How to Open a Dispensary in Nevada

Are you thinking about opening a recreational cannabis dispensary in Nevada? Congratulations!

Nevada legalized adult-use cannabis on November 8, 2016, when voters passed the Regulation and Taxation of Marijuana Act (Ballot Question 2). Currently, 102 retail cannabis stores are open for business.

The Silver State’s adult-use program is administered by the Cannabis Compliance Board (CCB). While retail cannabis prices in Nevada are decreasing rapidly, total retail revenue has been relatively flat, suggesting stabilization, but not significant growth as in past years.

This guide will outline how to open a dispensary in Nevada, including information on licensing, financing, real estate, security, staffing, compliance, inventory, and your tech stack. However, the first step is to understand Nevada's cannabis laws.

Scroll through for a step-by-step process for opening a dispensary in Nevada, or use the links on the left to jump directly to your most pressing questions.

Disclaimer: Always consult your lawyer, accountant, realtor, and other trusted consultants to help you navigate the complexities of opening a cannabis dispensary. The information provided herein is designed to illustrate and educate, but is not to be construed as legal or financial advice.

Plan your Nevada cannabis business

The first step for aspiring dispensary owners in Nevada is understanding the application and licensing processes. The program is not currently accepting applications, but if you have goals to open an adult-use store in the state, now is the time to start learning and planning.

Potential dispensary owners will first need to understand the cannabis laws, create a formal business entity, write a business plan, find a location, and prepare to submit a license application.

Form a business entity

If you haven’t yet officially formed a business entity, that’s the first task. Work with a lawyer to ensure everything is correct, but at a minimum, you’ll need to decide whether you’re creating an LLC or corporation and file with the state of Nevada.

Once your business is established, you can get a tax ID number, open a business bank account at a cannabis-friendly bank or credit union, and decide on your business insurance needs, including general liability insurance, property insurance, workers’ compensation insurance, and product liability insurance.

Note: Every city, county, and state is different. You may have additional steps for taxes, licenses, or fees based on your business type and location.

Write a business plan

Cannabis is a complicated industry, with more compliance and legal considerations than other types of businesses. Having a rock-solid business plan can help ensure you are set up for success.

It may be tempting to skip this step, but your dispensary business plan, site plans, and operating plans must be submitted to the CCB as part of your application process.

A good business plan should include:

• The physical location of your dispensary

• Funding plan, or where your startup and ongoing capital will come from

• Sourcing plan for procuring your cannabis products

• Revenue projections

• Estimate or the actual number of employees, or who you’ll hire for what roles, and your dispensary org chart

• Diversity and equity plans

• Marketing plan

• Safety and security plan

• Technology plan, including which cannabis point-of-sale and compliance software you’ll use to manage your dispensary

• Any other relevant information you want to document

Find a location

Your dispensary location is a critical piece of the puzzle, but not an easy one. You’ll need something in a visible location, with ample parking, and enough space to achieve your ideal workflow.

A cannabis sales facility cannot be located within:​

• 1,500 feet of another cannabis sales facility.

• 1,000 feet of a public or private school that provides formal education traditionally associated with preschool or kindergarten through grade 12 and existed before the date on which the application for the proposed location was submitted.

• 300 feet of a community facility that existed before the date on which the application for the proposed location was submitted. “Community facility” may mean:

  • A facility that provides daycare to children.

  • A public park.

  • A playground.

  • A public swimming pool.

  • A center or facility, the primary purpose of which is to provide recreational opportunities or services to children or adolescents.

  • A church, synagogue or other building, structure or place used for religious worship or other religious purpose.

Local governments may impose additional zoning restrictions for cannabis businesses beyond the state’s regulations. Local governments in Nevada have the authority to regulate or prohibit the operation of cannabis businesses within their jurisdictions through zoning and land use regulations. For example, some areas have opted out of allowing cannabis consumption lounges.

Find a local real estate professional who specializes in cannabis real estate to help in your search. And use the public resources available to you, like city zoning and administration offices.

