The cannabidiol (CBD) industry is booming — and it’s not slowing down. From corner smoke shops to major retailers, cannabidiol products are flying off shelves, with U.S. sales expected to reach $2.57 billion in 2025. But selling CBD isn’t like selling just any product — it comes with rules, risks, and serious rewards.
Whether launching a new store or adding CBD to your lineup, these six tips will teach you how to sell CBD legally, earn customer trust, and sidestep costly mistakes in this high-risk industry.
1. Understand the Laws in Your Area
CBD rules vary by state. While federal law allows the sale of hemp-derived CBD with less than 0.3% tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), state laws often add extra requirements on who can buy it, how it’s labeled, and where it’s displayed.
Before you stock your shelves:
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Confirm age limits: Set the minimum purchase age based on your state. Some states, like Alabama, Connecticut, and Hawaii, allow sales to customers 18 and older, while others, like Alaska, Georgia, and Maine, require buyers to be 21.
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Verify product labels: Check for THC/CBD levels, ingredients, batch numbers, and lab test information.
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Review product restrictions: Know what you can sell. Some states, like Colorado, New York, and Virginia, heavily restrict synthetic CBD or set THC limits that affect gummies and other edibles.
Check your state’s Department of Agriculture or Cannabis Control Board frequently. Regulations can change without much notice, and missing an update could put your business at risk.
2. Stock What Sells
CBD is sold in multiple forms, from vapes to gummies to drops. Use your point of sale (POS) system to track top sellers and trends so you always have high-demand products in stock.
Focus on the best-performing types:
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Highlight gummies and capsules: Offer pre-dosed options that attract first-time and casual buyers.
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Promote tinctures: Sell dropper bottles that customers can use under the tongue or mix into drinks.
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Feature fast-acting options: Stock different vapes, like disposables and cartridges, that deliver quick effects and appeal to repeat buyers.
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Display topicals: Recommend creams and balms for customers looking for targeted relief.
Select products with professional packaging and clearly-marked dosage information. Customers are more likely to purchase items that look easy to understand and reliable.
3. Choose Reputable Suppliers
You’re responsible for what you sell — that means working with suppliers who follow the rules and deliver safe, tested products.
Before you order:
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Request COAs: Verify that each product comes with a Certificate of Analysis (COA) from a third-party lab showing THC/CBD levels and purity.
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Check reputation: Look for consistent product quality, strong reviews, and a visible compliance history.
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Avoid risky vendors: Reject suppliers who make unproven health claims or refuse to share documentation like origin certificates or detailed ingredient lists.
Choosing an unreliable supplier can put your store at risk of fines or legal issues and damage your reputation.
4. Train Staff To Talk About CBD the Right Way
Your staff must understand how to speak about CBD within legal limits. They don’t need to be experts, but even a casual health claim can trigger serious consequences — from Federal Trade Commission (FTC) scrutiny to losing payment processing. One wrong statement can jeopardize your business.
Train your team to:
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Explain product types clearly: Make sure they can confidently describe isolate, broad-spectrum, and full-spectrum CBD so customers understand what they’re buying.
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Address psychoactive concerns directly: Reinforce that legal CBD doesn’t cause a high or impair users — misinformation here can lead to lost sales or customer complaints.
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Stick to the facts: Emphasize product features and usage instructions only. Even casually mentioning medical claims could draw regulatory attention.
Customers rely on your staff for accurate information. One misleading answer can cost you your reputation and even your store.
5. Set Up High-Risk Payment Processing
Even though CBD is legal in many places, banks and credit card processors still treat it as a high-risk category. That means not every POS system or merchant account is willing — or able — to handle your transactions.
Here’s how to protect your business from payment issues:
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Work with a processor that understands the industry: Look for providers experienced in CBD sales, like Zen Payments or Segpay, so you’re less likely to face account holds or delayed payouts.
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Keep detailed records: Record batch numbers, supplier details, and COAs to verify product quality and protect your store during chargebacks or inspections.
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Be upfront about what you sell: List your CBD products clearly so your provider can match you with the right risk category and offer more reliable support.
In CBD retail, payment processing is part of the front-line experience. Pick a system that handles high-risk volume reliably, so sales don’t stop when things get busy.
6. Promote Your Product Without Breaking the Rules
Marketing CBD products is not always straightforward. The FTC has strict rules on what you can and can’t say, and some platforms, like Google, Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook, limit or reject ads for CBD outright.
Market CBD legally with these tips:
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Skip restricted platforms: Consider nontraditional sites or advertising ideas, like podcast sponsorships, newsletters, or in-store QR codes that lead to product education pages.
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Focus on local reach: Connect with customers through in-store promos, loyalty programs, and direct email marketing.
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Use compliant language: In all marketing materials, use careful wording — for instance, “customers use this to relax after a long day” instead of “relieves anxiety or pain.”
Using alternative channels and avoiding medical claims helps your store stay visible without facing regulatory issues.
How To Sell CBD? Start With the Right Tools
Learning how to sell CBD means staying ahead of changing regulations, knowing which products are worth restocking, and choosing tools that don’t slow you down.
Cigars POS is built to handle it all. You get reliable card payment options made for high-risk categories, so transactions don’t get held up. Αge verification tools are part of the system, making ID checks fast and simple.
You also get real-time sales data and inventory tracking, so you know what’s selling and can reorder before your top products run out.
Make it easy to start selling CBD at your tobacco shop with our all-in-one solution. Try Cigars POS today to simplify marketing and checkout, and watch your sales soar.
