The cannabis industry has embraced digital transformation with fervor, and nowhere is this more apparent than in e-commerce. But while the user interface gets much of the attention, the technology stack underneath is what ultimately determines whether your online dispensary can scale, stay compliant, and deliver the kind of seamless experience today’s customers expect. Choosing the right tech stack is one of the most critical decisions for any cannabis retailer — and with multiple solutions vying for market share, the competition is fierce.
Open-Source Platforms vs. Proprietary Solutions
One major decision point is whether to build your e-commerce site on open-source platforms like Magento Open Source or WooCommerce, or go with cannabis-specific proprietary solutions such as Dutchie Ecommerce, Dispense, or Jane Technologies.
Open-source platforms give dispensaries total control and the flexibility to add features or connect to almost any third-party service. However, they require development expertise and ongoing maintenance, which can be a barrier for smaller operations. Conversely, proprietary cannabis e-commerce platforms offer turnkey solutions purpose-built for compliance, tax calculation, delivery integrations, and age verification, but they often lock businesses into specific ecosystems and fee structures.
Headless Commerce vs. Monolithic Systems
Another key battleground is between headless and monolithic architectures. Headless commerce decouples the front-end experience from the back-end, giving cannabis brands the ability to fully customize how customers browse, shop, and interact with products. Solutions like Commerce Layer or Shopify’s Hydrogen framework are pushing headless adoption forward in mainstream e-commerce, and cannabis companies are starting to follow suit.
Meanwhile, monolithic systems bundle everything together in a single platform, simplifying management but limiting flexibility. Platforms like Cova’s eCommerce integrate directly with their POS system, providing dispensaries with unified product catalogs, inventory syncing, and compliance reporting, but with far less control over design and UX.
Integration with Cannabis POS and Compliance
Whatever stack you choose, seamless integration with cannabis point-of-sale systems and compliance tools is non-negotiable. Solutions like LeafLogix and Flowhub offer built-in integrations with their own e-commerce platforms or partner solutions, syncing menus in real time with inventory and automatically reporting to state systems like Metrc. In contrast, generic e-commerce platforms may require costly custom middleware or risk data mismatches that can trigger compliance violations.
Security and Payments
Given the cash-heavy nature of cannabis retail, payment processing remains a challenge, and your tech stack needs to accommodate secure, compliant payment solutions. Providers like Aeropay and KindTap integrate with many cannabis-specific platforms, while others require manual workarounds. Additionally, cannabis retailers must prioritize data security by ensuring their stack is PCI-compliant and uses modern security protocols such as TLS 1.2+ for all transactions.
Final Thoughts
The cannabis e-commerce ecosystem is rapidly evolving, and the right tech stack can make or break a retailer’s ability to attract and retain customers. Open-source or proprietary, headless or monolithic — every approach has trade-offs in control, cost, and compliance. Retailers should evaluate their long-term goals, budget, and technical capabilities before committing to a stack, and always partner with technology providers who understand the unique regulatory landscape of the cannabis industry.
Related read: Maximizing Impact: The Most Effective Ways to Display Cannabis Menus In-Store and Online