The cannabis industry is vast, with thousands of businesses operating within it. According to Statista, there are over 7,500 legal dispensaries in the USA. The first state to legalize cannabis was California. However, many states have followed. Currently, 21 states have legalized marijuana for recreational purposes while
If you’re thinking about opening a cannabis dispensary, there are a lot of things to consider. The industry is constantly changing, so you need to be flexible with your supply choices. But if there’s one thing you can’t skimp on, supplies. Here are the essential ingredients required for your dispensary.
Packaging Supplies
There are many supplies you will need to package cannabis products efficiently. Effective and efficient packaging is vital for your success. Many businesses in the same space spend a lot of money on packaging essentials. Hence, the global cannabis packaging market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 29.60%, from $2.9 billion in 2021 to $11.8 billion in 2030.
The common packaging supplies you will need include:
- Bags: These are the most basic and essential packaging supplies you will need. You may use bags for storage and transportation purposes, so it’s important to keep various sizes on hand.
- Boxes: A box can serve as a temporary container for bulk quantities of cannabis-infused products, but it’s more commonly used as a permanent storage device. You must ensure that any boxes you purchase are suitable for storing cannabis products since they need to contain humidity and prevent light damage.
- Jars: Jars are an ideal choice when it comes time to package edible products such as brownies or cookies because they allow consumers to see what they’re buying before purchasing. Some jurisdictions require transparent packaging so consumers can see what they’re buying.
- Bottles: Bottles come in many shapes and sizes depending on their intended purpose. If your dispensary sells liquids like tinctures or e-juice bottles, then you’ll want some spares on hand just in case something goes wrong with one during transport or storage.
- Edible containers: Edible containers help protect edibles from losing moisture during transport/storage.
- Pens/markers/stamps: While not essential when starting, these items are handy if customers want their purchases packaged with extra flair. Some dispensaries choose custom stickers rather than labels because these tend to look better, especially if there’s artwork involved.
Weight Scales
In a dispensary, you need to be able to measure the weight of your products. This is crucial for determining how much cannabis you’re selling, which determines how much money you’ll make. To that end, it’s essential that your scale be accurate and reliable. You don’t want to lose sales due to an inaccurate or unreliable scale.
That’s why it’s essential that the scale can handle larger weights and has a large platform. This will allow you to weigh heavier items without having them fall off the scale or cause damage by bumping into other things on the countertop while being weighed.
But it’s not only about money. You need to measure the weight for legality, too. Many states have a limitation on the amount of cannabis a person can carry at a time. The measurements across states can range from 1.0 to 2.5 ounces for flowers and 3.5 to 15.0 grams for concentrate. Hence, you must ensure that your measurements are accurate.
When buying a new scale at your dispensary, look for one with those features to ensure your business doesn’t experience any setbacks solely because of an inaccurate or unreliable weight measurement instrument.
You can find many weighing scales from different manufacturers at https://www.gomwi.com/pages/scales. It is best to buy your scales from such websites because they are dedicated to the smoke and cannabis industry. Moreover, it has a range of products at affordable prices. This allows you to find a scale that meets your requirements.
Security Systems
When you’re running a cannabis dispensary, security is of the utmost importance. It’s important to know that your products aren’t being tampered with and are stored in a safe space. Moreover, you should also protect the products from theft to prevent illegal use. According to Statista, 1,394.1 larceny-theft crimes per 100,000 population were reported in 2021. While the number has constantly been reducing since the 1990s, it is best to implement security systems to prevent any crime at your dispensary. This can be done through the use of security systems such as:
- Security cameras: These are great for catching thieves on camera, which can help you identify who is stealing from you and why. If there is any video footage available, it also makes it easier for authorities to pursue prosecution if this is an issue in your area.
- Alarms: Alarms are another great way to deter theft because they alert those around that something may be up if an unauthorized person tries breaking into your dispensary or storeroom.
- Locks/Safes: Having locks on doors helps keep out people who shouldn’t access certain areas within your business by limiting their potential entry routes through doorways, windows, etc. Locks will also prevent the unauthorized removal of money from cash registers or safes.
Labels and Branding
Labels are a vital component of your dispensary brand and must be used by federal and state laws. Proper labeling for all cannabis products is essential for your customers’ safety and complying with regulations surrounding packaging practices. Labeling can help identify different strains of cannabis, different types of marijuana products, and even different brands within a given product line or niche market.
Besides, the labels should have vital information about the products. For example, all states require mentioning the delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol content and manufacturer contact information. Likewise, over 80% of the states require mentioning batch numbers, health risks, impairment disclaimers, and more.
Safety Equipment
Safety is one of the essential aspects of operating a cannabis dispensary. The federal government has strict regulations regarding the safety of employees in any workplace. These regulations are partly responsible for the high cost of doing business in this industry, but it’s also important to understand that safety comes at a price.
You can’t expect your employees to put their health at risk by working without proper protection or training, so it’s up to you as an employer and owner to provide them with all necessary safety equipment and training. If you don’t have enough money in your budget right now, consider raising prices on customers until they’re willing to pay more to get a better quality product without having dangerous side effects like dizziness or nausea.
Conclusion
This is a comprehensive list of all the supplies you’ll need to start a cannabis dispensary. Hopefully, we’ve helped you understand what it takes to run a business like this in today’s market. With these essential supplies, you can be sure that you have everything covered so that your customers will return repeatedly.
