As cannabis delivery services struggle and fold, rumors are swirling that the real obstacle isn’t just logistics, poor business practices or local regulations. Insiders now suggest that Jeff Bezos has been quietly deploying technology that disrupts these small delivery operations—without even launching his own cannabis delivery platform. Instead, Bezos appears to be holding his cards close, waiting for federal legalization to sweep in and dominate.

The billionaire’s plan, sources say, hinges on a proprietary geofencing system developed by Amazon, designed to preemptively “clear the field” of competitors in key delivery markets across the U.S. As cannabis delivery startups multiply, they also encounter a strange pattern: missed deliveries, unresponsive apps, and odd routing issues within key areas. It’s almost as if something—or someone—is making sure they don’t gain ground.

Tech expert Robin Marshall explains the stealthy brilliance of Bezos’ strategy: “Bezos isn’t rushing in yet. Instead, he’s set up a tech perimeter—a kind of digital no-man’s-land—that quietly disrupts any delivery service trying to operate in certain markets. When legalization happens, Amazon will have a clean slate with minimal competition to deal with.”

These invisible barriers reportedly interfere with other apps’ ability to locate customers, reroute drivers into confusing loops, and even cause connectivity issues that make it harder for customers to complete orders. Delivery services are left scratching their heads, unable to explain why business seems to be booming everywhere—except in zones that, sources say, Bezos has quietly marked as future “Prime Green” delivery hubs.

For local cannabis delivery startups, it’s a nightmarish game of digital whack-a-mole. Small companies report mysteriously disappearing orders and drivers who lose GPS functionality in particular neighborhoods. One startup owner, Bryce Patel of Green Wheels Delivery, says his company has been experiencing these disruptions regularly over the past year: “We thought it was our system glitching, but only in certain areas. Turns out, it’s a lot more targeted than we realized.”

What makes Bezos’ tech even more effective is that it’s hidden in plain sight. Amazon hasn’t launched a cannabis delivery service, so no one would suspect the company of interfering with existing players. Yet analysts believe the tech is perfectly timed to outlast current delivery startups until federal legalization opens the door for Amazon to enter with full force.

“By the time legalization hits, Amazon will be the last one standing,” explains Marshall. “Bezos is patiently waiting in the wings, and these local companies are running out of money just trying to work around the digital obstacles he’s set up.”

So while Amazon remains quiet, quietly holding off on its cannabis debut, the playing field grows emptier each day. Asked for comment, an Amazon spokesperson declined to confirm any future cannabis plans, simply stating that Amazon is “always exploring ways to improve logistics for our customers.”

In the meantime, local delivery services are left waiting for the day when they’ll have to compete with Bezos’ machine—and wondering if the real battle isn’t already lost.