Who Can Sell Cannabis Products in 2025? | Cannabis Retail & Compliance Guide

The increasing legalization of cannabis products, for both medical and recreational use, opens up the door to opportunities for cannabis sellers. Many entrepreneurs are seeking ways to enter this growing market, but they do not know if they fulfill the legal requirements to sell cannabis products or not. Are you an entrepreneur, a business owner, or a dispensary owner looking to start a successful cannabis business? You are not alone. Everyone wants to profit from this high-potential business opportunity. 

To get the answer to the question ‘who can sell cannabis products?’, you need to understand certain factors, including legal landscapes, product types, and packaging. Continue reading this article to know about cannabis product categories, cannabis sales laws, and categories that are shaping cannabis retail spaces.

Cannabis Market Potential

The legal cannabis market is exploding with a huge shift from $30 billion in 2022 to $35 billion in 2030. This increasing market size is a result of the increase in consumption of cannabis products for medical and recreational use.

Moreover, the demand for hemp-derived and legal THC products provides an opportunity for retailers and business owners to invest in this industry. If you have a clear understanding of the legal framework and the retail structure, you can successfully start a cannabis business.

Who Can Sell Cannabis Products?

If you are a new entrepreneur or a businessman looking to start a cannabis business, you first need to understand the legal requirements to sell cannabis products. Here is the list of possible cannabis business ideas retailers or entrepreneurs can start.

1.    Licensed Dispensaries

The primary place for selling cannabis products, mainly legalized THC products, is the licensed dispensaries. These dispensaries are licensed by the state regulatory bodies. These licensed dispensaries have a permit to sell hemp-derived pre-rolls, vape products, concentrated, topicals, tinctures, oils, edibles, and THC-rich flowers.

The licensing of these dispensaries includes a rigorous application process,  zoning approval, background checks, and a detailed business strategy. To ensure the smooth operation of your licensed dispensary, you must comply with the track and trace system and seed-to-scale reporting.

2.    Retailers or Resellers

The most common terms you might have heard about cannabis sellers are retailers or resellers. They deal with hemp-derived cannabis products, including delta 8 THC, CBD, and legal delta 9 THC. These businesses could exist in the form of wellness outlets, smoke shops, and independent cannabis stores.

The licensing requirement for retailers and resellers is not as strict as for marijuana product sellers, but the states have introduced new licensing regulations in 2025 to reduce the misuse of the 2018 Farm Bill’s loopholes. Stay informed of your local licensing requirements and register with the state’s health department or agriculture agency.

You must comply with the potency thresholds, product packaging standards, and the minimum age limit for cannabis consumption. Source your cannabis products from a trusted wholesale cannabis supplier like AHDist, with a strong commitment to product quality and transparency.

3.    Online Cannabis Stores

In the cannabis industry, e-commerce stores are gaining huge popularity as they can provide hemp-derived products across different areas. The hemp-derived cannabis products available on online cannabis stores include CBD oils, hemp-derived edibles, delta 9 gummies, disposable vapes, and flowers.

However, online cannabis stores are not legally permitted to ship THC products across other states because of differences in state regulations. While in legal states, the online cannabis stores partner with the fulfillment centres and ensure compliance by using their age verification technology.

4.    Medical Dispensaries

The recent shift of patients from utilizing pharmacy medications to wellness-focused cannabis products contributed to the rise of medical dispensaries. Medical dispensaries mainly provide cannabis products to medical patients with verified conditions.

These dispensaries are licensed to sell marijuana derived cannabis products only to registered medical patients having a valid marijuana card or a physician’s recommendation. They often provide products to ease symptoms of certain health conditions. Stock hemp-derived wholesale products from a reliable wholesale supplier.

Some U.S. states, like Texas, require the medical dispensaries to get an integrated license. This means that the dispensaries should cultivate and manufacture cannabis products under the same corporate structure. 

5.    Wellness Stores

The use of cannabis in the beauty and wellness industry provides an opportunity for businesses to stock cannabis products. Many athletes and wellness-focused consumers take cannabis products after workouts and to lose weight. The most common cannabis products to stock in wellness stores include CBD skincare topicals, tinctures, and sleep aids.

The wellness stores do not specifically need a cannabis specific license. They just need to ensure compliance with FDA and state-specific consumer protection laws. However, the offered products must be legally compliant with the 2018 Farm Bill, lab-tested, and must not contain any therapeutic claim.

Who Regulates Cannabis Sales in 2025?

The cannabis sales are regulated by the country or state where you are planning to start your cannabis business. In the U.S., cannabis sales are regulated by federal laws, state laws, and local laws. According to the federal law, the marijuana derived cannabis products are illegal, while hemp-derived products with THC less than 0.3% by dry weight are legal according to the 2018 Farm Bill.

State laws may vary from state to state and legalize or ban the use of cannabis products for recreational and medical purposes. Even in legal states, local ordinances can ban certain cannabis products. At the international level, countries like Canada, Germany, and Thailand have their own cannabis laws that might be different than the ones in the U.S. Therefore, always check your local cannabis laws before investing in any category of cannabis business.

Tips for a Successful Cannabis Business in 2025

Now, you are aware of the legal landscape of the possible cannabis selling opportunities, it’s time to start your cannabis business. For the successful launching of a cannabis business, here are the key tips you need to remember:

●       Ensure compliance and transparency of the hemp-derived cannabis products you are offering to consumers.

●       Stay focused on consistency and quality of the products, as it builds customers’ trust.

●       Partner with trusted and reliable wholesale suppliers to build strong community relationships.

●       Stay updated on all the industry changes and try to adapt to the trends as quickly as possible. 

Final Thoughts

The increasing market size of cannabis products is attracting businesses and entrepreneurs to invest in this highly profitable market. Understanding the legal landscape and applying the right business strategy, anyone can sell cannabis products in 2025. 

If you are serious about starting a cannabis business, complete your research, fulfill the legal requirements, and stock your wholesale cannabis products from AHDist. We provide a legally compliant, lab-tested, premium-quality cannabis product collection for our retail partners or other cannabis businesses.