As a preface to this article, please note a new Cannabis nomenclature being driven by Golden Eagle Partners (GEP). To simplify and improve consistency, GEP believes the entire sector should be covered by the name of the species, Cannabis (that is why we will capitalize Cannabis). For simplicity, the rest of the sector will be defined by two simple categories: THC+ (Cannabis) and THC- (hemp). All kinds of different products then fall within those two categories.
Dispensaries or retailers have always been a critical part of the supply chain for companies producing and selling THC+ products. In the early days, the emphasis was on cultivation with significant investment in technology, size, and security. Over the last five years, due to several factors, the concentration has gradually changed to a focus on the retail side of the business.
Early Days: The Search for Fintech and Other Pursuits
Since the start of the legal THC+ sector in earnest in 2014 (California legalized medical THC+ in 1996) when Colorado and Washington started selling THC+ products in January of that year, there has been a constant drumbeat for transactional solutions for the sector. In the early days, the most prevalent booths at MJBiz were
