Dispensaries are retail locations where cannabis products are sold. Similar to regular retailers, dispensaries typically operate under some additional state compliance mandates and payment restrictions. As the main consumer-facing component of legal cannabis industry, dispensaries generally sell an array of flower, vapes, concentrates, edibles and drinkables products.
As when interviewing for any job, when interviewing at a dispensary it’s essential that you gain an understanding of their mission and culture in order to establish rapport with interviewers and demonstrate commitment to company values. Furthermore, it helps when preparing questions to ask during an interview in order to gain a more in-depth knowledge of the role itself and all that it entails.
Vertical integration in the cannabis industry refers to business models in which all aspects of supply chains, from cultivation through processing and manufacturing, sales and distribution are owned and managed by one entity, providing more control and consistency over quality product being delivered to customers.
Back of House (BOH) refers to the area of a dispensary that’s hidden from view by customers, where cannabis products are stored, audited and transferred. To ensure employee and product safety it’s vital for managers of dispensaries to maintain an efficient BOH environment.
Cannabis specials are deals, discounts, or promotions offered at dispensaries to increase customer retention and drive sales. They may take the form of buy one get one free (BOGO), cart-level discounts, event or holiday promotions or anything else relevant.
Pre-rolls are marijuana joints prepared by dispensaries or vendors and ready for sale to customers, saving buyers the hassle and time spent grinding and rolling their own. Pre-rolls have become an increasingly common practice within cannabis culture as a convenient way of providing increased customer convenience while acting as an excellent marketing strategy for vendors and dispensaries alike.
Oftentimes, marijuana products must be packaged in child-resistant containers by law, which can range from vials with locks to pop-top bottles or joint tubes. Staying abreast of packaging trends and maintaining consistency is key to dispensary operations and compliance.
When shopping at dispensaries that sell cannabis in states where legalization has taken effect, cash must always be brought. Unfortunately, many dispensaries do not have access to bank accounts and must operate solely using cash; this presents many unique challenges when managing inventory or accounting.
Inventory intake refers to the process of receiving new inventory at a dispensary and includes reviewing manifest against what was ordered, counting items received to ensure all were sent, securing and storing inventory properly, as well as adding it into Metrc and POS inventories. A reliable audit process should be put in place so as to avoid discrepancies while adhering to compliance measures.