Retail & Brands

Rolling papers and wraps aren’t just a checkout-lane afterthought anymore. Specialty papers, artisanal wraps, and oversized cones have turned the category into a high-margin, story-driven add-on — especially for customers who want a sensory upgrade or a little ritual flair. From gold leaf papers to banana leaf and tea leaf wraps (plus customizable printed options), these picks sell best when merchandised like lifestyle items and bundled with elevated accessories.

Opening your first dispensary is a milestone. Scaling it — profitably, compliantly, and without burning out the team — is another challenge entirely. In cannabis, each new location behaves like a new regulated entity, with new approvals, licenses, and operational risk. This guide breaks down what retailers need before expansion: SOPs embedded into systems, consistent customer experience, portfolio-level reporting, disciplined inventory controls, and a tech stack that keeps every store compliant and visible as complexity grows.

At GreenPharms in Mesa, Arizona, cannabis shopping feels less like a counter transaction and more like a quick stop at the corner store. Customers grab a basket or cart, browse bright aisles, read labels, and compare products at their own pace, but budtenders remain available at the flower bar and checkout counter. Founder and CEO Marie Saloum spent two years navigating regulatory pushback to bring Arizona its first supermarket-style dispensary, and now she's planning a larger Phoenix flagship.

Beyond basic utility, the modern cannabis grinder has evolved into a precision-engineered tool and a luxury design object. From aerospace-grade aluminum and non-stick ceramic coatings to handcrafted exotic hardwoods, we explore the eight must-have grinders redefining retail inventory for 2026.

Zen Leaf operates dispensaries in 13 states, each shaped by different regulations, real estate constraints, and local culture. Instead of forcing a one-size-fits-all store model, the brand designs for consistency of experience: hospitality-led service, approachable education, and localized storytelling that still feels unmistakably Zen Leaf. Executive Vice President Robert Cohen explains how the company translates its “DNA and intention” across markets without losing the qualities that make cannabis retail feel human.

Retail veteran Aaron Dubois explores the shift from transactional efficiency to empathetic simplicity, offering a strategic playbook for brands to win over consumers in an increasingly crowded market.