Gary Cohen

Gary Cohen is the CEO of Cova, the most trusted cannabis POS brand in North America. Having met with nearly 2000 dispensary operators from coast to coast, he leverages expert knowledge to offer cannabis retailers the support they need to get a license, pass inspection, launch a store, assess tech tools, and scale operations. Gary leads seminars on retail technology, compliance, business operations, and cannabis banking laws at the industry’s largest events including NCIA, CannaCon, and MJBizCon.

Posts by Gary Cohen

Cannabis Retail License Application - California

By Gary Cohen on Mar 29, 2018 12:00:00 AM

When applying for a marijuana retail license in California, you are required to provide foundational business documents, operational procedures, and location details. In addition to these essentials, don’t forget to look over the caveats of the application process as they may apply to …

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Keeping Up with Cannabis Retail Licensing in British Columbia

By Gary Cohen on Mar 19, 2018 12:00:00 AM

Summer is fast approaching, and for cannabis-consuming Canadians, that means one thing: legal non-medical marijuana sales will soon commence. And despite the recent news that legal cannabis sales will likely begin in August or September and not July as originally anticipated, would-be …

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How to Reduce the 280E Burden at Your Cannabis Retail Operation

By Gary Cohen on Mar 14, 2018 12:00:00 AM

It’s everybody’s favorite time of year again – tax time! Cue eye roll. Taxes are pretty much the bane of every business owner’s existence. But cannabis retailers carry a tax burden that is significantly more substantial than traditional retail businesses.

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How Cannabis Dispensary Sales Will Be Conducted in Canada

By Gary Cohen on Feb 8, 2018 12:00:00 AM

Canada is just a few short months away from becoming the largest nation in the world to legalize the sale and use of recreational marijuana. Not only does this represent a monumental step forward for advocates of legalized cannabis, it also means massive opportunity for marijuana-mind …

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How to Strategically Merchandise Your Cannabis Dispensary

By Gary Cohen on Feb 6, 2018 12:00:00 AM

If you’re a cannabis dispensary owner or manager and you haven’t given any thought to your dispensary merchandising strategy, you’re definitely not maximizing customer experience. And what’s worse is you’re probably not maximizing sales, either.

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7 Signs You're Using the Wrong Cannabis Dispensary POS System

By Gary Cohen on Jan 2, 2018 12:00:00 AM

If you own or manage a cannabis retail venture and have invested in a marijuana-specific point of sale (POS) system, you’ve made a smart decision. Cannabis dispensary POS is advantageous over a traditional point of sale for several reasons—the most important of which is the ability to …

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Topics: Operations

5 Must-Visit Cannabis Dispensaries in California - Santa Ana

By Gary Cohen on Dec 28, 2017 12:00:00 AM

Santa Ana is a gem nestled in Orange County, CA, a popular location that boasts great weather, plenty of attractions, and cannabis retail locations galore!

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5 Must-See Cannabis Dispensaries in California -  San Jose

By Gary Cohen on Dec 6, 2017 12:00:00 AM

We’re practically counting down until January 1, when recreational cannabis sales will be legal in the state of California. One of the more populated areas of the state is right in the heart of Silicon Valley, where the cannabis industry is sure to be a huge success.

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Why You Need Dispensary Software at Your California Operation

By Gary Cohen on Dec 4, 2017 12:00:00 AM

With California’s cannabis market set to explode, entrepreneurs across the state are preparing for their piece of the action. Business owners of all stripes are looking to leverage their experience and expertise in other trades in the burgeoning cannabis industry.

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5 Northern California Cannabis Retailers You Must Visit

By Gary Cohen on Nov 22, 2017 12:00:00 AM

The countdown to recreational cannabis sales in California has commenced. Come January 1 the legal framework will be up and running and cannabis retailers across the state will join Colorado, Washington, Nevada and Oregon in the green rush. If you reside in California, consider yourse …

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