When looking for a location for your dispensary, focus on spaces that:

• Align with your business plan

• Are large enough to meet your needs

• Are in an appropriate location to serve foot traffic

• Have enough parking

• Have opportunities for expansion/growth

• Are within your budget

Don’t just look at monthly costs, but also factor in how much it’ll take to renovate or retrofit the space for your business needs. Finally, look at local competition (both existing and planned).

Many factors go into finding the perfect location for your retail dispensary. Take the time necessary to secure the best possible space to help ensure your success.

Secure funding

Now that you have a plan for your new recreational use dispensary, you can put together a clear budget and plan.

A cannabis business can generally expect expenses in these categories:

• Real estate and build-out - consider your initial costs, plus ongoing rent or mortgage. You’ll probably also have renovation expenses to start.

• Licensing/application fees - the cost of getting licensed to run a dispensary in Nevada. You’ll also need to plan for your renewal fees.

• Operational costs - your day-to-day business operating expenses including, but not limited to, utilities, business or professional fees, marketing, etc.

• Hardware, software, security, and other tech - many of these are monthly or annual subscriptions but may include more sizable startup costs.

• Staffing costs - the cost of hiring employees, including salaries, benefits, taxes, etc.

• Inventory costs - or the actual expense of sourcing and purchasing your cannabis products. You’ll need to have enough stock on your shelves for opening day and beyond.

• Taxes - cannabis businesses are heavily taxed and can’t participate in normal business write-offs like 280E, so plan ahead for your quarterly tax payments.

Do you have a plan for where this money will come from? As a cannabis entrepreneur, you have a few options for funding:

• Self-funding - the easiest option is to already have access to capital (acquired through legal means).

• Friends and family - another potentially easy way to meet dispensary capital requirements is through loans or investments from family and/or friends.

• Partners - many cannabis businesses are legally set up as partnerships, where each partner contributes something meaningful. Partners can be silent (they primarily serve as the funder), or active; both are great if they serve your needs. Check eligibility requirements to ensure your partnership meets the criteria to apply for a license.

• Loans - depending on your personal finances, you may be eligible for a loan to cover some (or all) of the upfront costs of opening a dispensary. You may also be able to secure a dispensary business loan, but be honest with your lender about how the funds will be used; not all financial institutions will work with cannabis businesses.

• Private funds - whether it’s private equity, angel investors, or venture capital, you may have to look to outside investors to fund your cannabis business. This option will decrease your ownership stake in your company.

• Crowdfunding - another less-popular but potentially viable option is to look to the general population to support your business venture.

• Brokers - cannabis-specific brokerage companies can help you find funding for startup expenses, equipment, and more. FundCanna is one option for Nevada dispensary businesses.

What does it cost to open a dispensary in Nevada?

Most sources suggest having between $250,000 – $1 million+ to open a dispensary. But that’s not all that helpful. Here’s a formula to give you a sense of what to expect. You can come back and fill in the details as you know your unique estimates.

Note: This estimate is for a single dispensary license. Other license types have separate fee schedules.

Application and licensing fees for cannabis retailers in Nevada = $25,000

• Dispensary application fee = $5,000

  • Due when the application is submitted.

  • This fee is non-refundable.

• Initial license fee = $20,000

  • Due upon licensing.

  • This fee is non-refundable.

• Renewal Fees = $5,000 every year

Real estate fees = $150,000

• Includes annual rent or mortgage premiums, plus upfront design costs.

• Will be higher in more expensive cities, like Las Vegas or Reno, or for larger remodels, or cheaper in more affordable areas of the state.

• Plan for higher costs up-front, but it’ll stabilize over time to just rent/mortgage and maintenance/repairs.

Employee salaries = $300,000

Your store size and operating procedures will determine how many initial staff members you’ll need, but plan for around six employees to start, including a manager, several budtenders, and an inventory specialist. This figure includes an average of $20/hour, plus overtime, benefits, etc.

If you plan to cover the cost of agent cards, budget for $150 per employee.

Professional fees and services = $50,000

This may decrease in future years, but to start, expect to pay for legal, financial, insurance, and other professional consulting fees to get your business started.

Security, hardware, and software = $50,000

This covers all network, security, hardware, and software for your business, including computers, TVs, printers, scanners, internet, and other software like POS, ecommerce, payments, etc.

