Uber Exec Talks Cannabis: 'When You Open Your Uber App, You Can Go Get Literally Anything'

"Fundamentally, we're a platform that is establishing itself as the operating system for everyday life," begins Jesse Young, the global lead of new ventures at Uber Technologies UBER, emphasizing the versatility and expansive scope of the company. Her recent remarks were shared at the Benzinga Cannabis Capital Conference in Miami, where she outlined Uber's journey into previously uncharted verticals and its evolving role in the ever-growing cannabis market.

Young's words depict a vibrant, exploratory journey for Uber, which began delivering cannabis in Canada last year in partnership with cannabis website Leafly LFLY, demonstrating its commitment to creating a universal platform. "When you open your app, you can go get literally anything," she expresses, underscoring the versatility Uber has been honing for years. An app that once started as a mere ride-hailing service has been transformed into a diverse tool for everyday needs. From groceries, alcohol, baby and pet products, Uber's expansion into these verticals depicts an evolution designed to cater to the myriad of consumers' daily needs.

The Global Lead of New Ventures also highlighted the thoughtful approach Uber has been adopting in its evolution. "And I think the extension into grocery, into alcohol, into baby, into pet and now into cannabis is really like a natural evolution of that," she shares. This natural evolution doesn't merely demonstrate Uber's desire to diversify; it underpins the company's dedication to understanding and serving its users better.

But, she notes, this expansion raises pertinent questions about the company's role in these new spaces. "And then it comes a question of what's our right to play in that space or right to enable it," Young questions, showcasing the mindful and responsible ethos at Uber.

Young emphasizes that they can play a significant role in the cannabis market with empathy and understanding. "And I think if we can do it with the right empathy, the right understanding, to know that we can help advance participation in the marketplace, that is just as important as the regulations that are about expungements and reducing prohibition." Young posits that the company's contribution to the market can extend beyond mere participation. It can have far-reaching implications for the regulatory landscape of the industry, further underscoring Uber's transformative potential.

Aspiring to learn more about the industry? Benzinga Cannabis Capital Conference is scheduled to return to Chicago on September 27 and 28, with more information available at bzcannabis.com.