As the industry’s leading publication for over two decades, we want to remind you all that we are more than just another magazine; WE are the nexus of commerce for the counterculture marketplace; headshops, smoke shops, vape shops, adult novelties, and dispensaries. Both publisher and platform, HQ exists to facilitate the continued evolution of a once-marginalized industry now on the cusp of legitimization. As a publisher, we are your advocate and your advisor, your continual stream of all information that matters to you; from product knowledge, to business insights, to how it all fits into the panorama of the bigger world. As a platform, we are your connection. We are the bullhorn, the billboard, and the bridge; the perfect bullseye of your target market. And as this industry continues to come into its own and navigate the coming seismic shifts in the landscape, we’ll be the light to guide its steps.
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Monica Frésquez monica@headquest.com
C: (505) 489-3285
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Contributing Writers
David Pogge david@headquest.com
Casey Patterson
Therese Galati accounting@headquest.com
Matt Weeks
Jonathan Branch
Jimmy Wohl
Joe Reefer
Emily Long
Karen Maina
Ryan Mills
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CONTENTS
24
Smoke Signals
We’ve just about run out of creative ways to say it. This is where the quickies live.
40
Women in Cannabis
Eclipse Di Luna: Luna Stower’s been slinging weed and speaking truth since middle school. Now she’s leading the cannabis space with fire, heart, unapologetic feminine power, and a nobullshit sense of purpose.
Heads of Industry
50 A view from the top: Summitt Labs’ prefers the title, “Sales Guru” to the more stodgy-sounding “VP of Sales.” But it’s not a gimmick; it’s an ethos. For Pommerenck, the real work starts after the handshake.
HeadSpace
Weedy topics for wonks and chin-scratchers.
60
Die, Trend, Die
Some trends fade fast. Others overstay their welcome. In 2025, it’s time to cut the dead weight—products, strategies, and mindsets—and make room for what actually moves the needle.
64 Critical Mass
The head shop boom is backfiring. With copy-paste stores on every corner and shrinking margins, only the smart, scrappy, and strategic stand a chance of surviving the haze.
Puff, puff, class in session!
70 Cryptomania
Fifteen million coins and counting—most worthless, some wildly lucrative. Crypto’s a gamble, but for some smoke shop owners and investors, the risk might just be worth it. Just don’t get caught holding the shitcoin.
76
Breaking Up is Hard to Do
Shelf space isn’t sentimental. If a brand’s ghosting your emails, killing your margins, or just stopped vibing with your shop, it’s time to cut ties. Loyalty’s nice—but survival? That’s earned one SKU at a time.
Quest 4 the Best
80 It’s really simple: You have to buy things in order to sell things. Your distributors need to sell things in order to buy things. We’re just here to bring you together.
84
There’s no better way to learn about an industry than from the industry leaders themselves. Get the word straight from the horsie’s mouth. Industry Associations
and now, this. And now, this.
Tender Vittles for Easy Snacking
It’s September, dear readers, and that means we need to take a minute to spit a couple of obligatory lines about the “back to school” rush, when all the godless heathen youths flood campuses nationwide to study all that liberal drivel like science and constitutional law, while spending their parents’ hard-earned cash on acrylic bongs and concealable dab pens. A setback for the future of our country, perhaps, but it’s a clear win for you, so just smile and nod when they show up spouting that woke nonsense—and revel in the irony as they feed into the capitalist system they claim to abhor.
Now that we’ve honored the season’s traditions, let’s talk about this month’s issue. We’re diving deep into some big-picture questions—like how many shops is too many? And what happens when a product category tips from “hot” to “hell no”? You’ll find expert takes, retail insights, and product spotlights that deliver more than empty hype.
The fact is, no one hands you a playbook for this business. It’s fast. It’s weird. It’s occasionally brilliant and frequently broken. But you keep showing up—adapting, evolving, building something that can’t be easily categorized or ignored. That’s the story we’re here to tell, month after month.
As always, thank you for reading, repping, and riding with HQ. See you on the frontlines.
ACA Takes Vegas
On July 24, 2025, the Alternative Culture Awards lit up Las Vegas at the Fremont Country Club. The night buzzed with industry networking, live music, and nonstop energy. Immortal Technique, E’Casanova, and Roni Lee delivered unforgettable performances, while flowing drinks and good vibes kept spirits high. ACA crowned its 2024 winners with gold-glitzed, Super Bowl-style rings, celebrating the best in the biz. From the beats to the bling, the night was pure counterculture magic.