After your initial investment, plan for at least $2,000 per month in recurring software expenses.

Marketing expenses = $100,000

Perhaps the most variable of your costs when opening a cannabis business, this factors in one full-time marketing staff person (or agency costs per year), plus costs for your website, ads, printing, etc. to promote the dispensary.

Cannabis products = $1,500 per pound

Your cost of products for opening day (plus ongoing stocking) will vary greatly based on your store size, number of SKUs, stock on hand, and supplier rates, but plan for an average of $1,500 per pound of cannabis products, including flower, edibles, vape cartridges, tinctures, topicals, lotions, capsules, beverages, prerolls, etc.

GRAND TOTAL = $675,000* (not including cannabis product inventory)

*Disclaimer: This is a rough estimate of the upfront and first-year costs of opening a cannabis dispensary in Nevada. It is to be used for informational and illustrative purposes only as every market, location, and business will have unique startup costs.

Apply for a Nevada recreational dispensary license

To open a dispensary in Nevada, you’ll need a license to be able to possess, sell, or deliver cannabis. ​The state is currently not taking applications for new retail stores.

How to get a dispensary license in Nevada

When an application period is open for adult-use establishments, here are some of the steps prospective dispensary owners would need to follow:

• Register for an account in Accela.
  • A tutorial document can be found here.
  • Video tutorials are available here.

• Create your application within Accela and upload all supporting documents. You’ll need to be ready with the following information:
  • Personal information of the applicant and all owners, officers, or board members, including address and date of birth. Each person will also have to submit fingerprints.
  • Information about the proposed cannabis establishment includes the legal business name, tax ID, physical address, and contact information.
  • Evidence that you, the applicant, control liquid assets in an amount determined by the Board to be sufficient to cover the initial expenses of opening the proposed establishment.
  • Evidence that you own the property on which the proposed establishment will be located, or have written permission from the property owner.
  • Operating procedures, including a security plan to show adequate security measures and the use of an inventory control system.
  • Attestations that the owners, officers, and board members qualify for a Nevada cannabis license.
• Submit your application and pay the fee. An application will be considered incomplete and cannot be submitted until all the required information has been supplied. Additional documents may be required to be submitted after submission, before approval.
• Licenses are conditional until local approval has been obtained. Conditional license holders are granted 12 months to obtain required approvals and a final inspection by the Board. Extensions are permitted in certain circumstances.
• Upon final approval, you’ll pay the license fee and pass the final inspections before opening for business.

Note: The process for obtaining a medical dispensary license is separate.

Design your Nevada dispensary

Dispensary design isn’t just about where your dispensary is, or what it looks like. It’s how your shoppers experience your brand.

Here’s a short list of your considerations for in-store design and layout:

• How customers will move throughout the store

• Whether they will pay at a terminal, handheld device, or kiosk

• Whether there are different pathways for in-store vs. online orders

• How your products will be displayed/showcased

• Your brand elements and design

• Use of entry or waiting room space

• Security concerns about doorways

• Where secure inventory is stored (both on the floor, if applicable, and in a vault)

• Where staff will stand and work

• Breakroom or safe staff area

• Bathrooms

Nevada also has several specific requirements that may impact how your dispensary looks and functions:

• A cannabis establishment shall not dispense or otherwise sell cannabis or cannabis products from a vending machine or allow such a vending machine to be installed at the interior or exterior of the premises of the cannabis establishment.

• A cannabis sales facility may engage in curbside pickup per the regulations adopted by the Board.

• The signage for a cannabis establishment:
  • must not be illuminated at any time.​
  • must not contain any moving parts.​
  • must comply with any applicable local governmental ordinances or rules regarding signs or advertising.

• No cannabis or cannabis products can be visible from outside of the establishment.

• Hours of Operation must be posted in a place that can be viewed by persons entering the facility.

• The following signs must be visible within the facility:
  • “No minors permitted on the premises unless the minor holds a letter of approval and is accompanied by a designated primary caregiver”
  • “No on-site or public consumption of any cannabis or cannabis products”
  • “Distribution to persons under the age of 21 is prohibited”
  • “Except for medical cannabis patients, possession of over 1 ounce of usable cannabis, a cannabis product containing more than 3,543 milligrams of THC or a combination of the two which exceeds the legal limit is prohibited”
  • “Transportation of cannabis or cannabis products across state lines is prohibited.”

