With the cannabis industry going mainstream and witnessing a 4.8% growth rate in global spending at $32 billion in 2022, e-commerce has become an essential facet for cannabis retail activities. No doubt!
But despite its legal sale status and recognized medicinal advantages, not every website platform supports cannabis businesses. And the ones that do have specific guidelines that every cannabis brand must strictly follow.
This poses a significant hurdle for brands, making it challenging for genuine businesses to establish a robust online presence necessary to stay competitive. Since the e-commerce landscape is vast, finding the right platform for your cannabis business can be a daunting task.
But we’ve done the heavy lifting for you by researching and listing the best ecommerce platforms for cannabis business. So let’s dive in!
But we’ve done the heavy lifting for you by researching and listing the e-commerce platforms that best suit your cannabis business. So let’s dive in!
1. WordPress (WooCommerce)
The latest report from SEJ says that globally, 39.5% of websites use WordPress, which clearly shows its efficacy. It stands as one of the premier CMS platforms, enabling users to build top-tier websites for free or at a minimal cost.
The platform not only boasts a collection of free templates but also offers premium templates to enhance your site’s functionality and distinctiveness. Furthermore, WordPress is user-friendly, even for those without technical expertise. This ensures you can effortlessly update the website’s content post-launch.
Features:
Pros
Cons
When to use WordPress:
2. Shopify
Shopify is a prominent e-commerce platform for facilitating the sale of CBD products. Shopify doesn’t directly ban the sale of CBD items, but it refrains from processing CBD-related payments.
However, speaking of Thailand specifically, e-commerce transactions often rely on mobile banking and cash-on-delivery (COD) methods, which are not integratable with international payment platforms.
Therefore, running a cannabis business online in Thailand doesn’t necessarily require the integration of third-party payment providers that primarily cater to Credit card and PayPal transactions. Instead, focusing on local mobile banking options and COD services can be a more suitable approach for handling payments within the Thai market.
Features:
Pros
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When to use Shopify:
3. BigCommerce
BigCommerce is yet another friendly and flexible platform for retailers looking to grow their CBD ventures online. It encompasses a variety of tools and applications tailored to streamline your CBD and cannabis operations. Beyond its core functionalities, the platform can also serve as a launchpad for digital marketing initiatives, transforming it into a formidable hub for your website.
Features:
Pros
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When to use BigCommerce:
4. Joomla
Joomla has similarities to WordPress, but it tends to be more technical. This implies that those without a tech background will have a steeper learning curve and would benefit from hiring a skilled developer.
Nonetheless, Joomla shines as an ideal platform for crafting social networking or eCommerce sites, particularly for cannabis. But one significant limitation of Joomla is its suboptimal SEO capabilities. While you can address some SEO issues, it often demands substantial effort. Additionally, Joomla isn’t as widely recognized as WordPress. Even the variety of themes and plugins is limited.
Features:
Pros
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When to use Joomla:
5. Drupal
Drupal is admired for its impressive performance. Sites developed using Drupal typically load swiftly and boast a visually pleasing design.
However, Drupal presents two significant challenges. Firstly, its complexity often necessitates a professional developer for both website creation and subsequent modifications. Secondly, the platform offers a limited selection of themes and extensions.
Features:
Pros
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When to use Drupal:
Before Launching Your CBD Ecommerce, Read this!
Establishing your brand on a reputable web hosting service enhances its credibility. It offers you the essential features required to make your website more user-friendly. However, it’s worth noting that many hosting providers limit CBD businesses from accessing a comprehensive set of payment systems and services.
It’s crucial to know that platforms like Shopify, Wix, or Squarespace may choose to stop hosting your CBD business, particularly if you violate their platform’s guidelines. Such a move can block your business growth, marketing efforts, and credibility.
So, what’s the way forward? It’s challenging to pinpoint, but this doesn’t mean you should refrain from using these popular platforms. If you’re using them, proceed with caution and be fully informed about their terms and conditions for CBD businesses before committing.
One Perfect Ecommerce Platform for Setting up Your CBD Business Doesn’t Exist
Ultimately, selecting an appropriate platform for your cannabis website requires careful consideration. Platforms like Wix or Squarespace might be suitable for those new to the industry with limited financial resources.
However, WordPress, Shopify, or BigCommerce are excellent choices for those with more financial flexibility. A sensible recommendation would be to seek professional expertise in e-commerce development. To further ensure the desired outcome, consider expanding your internal team to handle the requirements without external intervention.