DMT Analog shows therapeutic potential
We have yet another study contributing to a growing body of proof that psychedelics serve far more of a purpose than simply making Phish listenable. A UK clinical trial is showing promising results for 5-MeO-DMT, a powerful psychedelic compound. In a Phase 2b study by Beckley Psytech, a single dose of its synthetic version (BPL-003), paired with psychological support, produced rapid and lasting antidepressant e ects in patients with treatment-resistant depression. The trial included 94 participants across 12 sites in the UK and Europe—most had tried multiple antidepressants without success. One week after receiving a high dose, 45% were in remission; by five weeks, that rose to 57%. 5-MeO-DMT, found in Bufo alvarius toad venom and certain plants, is chemically related to DMT but acts di erently—faster, more intense, often ego-dissolving, and typically lasting just 15 minutes. Despite the short trip, its psychological impact is profound. BPL-003 must still pass Phase 3 trials and regulatory review, but many in the psychedelic field see it as a breakthrough for patients unresponsive to traditional therapies.
CT Bans kratom
We’ve got a code red in Connecticut—and no, not the sugary soda that pairs so well with muscle shirts and Kid Rock records. On June 25, Governor Ned Lamont signed a bill reclassifying kratom as a controlled substance, making it illegal to sell, buy, or possess in the state. The exact scheduling is still pending, but its removal from smoke shops is a done deal. Even more alarming? The ban was quietly slipped into a last-minute amendment to HB6855, a bill originally focused on hemp regulation. It passed both chambers and was signed into law in under three weeks, giving kratom advocates no chance to respond. And hemp sellers didn’t walk away unscathed. The law limits non-dispensary sales to products with 1mg or less of THC per serving and 5mg per package—everything stronger is now classified as cannabis. Translation: most Delta-8 and THCa products are out. Only licensed dispensaries can carry them. The state just tightened its grip—on kratom, hemp, and smoke shops alike.
Whiplash: RI Legalizes Kratom
In a historic move, Rhode Island has become the first U.S. state to reverse a kratom ban. Governor Dan McKee signed the Rhode Island Kratom Act into law, legalizing and regulating kratom after a ban that had been in place since 2017. That original ban occurred without hearings or debate, but lawmakers and the governor spent the past year crafting a compromise to ensure oversight and enforcement. The new law, e ective January 1, 2025 (pending confirmation), allows kratom sales to adults 21+, with strict labeling and safety requirements. It prohibits adulterated or inhalable products, synthetic alkaloids, and kratom with more than 1% 7-hydroxymitragynine. Products will also be subject to sales tax. For head shops, this is major news—kratom is a top seller, and Rhode Island’s framework provides a clear legal path for retail. The industry hopes other states will follow suit, making this a pivotal moment for national kratom policy.
Under
Pressure
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vot do you need
VOT Distribution: Products That Please, From Freezo to Atreez
Head Line
The Weekly News Podcast From HQ
The print mag brings the depth, but the news cycle moves faster than the mail. That’s where The HeadLine comes in—a weekly audio hit of the latest news, product drops, and insight, delivered straight to your ears, right on time.
In the past, the best bud was whatever you could get your hands on. Whether it was backwoods grass or leftover shake, we did what we needed to keep the stoner circle going. Now, the industry has exploded, and Willy Wonkainspired products are popping up everywhere. Luckily, the crew at VOT Distribution has been busy in the lab creating some amazing new offerings. From frozen weed and diamond dust to chronic tonics, VOT is introducing some patented products that are set to sizzle on the shelves. We spoke with a VOT representative about how they’re using their passion for THC to bring you these inspired new creations.
Tell me about VOT Distribution.
VOT Distribution has been in the smoke shop wholesale industry for about three years now. We started off as a bulk supplier in the hemp industry, creating white label products for other brands, and eventually launched our own products like Atreez and Freezo. At VOT we specialize in high-quality products, services, and compliance.
What makes your products special and stand out from competitors?
Not only do we have plenty of experience in the market, but we started off as people that enjoy the product ourselves. VOT is obsessed with offering the widest range of options, particularly hemp flower that’s available. On the compliance side, we check every box and make sure our testing is verifiable with COAs and chain of custody. In addition, we offer insured and immediate shipping. We’re proud to go the extra mile for our customers.
What are your top-selling or featured products that you are excited about?
Atreez and Freezo are our top-selling products right now. Atreez is our high-quality THCa flower. Freezo is our infused THCa-isolate product, and it looks like it’s been frozen over. We have a two-gram crushed diamond bag as well. You rip off the top of the bag
Continued on Page 26
Trade Show Roundup
Las Vegas, NV Las Vegas Convention Center
The BIG Industry Show Begins: 10/14/25 Ends: 10/15/25
Las Vegas, NV
Las Vegas Convention Center
Safety Meeting, Cont.
and can add some THCa isolate. When you’re done, just fold the bag back over and tuck it in your pocket for later. Lastly, we’re excited to offer our newest product, Kronton, which is our chronic tonic beverage. Kronton is infused with hemp-derived rosin and resin. You can drink the elixir on its own or add it to your own drinks. Phase two will include a probiotic drink, mints, tarts, and gummies.