🤔🏬 Take the Store Layouts Quiz to find the perfect layout for your dispensary.

Create a safe and secure Nevada dispensary

Safety and security must always be top-of-mind for dispensaries. The following security measures shall be implemented to prevent unauthorized entry, protect products and currency, and safeguard employees:

• All cannabis establishments must have an operable security system/equipment/device to deter and prevent unauthorized intrusion.

• Security surveillance systems must provide for immediate automatic or electronic notification to alert local law enforcement of unauthorized interior breaches of security.

• Cannabis establishments must have an operable electronic monitoring system that can be accessed remotely by law enforcement with the following:

  • One (1) call-up monitor that is 55 inches or larger

  • Printer capable of immediately producing a clear still photo from any video camera view

  • Video coverage of all entrances/exit, vault, and point of sale areas with a recording resolution of at least 1920 x 1080; 15 frames per second 24 hours a day

  • Video coverage of all limited access and activity adjacent to the establishment with a recording resolution of at least 720x480; 15 frames per second 24 hours a day

  • Video camera with the capability of recording in low light conditions

  • A method for storing video recordings for a minimum of 30 calendar days in a secure off-site location or through a service or network that provides on-demand access to the recordings

  • A portable, external drive immediately available to store a minimum of seven (7) days (168 hours) of video from a minimum of seven (7) cameras

  • A failure notification system that provides audible and visual notification

  • Sufficient battery backup for video cameras and recording equipment for a minimum of five (5) minutes

• Security video cameras must generate and reflect the correct date and time, which does not significantly obstruct the recording view.

• Security video cameras must be installed in a manner that prevents obstructed recording views.

• Cannabis establishments must have video coverage of all limited access and activity adjacent to the establishment.

• Cannabis establishments must have video coverage of all exterior entrances/exits.

Hire and retain qualified dispensary employees

Now that you’re getting closer to opening day, it’s time to hire and train your dispensary employees. This team is vital to the success of your dispensary.

First, create your dispensary org chart. Based on your business plan, location, store design, and vision, what role are you going to play in the day-to-day operations and what additional staff do you need? What is the hierarchy? What benefits will you offer? And do you have the funds to pay your staff appropriately?

As a starting point, you’ll need someone to manage your store, budtenders or cannabis sales associates to serve customers and fulfill orders, someone to greet your shoppers (and secure the entryway), security, and someone to manage inventory and/or compliance. Based on the size and complexity of your business, you might need more or fewer people on your team.

Be sure to understand Nevada's ordinances around hiring and staffing and follow all requirements, both specific to cannabis brands, and general hiring/staffing rules. These could include obtaining licensure for cannabis employees, processing fingerprints and background checks, age requirements, and mandating attendance of certification training, payroll taxes, at-will parameters, and more.

For example, there are limitations on who can work for or volunteer at a cannabis business in Nevada:

• Must be 21 years or older.

• Cannot have been convicted of an excluded felony offense.

• Applicant is compliant with any order or plan for repayment of child support.

All Nevada employees, contractors, volunteers, owners, officers, and board members of a cannabis business must always carry a current registered Agent Card while at a facility. Agent cards cost $150 per category and are valid for 2 years.

Understand compliance

Understanding Nevada cannabis laws and how to stay compliant is critical to opening a dispensary. You can be charged fees or forced to shut down if you don't maintain compliance.

Dispensaries cannot sell or give away cannabis or cannabis products to anyone under the age of twenty-one. Valid identification and proof of age is required.

As a reminder, adults 21 years and older in Nevada can legally possess cannabis in the following amounts:

• Up to 2.5 ounces of cannabis

• Up to 1/4 of an ounce of concentrated cannabis (the separated resin, whether crude or purified, obtained from cannabis)

The Seed-to-Sale Tracking program chosen by the DCC is Metrc. Metrc offers a wealth of education and training for new and prospective dispensary owners. We recommend attending those trainings and taking advantage of the Nevada-specific resources provided by Metrc.

