As the cannabis industry continues to grow and become more mainstream, dispensaries are facing increasing competition and demand for efficient operations. One crucial component of a successful dispensary is a reliable point-of-sale (POS) system that can handle transactions, inventory management, and compliance with local regulations.

Here are dispensary POS systems statistics to help you understand the industry and choose the right system for your business.

Key Dispensary POS Systems Statistics 2023 – MY Choice


  • The cannabis POS sector grew to 79 vendors in 2021, up 16% from the previous year and 75% from 2018.
  • The top five companies serve 61% of retailers, despite the record number of POS vendors now in the market.
  • Those two companies together account for 25% of the cannabis POS market, according to the Cannabiz Media survey.
  • The company tracks around 35% of the retail market.
  • In 2018, medical marijuana held a market share of 70.3% of total legal marijuana sales in the United States.
  • Average store revenue is up 52% to 130% compared with January at more than 1,300 stores using cannabis e-commerce platform Jane Technologies.
  • Revenues for 1,300 stores using the e-commerce platform, Jane Technologies, were up 52 to 130% during March 2020 when the pandemic struck and lockdowns began.
  • The estimated contribution of cannabis businesses to the US economy by 2024.

Dispensary POS Systems Stats

Table 1: Dispensary POS Systems Market Statistics

StatisticsValues
Expected annual growth rate of cannabis market (2019-2021)21%
Marijuana buds’ share in the global marijuana market (2016)62.9%
Estimated global marijuana market value by end of 2025$82.9 billion
Share of the global marijuana market accounted to the US90%
Wholesale marketplace LeafLink’s spike in orders in Mar 202048%
Edibles likely to rise in popularity among young cannabis shoppers
Share of female customers in total cannabis sales (2020/2021)31.7%/32.6%
First-day sales of a state beating Colorado’s sales record
Hawaii’s medical market annual growth rate (2019-2021)110%/68%/12%
Market share of branded products (2018)Flower (43%) / Concentrates, edibles, and topicals (57%)
Americans favoring taxes and regulations on the weed market60%
Estimated market value of the cannabis industry by 2025$25 billion
CAGR of the cannabidiol oil industry (estimation)49%
Market share of medical marijuana in total legal sales (2018)70.3%
Cannabis POS vendors growth rate (2018-2021)75% (from 2018) / 16% (from the previous year)
Retail market coverage by POS vendors tracked by Cannabiz MediaAround 35%
Market share of the top five cannabis POS vendors61%
Market share of two major cannabis POS vendors25%
Estimated worth of illegal cannabis market in the USMore than $45 billion/year
Expected growth rate of the worldwide market for Terpenes6.3% (over the next five years)
Leading region for global hemp-based foods (2017)The Americas (57%)
  1. The global cannabis market is expected to reach $97.35 billion by 2026, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 32.92% from 2019 to 2026.
  2. The cannabis POS software market is projected to reach $1.92 billion by 2026, with a CAGR of 18.2% from 2020 to 2026.
  3. North America is the largest market for cannabis POS systems, accounting for 64.8% of the global market share in 2019.
  4. In a survey of cannabis retailers, 75% reported using a POS system to manage their operations.
  5. The average cost of a cannabis POS system is $500 per month.
  6. 78% of dispensary owners say their POS system has helped them increase sales.
  7. 69% of dispensary owners say their POS system has helped them manage inventory more effectively.
  8. In a survey of cannabis retailers, 57% said they would recommend their POS system to others.
  9. The most popular features of dispensary POS systems are inventory management, reporting/analytics, and compliance tracking.
  10. The average dispensary processes 50-100 transactions per day.

Dispensary POS Systems Facts

  1. A POS system is a software and hardware combination that allows businesses to manage sales, inventory, and customer data in real-time.
  2. Cannabis dispensaries face unique challenges in managing their operations, including strict regulations, cash-only transactions, and a constantly evolving product inventory.
  3. Dispensary POS systems can help automate tasks, provide real-time inventory data, and ensure compliance with state and federal regulations.
  4. POS systems can help dispensaries create customer profiles and provide personalized experiences, including targeted marketing and loyalty programs.
  5. Dispensary POS systems often integrate with other software, including seed-to-sale tracking and accounting systems.

Dispensary POS System Market Overview

  • The global cannabis POS market size was valued at $1.2 billion in 2020 and is expected to reach $3.9 billion by 2028, growing at a CAGR of 15.2% from 2021 to 2028.
  • In the US, the legal cannabis market is expected to reach $41.5 billion by 2025, with dispensaries making up a significant portion of that market.
  • The North American market accounted for the largest share of the cannabis POS market in 2020, with a market size of $786.8 million.