What is it like working with VOT?
Ends: 12/5/25
MJ Biz Conference Begins: 12/2/25
Miami, FL
Mana Wynwood Convention Center
Alternative Product Expo Begins: 3/12/26
It’s not just about a single transaction with our customers. We’re all about forming strong, long-lasting relationships with our business partners. Regulations in the hemp space are constantly and we are committed to supporting each individual client and providing the best service we can.
Ends: 3/14/26
You’ve recently rolled out a new website. What are some features people should be excited about?
About Us:
Whether you’re an entrepreneur looking to scale, a retailer sourcing the next big product, or an investor searching for emerging trends, MJBizCon is the definitive B2B cannabis conference and expo. With 1,000+ exhibitors, 100+ industry speakers, and 20,000+ cannabis professionals in attendance, this is where innovation meets opportunity — all under one roof in Las Vegas.
@MJBizDaily
@MJBizDaily
Yeah, it’s been a long time in the making, because our inventory is constantly evolving. Some things sell out quickly, and new ones come in. When you have hundreds of strain options, it’s hard to do that without a wholesale site. We saw people using Telegram and Google Sheets to track orders, and it was just not efficient. We decided we needed to help our customers see the products, price, description, quality level, COA, and everything else available on one easy-to-order page.
How can companies connect with you?
You can reach out to us via email or our wholesale site at shop.votbrands.com. By logging in, you can schedule a time to chat with us. If you’re in Texas, come swing by our showroom in Austin. We also offer personal delivery to companies in Texas, so we can bypass the mail.
Is there anything else you want to let the HeadQuest readers know?
I just wanted to say, I opened up my first smoke shop in 2006 in Tallahassee, and we’ve had HeadQuest Magazine the entire time. It’s crazy to see the evolution of the industry. Now, smoke shops have become the forefront of the hemp industry. As a special offer, HQ readers can use promocode: FIRST10 for some exciting discounts at checkout.
THE EDUCATOR
Luna Stower: Teaching. Tending. Transforming. IN THE ROOM
By Emily Long
As a lifelong stoner, feminist, and teacher, Luna Stower knows how intersectional plant medicine can be. “I’ve been smoking, growing, and selling weed since I was in middle school, so it was never really a drug for me,” she says. When she was in college at the University of California in Santa Cruz, she began to witness the War on Drugs firsthand when the police arrested some of her fellow students for smoking weed in the woods on campus.
“I know right from wrong,” Luna says, and she knew the peaceful students were not in the wrong here. “I come from greatgrandparents who survived the Holocaust. In my family, we lived by the idea of ‘see something, say something’. [I was taught] to stand up for what I believe in.”
This strong ethical upbringing led her to work in the prison parole system before reentering the education space as a teacher, until she left over a decade ago to work at Jetty Extracts. “I realized I could do the same kind of education that I was doing in the classroom for adults and people in need of this education about cannabis,” she says. “It does all make sense together. It is a feminist project, a human rights and education project, and a bodily autonomy project.”
Since then, she’s helped to launch incredible brands and gotten her Ganjier cannabis sommelier certification. With over two decades of experience, Luna has played a pivotal role in shaping the modern cannabis landscape, from launching and scaling multi-million dollar brands like Jetty and Ispire to leading social impact initiatives. Now, she works as the Director of Mycology & Retail Education for CHAMPS Trade Shows—the largest counterculture B2B show—to advance psychedelic education and retail strategy. “It’s the largest platform in the world for people trying to break into retail,” she says. “I’m really excited to utilize my brainpower and experience and alchemize that into something actionable that will help people.”
As part of her work, Luna thinks a lot about what more positive commercialization can look like. In the industry, she wants to honor the long legacy of plant medicine and learn from its stewards, following in the footsteps of leaders like María Sabina, Brownie Mary, and Dennis Peron. “I want to honor their work and carry the torch forward,” she says, reminding people that the cannabis space is much more than a business opportunity but also a “huge responsibility.” She continues to be a fierce advocate for social equity, working alongside policy groups and organizations like the National Cannabis Industry Association (NCIA), the Last Prisoner Project, and the Indigenous Canna Industry Association.
Continued on Page 42
I COME FROM GREATGRANDPARENTS WHO SURVIVED THE HOLOCAUST. IN MY FAMILY, WE LIVED BY THE IDEA OF ‘SEE SOMETHING, SAY SOMETHING’. [I WAS TAUGHT] TO STAND UP FOR WHAT I BELIEVE IN.
Luna Stower
Do you know a powerhouse woman making waves in the cannabis industry? Whether she’s leading, innovating, advocating, or inspiring, we want to hear her story!