Cannabis stores in Nevada are required to track all adult-use cannabis and cannabis products at every stage of their lifecycle. This includes all transportation to the store, up until the point of being sold to a customer, delivered to a testing facility, or disposed of/destroyed.

It’s imperative that licensees not only use Metrc to its full ability but integrate it with their POS and inventory management software to ensure compliance. Flowhub can meet all the state’s requirements for product intake and control. We’ll talk more about your software vendors in a moment.

Non-compliance may be grounds for a penalty or the surrender, suspension, revocation, or non-renewal of licenses.

Source and intake cannabis products

Now’s when things really start getting fun: ordering and receiving your product! If you don’t also have a cultivation license, you’ll need to find cannabis growers, manufacturers, and/or distributors to supply your store.

In Nevada, you are allowed to sell plant material and seeds, clones, extracts, drops, lozenges, oils, tinctures, edibles, patches, smoking or combustible products, vaporization of products, beverages, pills, capsules, suppositories, oral pouches, oral strips, oral and topical sprays, salves, lotions or similar cosmetic products, and inhalers.

As you look for suppliers in Nevada, there are several things to keep in mind:

• What products they carry (think about your product mix)

• The taste and quality of the products

• Prices (including the ability to negotiate bulk discounts)

• Fulfillment (how they get products to you and when)

• Testing processes and results

• Reliability (will they run out suddenly, stop communicating, etc.)

• Process for placing orders and overall organization

You also need to ensure your suppliers are licensed facilities, as you cannot order supplies from unlicensed distributors, and are in good standing with the state. All products must comply with packaging, label, and testing requirements.

Intake and store inventory

Now that your inventory is starting to arrive at your store for opening day, you must “intake” those products the right way.

Once your cannabis products arrive, you must “intake” them into your store in a specific way to remain compliant with Metrc. Before you can bring physical inventory into your store, you must receive and review a manifest. The manifest is created by the supplier — which will either be you or other cannabis companies.

The manifest includes the harvest, weight, unit of measure, cost, etc. of the product.

You must review the manifest, and if everything is correct, accept it. When the package comes in, you'll physically inspect the package, and make sure it’s exactly as ordered.

You then accept it in Metrc, which tells Metrc that you are in legal possession of this inventory.

Now you can stock your shelves and sell the product. But you’ll also need to develop SOPs for intaking and auditing your inventory.

Pro tip: Use this 📝 Inventory Intake SOP to document your processes!

Packaging and label requirements

All cannabis products must be produced, packaged, and labeled in a manner that protects public health and is not attractive to children.

Each cannabis establishment in Nevada shall, in consultation with the Board, cooperate to ensure that all cannabis and cannabis products:

• Are labeled clearly and unambiguously as cannabis with the words “THIS PRODUCT CONTAINS CANNABIS” and “KEEP OUT OF REACH OF CHILDREN” in bold type

• Are enclosed in opaque, child-resistant packaging upon sale

• Are not presented in packaging that contains an image of a cartoon character, mascot, action figure, balloon, or toy, except that such an item may appear in the logo of the cannabis production facility that produced the product

• Are packaged and labeled in such a manner as to allow tracking by way of an inventory control system

• Are not packaged and labeled in a manner that is modeled after a brand of products primarily consumed by or marketed to children

• Are labeled in a manner that indicates the net weight of the product, the amount of THC in the product, measured in milligrams, and includes a statement that the product contains cannabis and its potency was tested with an allowable variance of the amount determined by the Board by regulation.

• Are not labeled or marketed as candy.

• Are labeled with:

  • A list of all ingredients

  • A list of all major food allergens

  • Any other information the Board may require by regulation

• An adult-use edible cannabis product or cannabis-infused product must be labeled to indicate the number of servings of THC in the product, measured in servings of a maximum of 10 milligrams per serving.

• Are labeled with a Nevada universal cannabis symbol approved by the board to indicate that the product contains cannabis.

Note: All packaging must be pre-approved by Board staff. Only licensed establishments or their designees may request approval for packaging. For additional guidance, email auditinspections@ccb.nv.gov.

