drive-thru option allows us to better serve patients as we continue to keep safety top-of-mind for everyone.”

The new drive-thru will initially be open from 10 am to 6 pm. The same medical marijuana card verification processes and associated safety initiatives and operational protocols will be in effect for drive-thru patients, just as they are inside the dispensary. Patients will be required to first place their drive-thru orders online at MintDeals.com. Patients then receive a text message once their order is ready for pick up from the drive-thru.

In 2017, All Greens dispensary in Glendale opened the state’s first dispensary drive-thru.

Photo: The Mint