Our Women in Cannabis spotlight celebrates the trailblazers, changemakers, and unsung heroes shaping the future of the industry. Nominate someone who deserves the recognition—because their work deserves to be seen!
Submit your nomination now! Scan the QR code to share their story.
She also calls herself a “plug” and a “Jewish matchmaker” for all of the connections she facilitates between people and businesses in plant medicine and activism spaces.
As an educator and storyteller, her work merges “tradition, activism, and innovation” in the cannabis and psychedelics space, drawing on her roots in mission-driven advocacy and her passion for education, social justice, and healing. “I’m an activist and educator first,” she says. “I’m a businesswoman second or third.”
Plant medicine and social justice are the undercurrents throughout Luna’s entire career. “Feminism is not a brand; it’s praxis,” Luna says. She applies this ethos in her professional life by mentoring other women in the cannabis space. One of her mentees is Leah Cerri, who runs “cool, inclusive events for women in cannabis in Northern California,” as Luna describes. Another is Denver-based Lauren Gibbs of Root for Hemp, who is advocating for land restoration, regenerative farming, and sustainable living by swapping out plastics for hemp goods.
This story isn’t over.
Luna Stower isn’t here to play by old rules. In the full interview, she speaks candidly about emotional labor, sacred responsibility, and why embracing femininity in the cannabis space is less a weakness and more a strategy.
Read the rest of her story online.
Glitter Bomb
Mendo Breath
Purple Tesla Orange Creamsicle Guavanade
Tropicana Cherries
We’ve got a unique distribution model . . . where all of the sales reps basically provide a 360 service—not only hand delivering products and selling products, but also merchandising for them.
ON THE PRECIPICE
Zen & the Art of Cannabinoid Sales: Summitt Labs Seeks a Higher Plane
By Matt Weeks
M
ost companies have a vice president of sales. Summitt Labs has Brett Pommerenck, who goes by a different title.
“Whenever somebody sees ‘Sales Guru’ on my card, they ask how you become one,” he says. “I tell them that you spend your life in sales, and you go to Nepal to climb the Himalayas to meet the real gurus. You get the wisdom from them, then you bring it back down and apply it to your life.”
It’s not just a funny story. After college, Pommerenck hiked Asia’s grueling Annapurna Circuit—all 180 miles and 18,000 feet. The trip stayed with him. But just as important to his education was the journey that came after, when he carved a career path across the Southeast selling everything from cars to pharmaceuticals to industrial chemicals.
Today, he’s traded in his mountain climbing gear for a rental car. In between client meetings and ride-alongs with retail partners, he visits nearly 25 trade shows a year.
Continued on page 52
“I actually consider my job as more of a consultant,” he says. “I try to help our partners grow, because I feel that as a company, we can only grow if our partners grow. If we’re just selling a product to them and expecting them to pay for it, we’re not helping them grow. It’s not just sales. It’s compliance. It’s education. It’s training. There’s much more to it than just selling somebody a product and walking away.”
“I look at how would I want to be treated? And I treat people that way,” he adds. “I want somebody to shoot me straight, be honest with me, and help me grow. I don’t like people who lie to me. So what I found is, the people you deal with in this industry—you have to align with the right people. I don’t do business with everybody. But the people I do business with, they’re like family.”
I want somebody to shoot me straight, be honest with me, and help me grow. I don’t like people who lie to me. So what I found is, the people you deal with in this industry— you have to align with the right people.
Scaling the Summitt
Summitt Labs launched its first product line, Organic Kore, on September 15, 2018. Since then, it’s developed into a full-scale alternative wellness operation with a suite of charismatic products ranging from the kratom-boosted Good Mood elixir to the intense offerings of Pür THC-P.
The company’s latest standout is the smart disposable Lost Geek Clearview, which features a 3-D curved screen interface and delivers 50,000 puffs per unit.
For those inside the industry, however, Summitt’s most recognizable product isn’t something found in stores. If Pommerenck looks familiar, it’s likely because of the burlap sacks he hands out at trade shows.
“It’s actually canvas, but it’s brown and it looks like burlap,” he says. “If we were just selling those, we’d be millionaires ten times over.”
His booth’s other distinctive feature is its seating area. The ability to take a load off is one of the two promises Pommerenck makes to his clients.
“We guarantee you can always come by and have a seat on our couch when you’re tired at a trade show,” he says.
The View from the Top
Summitt’s success stems, in part, from its fully integrated operation. Everything that carries the Summitt logo has been designed, manufactured, and marketed by the company’s in-house team.
The integration ensures high-quality products, but it also brings high-octane headaches. Pommerenck’s second guarantee is that every Summitt product adheres to the law—all the laws. In this industry, that means constantly adjusting to the whims of lawmakers.