Additionally, a cannabis sales facility shall convey to each purchaser of cannabis or cannabis products the following information in a manner prescribed by the Board:

• To keep cannabis and cannabis products out of the reach of children

• That cannabis products can cause severe illness in children

• That allowing children to ingest cannabis or cannabis products or storing cannabis or cannabis products in a location that is accessible to children may result in an investigation by an agency that provides child welfare services or criminal prosecution for child abuse or neglect

• That the intoxicating effects of edible cannabis products may be delayed by 2 hours or more and users of edible cannabis products should initially ingest a small amount of the product, then wait at least 120 minutes before ingesting any additional amount of the product

• That pregnant women should consult with a physician before ingesting cannabis or cannabis products

• That ingesting cannabis or cannabis products with alcohol or other drugs, including prescription medication, may result in unpredictable levels of impairment and that a person should consult with a physician before doing so

• That cannabis or cannabis products can impair concentration, coordination, and judgment and a person should not operate a motor vehicle while under the influence of cannabis or cannabis products

• That ingestion of any amount of cannabis or cannabis products before driving may result in criminal prosecution for driving under the influence

Choose your network, hardware, and cannabis tech stack

Your technology stack is crucial to success as a cannabis business owner. Some are must-haves for compliance, like your security system and cannabis point-of-sale, while others are important to differentiate your store and create a great customer experience.

Here are some of the technology solutions you may want for your dispensary:

• Network

• Hardware

  • Printers (both letter-sized and receipts)

  • TVs

  • Cash drawers

  • Computers (for staff work, like inventory)

  • Tablets or terminals

  • Barcode scanners

• Software

  • POS

  • Ecommerce

  • Compliant payment provider for non-cash transactions

  • Digital menus

  • Kiosks

  • Loyalty programs

  • CRM

  • HR/Payroll tools

  • Accounting software

  • Analytics software

  • Social media management and monitoring

  • Website

  • Mobile app

You don’t need to invest in every possible cannabis-specific technology solution. But be sure to invest in tools that will help you achieve your sales goals, stay compliant, and satisfy modern shoppers.

📖 See the complete list of top cannabis companies for your dispensary tech stack.

Remember: While non-cannabis-specific tools exist, they often can’t handle the complexities of the cannabis industry, such as compliance and inventory management. Be sure to thoroughly vet every potential partner to ensure that they can handle your actual needs.

📖 Read the Guide to Cannabis Tech Software for a complete list of top cannabis companies for your dispensary tech stack.

Market your dispensary

Ok, your store is ready, the team is trained, and you have inventory. Now you need to get the word out that your dispensary is opening soon.

Cannabis businesses notoriously have more challenges with marketing than traditional brands because of stigma, regulations, and the federal illegality of cannabis. But there are still many marketing tactics you can use to promote your new dispensary.

1. Develop a beautiful, functional dispensary website. Enabling online ordering through your website is a great way to appeal to digital-friendly shoppers. Note: Your website must have an age affirmation.

2. Fine-tune your social media presence (though be careful with what you post!).

3. Consider events to attract new customers to your store.

If you're opening a dispensary in Nevada, you must understand the restrictions on advertising, marketing, and signage for cannabis businesses. Nevada Cannabis Compliance Regulation (NCCR) 1.052 defines advertise and advertising as “an attempt by written, electronic, or graphic representation to promote a company and/or company products or services.”

Here are the specifics:

• A cannabis establishment shall not engage in advertising that contains any statement or illustration that:

  • Is false or misleading

  • Promotes overconsumption of cannabis or cannabis products

  • Depicts the actual consumption of cannabis or cannabis products

  • Depicts a child or other person who is less than 21 years of age consuming cannabis or cannabis products or objects suggesting the presence of a child

• A cannabis establishment shall not engage in advertising that in any way makes cannabis or cannabis products appeal to children, including, without limitation, advertising that uses an image of a cartoon character, mascot, action figure, balloon, fruit, or toy.

• Cannabis establishments shall not advertise in any publication or on radio, television, or any other medium if 30 percent or more of the audience of that medium is reasonably expected to be persons less than 21 years of age.