Key Features of Dispensary POS Systems

  • The top features of dispensary POS systems include inventory tracking, compliance monitoring, staff management, and sales reporting.
  • Most dispensary POS systems are cloud-based, allowing for remote access and real-time data management.
  • 77% of dispensaries use a POS system that is integrated with their seed-to-sale tracking system.

Benefits of Dispensary POS Systems

  • Dispensary POS systems can help reduce errors and discrepancies in inventory management, resulting in more accurate sales and compliance reporting.
  • Automated compliance monitoring can help dispensaries avoid costly fines and maintain their license to operate.
  • 70% of dispensary owners reported that their POS system helped them increase revenue and profitability.

Challenges of Dispensary POS Systems

  • One of the main challenges of dispensary POS systems is their high cost, with some systems costing up to $30,000 for installation and setup.
  • Another challenge is finding a system that is both compliant with local regulations and meets the unique needs of each dispensary, which can vary widely based on factors such as product offerings and customer base.
  • Dispensaries also face the challenge of training staff to use the system effectively, with 29% of dispensary owners citing staff training as a major challenge.

Dispensary POS System Usage and Adoption

  • 93% of dispensaries in the US use a POS system, with the remaining 7% relying on manual cash registers or other methods.
  • 57% of dispensaries use a system that is specifically designed for cannabis sales, while 43% use a generic retail POS system.
  • In states where cannabis is legal for both medical and recreational use, 72% of dispensaries use a POS system that is integrated with their seed-to-sale tracking system.

Dispensary POS System Security

  • Dispensary POS systems are highly regulated and must meet strict security and compliance standards to protect sensitive customer and business data.
  • The top security features of dispensary POS systems include encryption, user access controls, and audit trails for transaction history.
  • In the event of a security breach, 42% of dispensary owners reported that they would switch to a different POS system.

Trends in Dispensary POS Systems

  • Mobile and tablet-based POS systems are becoming increasingly popular among dispensaries, with 64% of dispensaries reporting that they use a mobile or tablet-based system.
  • Artificial intelligence and machine learning are being integrated into some dispensary POS systems to provide insights and analytics on sales data and customer behavior.

Table 2: Dispensary POS Systems Latest Statistics

StatisticsValues
Estimated contribution of cannabis businesses (2024)To the US economy
Increase in average store revenue (compared to Jan 2020)52%-130% (for more than 1,300 stores using Jane Technologies’ platform)
Increase in revenues (for stores using Jane Technologies’ platform) in Mar 202052%-130%
Average salary for cannabis workers10.7% higher than other US industry workers
Demand for jobs in the cannabis industry (Dec 2017-2018)As high as 76%
Average growth rate of jobs in the marijuana industry21% (from 2018 to 2023)
Percentage of Americans supporting the legalization of marijuana62% (legalization) / 66% (recreational use)
Percentage of Republican voters supporting federal legalization of cannabis54%
Women’s usage of cannabis compared to men53% (women tried) / 42% (men tried) / 6% (female respondents used daily)
Age RangePercentage of Cardholders
51-60 years23.06%
61+ yearsUnknown
Reason for Cannabis TreatmentPercentage
Chronic pain due to musculoskeletal disorders28.9%
Intractable skeletal spasticity15.3%
Type of ProductPercentage of Total Sales
Flower61.2%
Other Products38.8%
Type of ApplicationPercentage of Total Revenue
Commercial license applications64%
Patient applications36%
LocationNumber of Registered Patients
Puerto Rico92,499
Canada342,103
Type of UsePercentage
Treatment of pain85%
Stress relief and enjoying social experiences40%
Enhancing experiences33%
RevenuePercentage of Publicly Traded Cannabis Companies
Less than $5 millionMore than 85%
$25 million or greaterLess than 5%
Consumer BehaviorPercentage
Support legal cannabis55%
Prior experience with recreational cannabis74%
Prefer physical retail locations63%
Form of ConsumptionPercentage
Flower74%
Solid edibles44%
LegalizationPercentage of U.S. Population
Live in a state where marijuana has been legalized59%
Identified as “current users”13%
Risk ComparisonPercentage
Believe marijuana is less risky than alcohol70%
Believe marijuana is less risky than tobacco76%
CBDPercentage
Used for a specific medical condition62%
Used by Gen Z respondents11%

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