“The challenging part for us as a manufacturer and as a company that distributes products is that when we do things right, 90% of the industry is still doing it wrong,” Pommerenck says. “So we have to figure out how to do things right and also have the product at a price point that allows our customers to make a good profit.
This ain’t over.
Think the job of a “Sales Guru” is all trade shows and smooth talk? Think again. In the online continuation of our feature, Brett Pommerenck breaks down the paradox of progress in a rapidly shifting industry—and what it really takes to stay ahead.
The real work lives in the prep, the problemsolving, the legal landmines, and the kind of judgment you can’t fake.
Scan the QR code to read the rest.
By Jimmy Wohl
When it’s time, it’s time.
2025 KILL? WHAT WILL 10 Smoke Shop Trends
That Need to Die already
Why it’s Dying
The market’s flooded. Margins are gone. You’ve probably moved more expired CBD than you’ve sold this year. We’ve been hearing that a lot.
What You Can Do
We all know most people have moved on to alt-cannabinoids like Delta-9 and Delta-10. But federal and state restrictions might put the kibosh on them, too. Now, quality sellers are moving toward THCA, hemp-derived Delta-9, and THC-H. And in areas where even those products are verboten, we suggest going with functional mushrooms like Lions Mane cordyceps, and legal psilocybin extracts, which o er experiences within the bounds of the law.
Why it’s Dying
Tari s, possibly. Oversaturation, maybe.
What You Can Do
Buy
American. You’ll likely get better quality products with a superior safety profile. Sure, it may cost more, but with tari s looming, that price advantage may disappear anyway. Plus, you get the satisfaction of supporting domestic manufacturing.
Why it’s Dying
Some things are just not working, and the clock’s ticking. Whether you’re having trouble moving inventory, getting customers in the door, or just letting people know you exist, you might need to take a clear-eyed look at how you’re operating and make some strong, strategic moves to update your business.
Here are some bad ideas that need to go, and recommendations for steering toward success.
ordering from whomever is the cheapest
Turns out cannabis is more complex than people imagined. And as new products emerge, they often have ingredients that few people knew about, including ones that have just been discovered or synthesized.
What You Can Do
Teach your customers. Make them smart consumers. They want guidance, especially when they’re bombarded with new cannabinoids, mushroom blends, and nootropics. They will become more comfortable with new products and spread the (correct) word to their friends.
Why it’s Dying
Retailers got burned on return policies, shipping delays, or mystery ingredients.
What You Can Do
Cultivate trusted partnerships. They now matter more than pennies saved and will pay o in the long run.
Why it’s Dying
They look chintzy, reek of bad quality, work poorly, are bad for the environment, and could be bad for you.
What You Can Do
These days, customers care more about aesthetics, function, health, and sustainability. Avoid plastics that could fall apart and even get in your weed; stock up on aluminum grinders with magnetic lids and screen filters. This should be the new baseline. With one exception: hemp grinders made by brands like Santa Cruz Shredder are another way to get your high-quality, good-for-theplanet grind on!
relying only on instagram for marketing
Why it’s Dying
Engagement is throttled, and shadowbans are real. A social media algorithm may be kneecapping your business, and you don’t even realize it.
What You Can Do
Shops need to diversify their outreach. Make sure you have at least email lists, and consider starting Discord groups, QR campaigns, and even podcasts. Your business has a voice; make sure people can hear it.
Why it’s Dying
Customers want more than neutral-tasting potency. In a world of options bursting with flavor, bland is blah.
What You Can Do
Stock up on terp-forward blends and moodspecific profiles. Use this as an opportunity to teach customers why terpenes matter and how they play a crucial role in the overall experience.
Manufacturers should take note: consider adding experience-based labeling on all your products, which helps educate customers both in the store and out in the wild.
Low Dose CBD Gummies
Unflavored THC Carts
Cheap Plastic Grinders
import glass
Why it’s Dying
Word of mouth is great, but a lot of people are glued to screens. If you’ve got a great shop, make sure it exists in the realm where people’s eyeballs are pointed. neglecting
What You Can Do
Throw together a landing page. Start an Instagram profile. Anything that someone can look up. Even if you never ship a thing, an online presence legitimizes your brand and drives foot tra c.
Why it’s Dying
Sure, 4/20 is the most obvious cannabis holiday, but putting all your eggs in that basket is an unforced error. Savvy stores are running monthly micro-promos and eating your lunch.
What You Can Do
Spread out engagement. Creating a constant flow of unique promotions is better than relying on one-shot spikes. Go small or go home.
avoiding adult products to stay “family friendly”
Why it’s Dying
It looks prudish. The stigma of selling sexual products is mostly gone. The mainstream has gotten more open to stu that helps you get it on.
What You Can Do
They get laid, you get paid. Embrace sexual wellness products and you’ll find bigger carts and a more loyal, diverse clientele. Sell the sexy stu or risk leaving money on the table.
