Cannabis eCommerce is a new way to sell your legal cannabis products. Here’s how you can start to sell cannabis online legally and effectively.
The traditional shopping industry has suffered in recent years, notably during the pandemic. In 2020, e-commerce platforms achieved new heights by having more online shoppers on their platforms. Customers are drawn to online shopping because it is convenient and offers many options. Such is the same when the topic shifts to how to sell cannabis online.
It’s no surprise that online shopping surpassed 768 billion dollars in revenue in 2021 because people love to order things online. It is also anticipated that they will exceed 1.3 trillion dollars in the US by 2025.
Transitioning to a digital platform is not as simple as it might seem for the cannabis industry. Selling cannabis online allows chances that your business will face legal barriers. But for any business to thrive, a base of loyal customers is necessary. Anyway, recent bills and laws support the growth of dispensaries.
If your dispensary doesn’t sell cannabis online, you are at an extreme disadvantage and will miss out on more and more sales as the days go by. Learn more about how to sell cannabis online legally and how e-commerce is influencing the cannabis industry’s future.
What is Cannabis Ecommerce?
Having a cannabis e-commerce platform means you have an avenue to sell cannabis online. Your e-commerce platform is your online store. It can be a website, online marketplace, social media, or mobile app.
Your online store will allow more customers to find you online and order your products instead of just visiting your dispensary. Customers with a positive experience with your store will want to order again. This presents an opportunity for customer retention.
Considerations in Launching Your eCommerce Store
The cannabis industry is a growing yet highly regulated industry. Being in this business can easily conflict with the law if you’re not careful. That is why it is important to get familiar with the current regulations to avoid basic mistakes.
With this, you can have more time on more important matters. If you’re planning to run an online dispensary, make sure you’ve covered the following steps:
- Identify and categorize your products.
- Get Familiar with the laws and regulations around the cannabis industry.
- Create an in-depth business plan.
- Compile all your legal documents.
- Obtain a reliable supplier.
- Build your site with an e-commerce platform.
Once you’re set, the next step is to create your own aesthetic and optimized website. This may require you to hire a professional website developer or use a reliable cannabis dispensary website builder. The best places to sell cannabis online feature technologies and frameworks that enable a convenient and smooth customer experience.
Laws and Regulations Around the Cannabis Industry
The 2018 Farm Bill confirmed the legal commercial use of hemp in the US. This means you can grow industrial cannabis successfully. You can also legally sell products containing hemp-derived CBD across the country. However, there are limitations:
- The hemp you are using to produce CBD cannot have more than 0.3% of THC. The higher the concentration of THC in any cannabis plant, the stricter the regulations.
- Cannabinoids or CBD are legal in 15 states for recreational cannabis usage and in 36 states for medical use only.
These legal policies are what separates the cannabis industry from traditional industries. There are strict policies for licensing, packaging, marketing, and distribution. Though the laws differ in every state, Cannabis advertising products is still possible.
Make sure that you are up to date on all policies, as the rules vary depending on the platform you use and the states you’re targeting. Here are some basic rules and regulations in cannabis advertising:
- Do not market your products as medicines or make specific health claims.
- Do not use images or any visual attractive to individuals below 21 years old.
- Do not market to state/s where your products are considered illegal.
The Legal Cannabis Industry In Online Community
Cannabis sales have exploded during the pandemic. Because of this, many local dispensaries created their e-commerce platform to sell cannabis online.
The big question is “Is it legal to sell cannabis online?” The answer is yes. However, unlike normal online products, shipping cannabis is illegal.
In states where cannabis is legal, they allow customers to place an order for marijuana online. The payment transaction is often completed in person. The package is picked up or delivered to their home using authorized couriers.
Cannabis e-commerce is the easiest way to sell cannabis online. Features should include easy-to-use checkout tools, data reporting tools, and secure payment options. If your customers are happy, you will have steady and sustainable growth for long-term success.
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