• Advertisements may not be placed:

  • Within 1,000 feet of a public or private school, playground, public park, or library

  • On or inside of a motor vehicle used for public transportation or any shelter for public transportation

  • At a sports event to which persons who are less than 21 years of age are allowed entry

  • At an entertainment event if it is reasonably estimated that 30 percent or more of the persons who will attend that event are less than 21 years of age

  • On or in any publicly owned or operated property.

• If a cannabis establishment engages in advertising for which it is required to determine the percentage of persons who are less than 21 years of age and who may reasonably be expected to view or hear the advertisement, the cannabis establishment shall maintain documentation for not less than 5 years after the date on which the advertisement is first broadcasted, published or otherwise displayed that demonstrates the manner in which the cannabis establishment determined the reasonably expected age of the audience for that advertisement.

• Cannabis or cannabis products cannot be advertised or offered as “free” or “donated” without a purchase.

• Cannabis establishment signage has the following restrictions:

  • The signage for a cannabis establishment must not be illuminated at any time.​

  • The signage must not contain any moving parts.​

  • The signage must comply with any applicable local governmental ordinances or rules regarding signs or advertising.​

• All advertisements must include the following warnings:

  • “Keep out of reach of children”

  • “For use only by adults 21 years of age and older.

Tip!: Pre-approval of advertising is no longer required by the CCB, but you may request reviews from board staff to ensure your advertising meets regulations. Civil penalties may be issued for advertising that does not comply.

How to choose a cannabis retail POS system

Your cannabis point-of-sale system is the single most important tool in your stack. It is the central driver for compliance, inventory management, and customer satisfaction.

Every POS option is a little bit different—and not all work in every state—so be sure to do your homework before signing that dotted line.

Here are 10 tips for choosing marijuana retail software.

What to look for in a cannabis POS:

1. State compliance tracking: State reporting (in Nevada's case, Metrc) is why software is so important. Look for an API integration that manages this all seamlessly to save you time and provide peace of mind.

2. Hardware compatibility: As mentioned above, make sure the software and hardware you choose are compatible. Pick a cloud-based software that doesn’t restrict hardware options so that you don’t incur any additional hardware costs or have to change hardware if you change point-of-sale systems later.

3. Customer support: Your ability to get up and running quickly is important, but getting your questions answered long-term is just as vital. As you look at different software, ask about the level of support you’ll receive.

4. Ease of use: Software that fuels your medical marijuana or adult-use retail stores must be easy and intuitive and staff need to learn it quickly. Pay attention to how the system functions and whether you think it’ll make your staff more productive.

5. Inventory management: You have requirements for managing inventory, as mentioned earlier. Make sure the POS you choose has all the capabilities you need (and then some).

6. Built-in compliance: Software isn’t just important for compliance related to state reporting (like Metrc), it also should help you stay compliant with state laws, such as purchase limits. Make sure the software you choose has built-in safeguards that address your market-specific needs.

7. Discrepancy reporting: Your Metrc inventory, physical inventory, and point-of-sale inventory must always be aligned. If there is a discrepancy, you need to know about it and how to resolve it. Your software should include built-in tools to help you identify and resolve inventory discrepancies.

8. Activity tracking: The cannabis industry has more loss and theft than others, so it’s important to see what employee made what actions, and when those actions occurred, like making a sale, opening a drawer, moving inventory, etc.

9. Open API and integrations: Is the software compatible with other vendors? It’s important to consider integrations, especially if you’re interested in online menus, delivery, loyalty programs, or other technology offered by partners.

10. Specialization: Consider the best software for each part of your business. If you have marijuana cultivation facilities, manufacturing facilities, and cannabis retail operations, it’ll be tempting to pick one software for it all. Better visibility is tempting—you can’t deny that—but all software is best at one thing. If you choose one for all, it means you’ll be putting the other two parts of your business at a disadvantage. Instead, look for vendors who integrate seamlessly.

Need help opening your dispensary?

Opening a dispensary in Nevada is an exciting opportunity, but with limited licenses, competition is steep.

If you have any remaining questions about opening a dispensary in Nevada, our team of cannabis retail experts would be happy to support your journey.

Book a meeting with Flowhub to chat!