420 blowouts as the only sales anchor
ARE WE SATURATED
YET?
Mapping the Industry’s Growth Ceiling: How Close Are We—And What’s Beyond?
By Karen Maina
Since 2020, the growth of head shops has exploded, especially in states that are riding the wave of cannabis legalization. In some cities, head shops now outnumber gas stations, creating a surreal new retail landscape. This is in addition to the high number of gas stations and convenience stores that now carry headshop products. Albuquerque, for example, has seen such an influx that locals on Reddit compare smoke shops to fast food joints in ubiquity and repetition.
So what’s driving this saturation?
Legalization. The more cannabis is legalized, the more adjacent retail demand grows–or at least, the more newcomers see a potentially profitable business venture.
Lower barrier to entry. It often requires less capital and regulation than a dispensary.
The postpandemic era hustle. The rise of selfemployment during COVID led many to open quick-turn storefronts.
The Farm Bill . The loopholes in hemp legislation allow shops to sling potent hemp THC and alt-cannabinoid products with high profit margins.
This surge feels less like organic growth and more like a retail land rush. According to The Atlantic, many vape and head shops are struggling to differentiate, while others are quietly shuttering as foot traffic declines. As one Quora user put it: “They all sell the same stuff—and they’re all empty.”
The question is no longer “why the boom?” It’s “what happens after?”
Where the Market’s Tapped Out
Not all head shop growth is good growth. Cities like Los Angeles, Denver, Houston, Miami, and Phoenix are now emblematic of oversaturated head shop zones, where competition has outpaced demand.
As of May 2025, Texas leads the U.S. with over 2,600 shops slinging countercultural wares and accessories. The majority of these are clustered in Houston. Florida follows closely with more than 1,270, a large portion of which are concentrated in the Miami metro area.
California, home to Los Angeles, houses over 1,240 shops, and Arizona
(with Phoenix at the center) and Colorado (anchored by Denver) both have around 130 each.
Retailers in these zones report price wars, shrinking margins, and a customer base numbed by endless promos and indistinguishable products.
“When a new shop opens within a block of mine,” says one Denver head shop owner, “they’re just splitting our same traffic five ways.”
These cities serve as cautionary tales. Expansion without strategy doesn’t guarantee success; it guarantees saturation. And in these markets, we may have already hit the ceiling.
Where There’s Still Room to Grow
While major metros are hitting the wall, a quieter trend is taking shape in
to stand out. This is not the result of hype, but because of need.
Cities like Des Moines and Omaha have a mix of underserved customers, relatively low retail competition, and fewer local restrictions on vape or cannabinoid sales.
Not all head shop growth is good growth. Cities like Los Angeles, Denver, Houston, Miami, and Phoenix are now emblematic of oversaturated head shop zones, where competition has outpaced demand.
places most brands overlook. In states like Iowa, Nebraska, Pennsylvania, and Ohio, Emerging Head Shop Opportunity Zones are beginning
There is a quiet growth in sales volume in the Southeast; areas such as Fayetteville, NC, and Warner Robins, GA. The proximity to military bases, a fastgrowing population, and a less restrictive regulatory climate are driving this growth. Even parts of Pennsylvania and Ohio, despite
their conservative leanings, are seeing sustained demand due to legal gray areas and limited bigchain saturation.
These zones haven’t hit critical mass yet, and that’s the point. There is an upside for operators willing to think beyond the coasts and lean into regional nuance. The growth of head shops doesn’t have to be chaotic; it can be strategic. And in these zones, a smart bet could still pay off.
What Saturation Feels Like in the Shop
For those on the ground, saturation has become a daily grind. In oversaturated zones, the pressure isn’t just external. It seeps into every part of the business model.
A smoke shop owner from California says, “Smoke shops are over-saturated now, and if you only have 1 location, it’s hard to survive.” This indicates a big challenge. He continues to add, “Most owners have 10+ locations, and most locations make less than $10k a month.”
Customers are becoming more price-sensitive, walking in with promo codes from competitors, or waiting for sales. Loyalty has shrunk to a transaction-by-transaction basis. To stay relevant, retailers are forced to rotate inventory faster, swapping out SKUs monthly just to hold attention.
Meanwhile, the new shops are chasing the same foot traffic, as well as actively poaching staff and wholesale deals. This is also affecting long-standing relationships with distributors. These are now fractured by undercutting offers and flashin-the-pan newcomers promising unrealistic volumes.
This article continues online.
The boom is over. Now comes the reckoning. Read what it takes to outlast the fallout—online now.
The Digital
TAKEOVER
By Joe Reefer
Bitcoin, and the ideas behind it, will be a disruptor to the traditional notions of currency. In the currencyend, will be better for it.
