Where is Cannabis Legal in North America in 2026?
By Dayna Van Buskirk on June 6, 2025
For the first time in over a hundred years, more Americans have access to legal, recreational cannabis than those who do not. This recent shift has been five decades in the making, starting from a pivotal change in drug policy in the 70s and culminating in the proposed rescheduling of …
Customer Spotlight: How The Happy Camper Keeps Customers Smiling in North Carolina
By Dayna Van Buskirk on May 28, 2025
We’ve seen a lot in the cannabis retail industry over the years, but North Carolina’s The Happy Camper has to be one of the most interesting and unique operations we’ve had the pleasure of partnering with.
Cannabis Retail AI: What’s Real, What’s Next, and Why Business Intelligence Still Matters
By Dayna Van Buskirk on May 14, 2025
From chatbots and personalized recommendations to automated inventory management, artificial intelligence (AI) is everywhere these days. In the cannabis industry, the buzz around AI is growing stronger; but what AI applications are actually available for dispensary owners right now, a …
Metrc Illinois: A Retailer’s Guide to Transitioning from BioTrack
By Dave Emmett on May 7, 2025
Change is in the air in Illinois’ cannabis market. The Prairie State is transitioning from BioTrack to Metrc as its official seed-to-sale traceability system, which will impact all licensed cannabis businesses – particularly dispensaries. In this blog, we’ll outline the key difference …
Customer Spotlight: How Mood Cannabis Sets the Right Tone with Every Transaction
By Dayna Van Buskirk on April 28, 2025
When Cory Waldron launched Mood Cannabis Co. in Nanaimo, BC, he knew that building a great cannabis retail experience hinged on more than just having the right products. With a focus on providing customers top-notch service and locally grown, small-batch BC cannabis, Mood needed a poi …
420 Cannabis Retail Sales 2025 Infographic: How the Holiday Long Weekend Impacted 420
By Faai Steuer on April 23, 2025
420 2025 is officially in the books – and in keeping with Cova tradition, we’re breaking down the retail stats and figures from the cannabis industry’s most anticipated sales day of the year. —and this year we’ve both expanded and gone deeper with our analysis.
BioTrack POS-Traceability Integration: What Every New York Cannabis Retailer Needs to Know
By Jesse Wexler on April 10, 2025
It’s finally, slowly happening: Long after the state’s first legal adult use cannabis sale in December 2022, New York is implementing its official seed-to-sale traceability system. According to the state’s Office of Cannabis Management, licensed retailers are required to secure an ele …
New Brunswick: A Case Study in Canada’s Thriving Cannabis Industry
By Dayna Van Buskirk on April 3, 2025
New Brunswick’s cannabis market has seen a tremendous transformation since legalization in 2018. Initially structured as a fully government-run model with Cannabis New Brunswick (CNB) as the sole retailer, the province has since shifted to a hybrid system that includes private retaile …
Customer Spotlight: WestCanna’s Winding Retail Journey from Legacy to Legal
By Dayna Van Buskirk on March 21, 2025
As a professional fighter, Ali Wasuk knows a thing or two about stress. The nagging aches and chronic inflammation that plague mixed martial arts fighters are what pushed Ali to try CBD a decade ago. As he recalls, the difference was night and day – and was one of the main catalysts t …
Mastering Cannabis Dispensary SEO: 28 Actionable Tips to Boost Online Visibility
By Dayna Van Buskirk on February 6, 2025
Cannabis retailers are in a tricky spot. On one hand, the cannabis industry is more mainstream than ever, and the customer base continues to grow by the day. On the other hand, restrictive advertising regulations mean you can’t market your dispensary in the same ways as a regular reta …
Cannabis Dispensary Staffing Guide: How to Find and Hire Your Retail Dream Team
By Faai Steuer on February 3, 2025
To build a successful cannabis retail business, you need a few key ingredients: a strategic location, quality product, and a top-tier team. Hiring the right employees to staff your dispensary is crucial for smooth operations, satisfied customers, and compliance with strict regulations …
Top Cannabis Consultants in the United States and Canada
By Dayna Van Buskirk on January 27, 2025
If you’re new to the industry — or new to running a cannabis retail outfit — it can take years of careful planning and execution to build a successful cannabis business. But you can cut that time in half (or more) by seeking the help of a cannabis consultant. These industry veterans h …