When shopping online at a cannabis dispensary these days, it’s common to find interactive features right on the page—whether it’s a live-updated menu of available strains or a widget displaying your loyalty points. These handy features are called widgets, and they’re changing how cannabis shoppers find what they want.
But here’s what most people don’t realize: behind these sleek widgets are powerful web tools called React and Vue.js, which help developers build them quickly and customize them to each dispensary’s needs. If that sounds a bit technical, don’t worry—here’s how it works, in plain English.
What’s a Widget, Anyway?
A widget is like a mini-app that sits inside a webpage. Instead of boring lists of products, widgets bring websites to life—letting shoppers filter products by effects, read about terpene profiles, or see which strains are selling out fast. Widgets also keep customers on the page longer and make shopping more fun.
Meet React and Vue.js
To build these cannabis widgets, developers often choose React or Vue.js, two popular web frameworks that make building interactive websites easier and faster:
- React: Created by Facebook, it’s famous for breaking a website into small pieces called components. Each component can be reused or updated without affecting the rest of the site. This is perfect for widgets like menus or pop-ups that need to refresh often. Learn more at reactjs.org.
- Vue.js: Known for being beginner-friendly, Vue.js helps developers add interactive features without a lot of complicated code. Many developers love Vue for how quickly they can start building widgets. Visit vuejs.org.
How Widgets Are Made
- Plan the Widget’s Job
Will it display a rotating carousel of daily deals? Maybe show detailed strain info with THC and CBD levels? Developers first decide what the widget should do. - Set Up the Project
Developers start a new project with React or Vue.js, which creates the building blocks needed to write code, style the widget, and see live previews during development. - Create Components
Widgets are built piece by piece—like a strain card showing bud photos, or a price badge that updates if there’s a sale. - Connect to Live Data
The coolest part: widgets get real-time information from the dispensary’s inventory system or point-of-sale software. That’s why you see a strain go from “in stock” to “sold out” instantly. - Style and Animate
To match the dispensary’s branding, developers add colors, fonts, and even animations—like fade-ins or sliding menus—to make widgets engaging. - Test and Launch
Widgets are tested on different devices and browsers to ensure they look good everywhere. Once approved, they’re added to the dispensary’s website so customers can start using them.
Why It Matters
For cannabis businesses, custom widgets built with React and Vue.js turn plain websites into vibrant shopping experiences. Customers stay longer, learn more about products, and are more likely to return—because the experience feels fresh and interactive.
And for shoppers, it means you always get the latest info on what’s in stock, what’s on sale, and what new strains you might love.
Learn More
Interested in how tech is transforming cannabis retail? Visit CannabisTech or MJBizDaily Tech for more insights.