–
Edmund C. Moy, former director of the United States Mint
Cryptocurrency is taking the world by storm. It’s been over 15 years since the launch of Bitcoin, and although it’s more popular than ever before, it’s not the only form of crypto available today. In fact, some reports estimate that there have been more than 15 million different cryptocurrencies created to date.
Of course, not all of these have been successful. Some were shuttered after a few weeks, months, or years, and others didn’t even last that long. But with so many different options available, including altcoins, memecoins, and even shitcoins, it can be difficult for some investors to take the crypto market seriously, let alone turn a profit.
What is Cryptocurrency?
“Bitcoin, and the ideas behind it, will be a disruptor to the traditional notions of currency. In the end, currency will be better for it.”
– Edmund C. Moy, former director
of the United States Mint
The roots of modern cryptocurrency
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The lack of a single point of failure protects crypto from being taken offline due to the actions (or inactions) of any one institution.
Individuals are given greater control over their assets, including how they use them and where they store them.
Buyers and sellers enjoy faster transactions and lower fees than other, traditional currency exchanges— especially when trading internationally.
Now that you have a better understanding of cryptocurrency in general, let’s take a moment to explore the different virtual coins that are currently available for purchase or trade on the crypto market.
Understanding the Di erent Crypto Coins
Bitcoin only represents a small portion of the cryptocurrency that is used today. To make things easy, we can categorize crypto coins into one of four groups:
Bitcoin: The primary cryptocurrency in use today. Introduced in 2009 by Satoshi Nakamoto, a presumed pseudonym, Bitcoin is the de facto form of crypto and the one that most people are referring to when discussing cryptocurrency in general.
Altcoins: This term is used to describe any type of virtual coin that is not Bitcoin— including Ethereum, Monero,
XRP, Cardano, Stellar, CannabisCoin, and countless others.
Memecoins: More of a novelty than anything else, these coins are directly inspired by popular internet memes. Examples include Dogecoin, Pepe, and Gigachad.
Shitcoins: The final category is reserved for altcoins that have no perceived value or purpose. Shitcoins are often over-hyped by social media influencers, thereby creating a false sense of value, and investors are usually left with little to no profit at the end. Moreover, shitcoins are often featured in crypto pump-anddump and rug-pull schemes.
While many serious investors focus on Bitcoin, some altcoins, and even memecoins, have made it into investment portfolios around the world.
Should Your Smoke Shop Accept Crypto?
Given the growing popularity of Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies, some retailers are starting to accept crypto for purchases in their stores or on their websites.
A company known as Smoke Cartel, for example, has been accepting Bitcoin, Ethereum, and other types of crypto since 2019, and it doesn’t look like they’re stopping anytime soon. However, it’s worth noting that they only accept crypto via their website—their retail location in North Carolina has yet to join the fray.
It’s not over yet.
Wondering if crypto makes sense for your shop—or your wallet?
The rest of this article is available online, where we dig into the real risks, potential rewards, and what shop owners should consider before accepting Bitcoin or diving into the world of digital investing.
Scan the QR to continue!
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DROP A BRAND? Is it Time to Breaking
By Ryan Mills
Don’t get too sentimental with your shelf space! We know breaking up is hard to do, but sometimes the thrill is gone, and it’s time to move on. It doesn’t matter how long a brand’s been riding with you or how tight you are with the sales rep. If the product doesn’t perform, or worse, if the brand loses touch with the culture, it’s dead weight. And dead weight doesn’t just slow you down; it can drown you.
As ‘Blind Loui’ – industry veteran, shop OG, and occasional anonymous truth-teller – puts it, “A brand isn’t sacred just because you’ve carried it for years. If they’re late shipping, inconsistent in quality, shifting away from your values, or just not profitable, cut it.”
Loui’s been around long enough to see the entire ecosystem change. From the backroom days of building stores out of gut instinct and Sam’s Club cigarettes to the current landscape of saturated SKUs and trend-chasing chaos, he’s watched what happens when retailers hold on too long, and how powerful it can be to let go.
Continued on Page 78
Up With Products That No Longer Serve You
The Hustle Roots of Curation
Before everything became boxed, barcoded, and backordered, inventory was a game of hustle. “My first supplier was Gator Lou, a real head out of Florida,” Loui says. “He had everything smoke shop-related… except hand-blown glass and tobacco. So we pieced it together like real hustlers. Sam’s Club for smokes. Gator Lou for core goods. Joe Rojo at HBI for rolling papers. Music City for cigars, lighters, pipe tobacco.”
In those early days, retailers weren’t spoiled with options; they had to curate by necessity. That DIY mentality carried over into buying practices. If something didn’t sell, it didn’t stay. Loyalty wasn’t blind; it was earned, and brands knew they had to bring value, not just product.
Everybody’s selling everything now, but nobody’s curating anything. If your margins are disappearing under random inventory, it’s probably time to trim the fat.
