For cannabis retailers, 4/20 is more than just a celebration — it’s the Super Bowl of cannabis sales. With crowds surging and product flying off shelves, dispensaries often see their highest sales volume of the year. But while the excitement is high, so are the operational risks. One of the biggest culprits that can derail a smooth 4/20? Point-of-sale (POS) bottlenecks.
Whether it’s a POS system crash, slow transaction speeds, or long lines killing the vibe, retailers agree: if your POS can’t keep up, you lose money and customer trust. We spoke to several retail operators who’ve weathered the 4/20 rush to uncover their top strategies for avoiding POS meltdowns on cannabis’s biggest holiday.
1. Stress-Test Your POS Early
Retail operators unanimously recommend testing POS systems under simulated stress conditions well before 4/20. “We set up a mock holiday rush the week before,” said a general manager at a Miami dispensary. “We bring in staff for training and run live orders at high volume to see if our system holds up.”
This helps identify potential lag issues, failed syncs, or system update conflicts that could sabotage your busiest day.
2. Leverage Pre-Ordering and Express Pickup
Many dispensaries now offer online pre-orders with in-store or curbside pickup to alleviate front-of-house pressure. “We promote pre-ordering for two weeks leading into 4/20,” said a Las Vegas operator. “It not only spreads out the flow but allows us to prep orders ahead of time so POS usage is more controlled.”
With the right eCommerce-POS integration, like Jane or Dutchie, these orders sync seamlessly into inventory and register queues, reducing walk-in chaos.
3. Add Temporary POS Stations
Operators often increase the number of active terminals just for the holiday. This might include deploying handheld devices, tablet registers, or mobile carts for cash-only orders.
“A few years ago, we brought in two mobile iPad registers connected to our main POS via Wi-Fi,” said a Phoenix-based manager. “It let us ring out pre-rolls and edibles fast while keeping the main counter focused on large baskets.”
4. Integrate Line-Busting Staff
Retailers also rely on line-busting — having floor staff equipped with tablets or scanners to take early orders, answer questions, or even complete transactions in line.
“When your team is mobile and POS is cloud-based, it gives you flexibility,” said one Chicago-based operator. “We cut wait times in half last year just by shifting our salespeople from static positions to mobile ones.”
5. Ensure Cash Compatibility
Cash remains king in many cannabis markets, but it also causes backups if not properly managed. Operators advise prepping tills with extra change, using smart safes, and placing ATMs strategically.
Also, integrating cashless options like PIN debit or ACH-based platforms such as CanPay can ease congestion. “Even shifting 20% of customers to card helped reduce the burden on our front desk,” said a dispensary manager in Denver.
6. Monitor Systems in Real Time
Operators advise assigning a dedicated tech or manager to monitor system performance throughout the day. “Someone should be watching the dashboards, flagging slowdowns, and escalating issues instantly,” advised a compliance officer in California. “You can’t afford to be reactive on 4/20 — you have to be proactive.”
Final Hit: Prepare Like It’s a Marathon, Not a Sprint
4/20 can be chaotic, but with the right preparation, it can also be a record-setting day. By tightening up your POS game, preparing backup plans, and streamlining your customer flow, you won’t just survive the rush — you’ll dominate it.
Because when your system runs as smooth as your top-shelf flower, everybody wins.