“Blind Loui”
Fast forward to today, and many smoke shops find themselves on the other end of the spectrum. Their shelves are overloaded with stale SKUs, closeout bundles they didn’t ask for, and brand reps that ghost after the first PO. Loyalty is still there, but it’s become a liability.
“Everybody’s selling everything now, but nobody’s curating anything,” Loui adds. “If your margins are disappearing under random inventory, it’s probably time to trim the fat.”
The Signs Are There—You’re Just Ignoring Them
The most dangerous thing about a dying brand relationship? It rarely implodes. It just fades. Maybe the vendor starts missing ship dates. Maybe the packaging looks rushed, the colors are inconsistent, or customers start bringing stuff back because it doesn’t match the last order. Maybe it’s the silence after the invoice clears and the PO goes cold.
Or maybe it’s subtler: the brand doesn’t feel right anymore. Whether it’s an aesthetics drift, controversial stunts, a tone-deaf ad campaign, or a shift toward mass-market gimmickry, the vibe, the values, the margins – they’re all off. “The culture keeps moving,” Loui warns. “You either move with it or get buried under it.”
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The Funkiest 510 on the Shelf
The SeshGear Mushroom 510 Cartridge Battery blends playful design with serious function in the shape of a literal mushroom. Compatible with standard 510-thread cartridges, this palm-sized device features a 400mAh battery with three voltage settings (2.7V, 3.1V, 3.6V), a pre-heat mode for thick oils, and single-button operation. LED indicators and USB-C charging keep it user-friendly, while the colorful design turns heads in any retail setting. Compact, quirky, and practical, the SeshGear Mushroom offers a lighthearted twist on vape tech without compromising performance. It’s shelfready, gift-friendly, and designed to stand out—perfect for shops looking to inject a little personality into their 510 lineup.
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gummy, adding a playful twist to the purchase. With sleek hardware, consistent hits, and an emphasis on taste-forward formulations, Pur Delta’s lineup hits the mark for experienced users looking for more than just standard Delta blends. It’s bold, bright, and highimpact—designed for those who want flavor and firepower in one pull.
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The Flying Monkey Space Monkey THC-A Disposable delivers 3 grams of hard-hitting, hemp-derived cannabinoids in a sleek, rechargeable device built for performance. Featuring a potent blend of THC-A, Delta-8, and Delta-9, this disposable caters to experienced users who know the difference between average and elevated. With strain-specific profiles like Alien Apple and Astro Hippie, the Space Monkey line combines rich flavor with reliable consistency. Each unit includes preheat functionality, smooth draw activation, and durable construction designed to reduce clogs and waste. Backed by full lab testing and vibrant shelfready packaging, this product hits both compliance standards and consumer expectations. For shops looking to stock a high-potency disposable that’s already building momentum nationwide, Space Monkey delivers on strength, flavor, and brand recognition.
Innovation is seeing what everybody has seen and thinking what nobody has thought.
The Dr. Dabber XS Nano Rig delivers full-sized performance in a travel-ready package. Designed for concentrates, this ultra-portable e-rig features a quartz heating element, spill-proof water filtration, and USB-C fast charging—all packed into a device that fits easily in the palm of your hand. Despite its size, the XS hits smooth and clean, making it ideal for both seasoned dabbers and curious first-timers. The single-button interface keeps the experience user-friendly, while the rugged build and included carrying case make it ideal for on-the-go sessions. For shops looking to stock high-quality hardware without Puffco price tags, the XS is a standout—offering sleek design, strong brand recognition, and reliable performance in one smartly engineered rig.
—Dr. Albert Szent-Györgyi (Nobel Prize–winning physiologist)
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eliminate opioids, benzodiazepines, and other high-risk medications.
Older Americans are leading this shift. Cannabis use among seniors has doubled, with most treating arthritis, chronic pain, insomnia, and anxiety. This shift supports the emerging medical field of deprescribing—a public health necessity as 750 seniors are hospitalized daily due to preventable adverse drug reactions.
The science is clear. The National Academies of Sciences found conclusive evidence supporting cannabis in treating chronic pain, chemotherapyinduced nausea, and MS-related spasticity. Meanwhile, opioid misuse costs the U.S. $35 billion annually. Chronic pain alone affects one in three adults, doubles suicide risk, and drains over half a trillion dollars from our economy each year.
Cutting off access to medical cannabis makes no fiscal or ethical sense.
And for veterans, the consequences could be lethal—one in three lives with
chronic pain. More than 22% already use cannabis-based treatments. Every day, 17.5 veterans die by suicide—many of whom have reported that cannabis helped them when other treatments failed.
The CJS Medical Cannabis Amendment is not a permanent fix—but it is a necessary one. It gives patients and providers breathing room while Congress moves toward a real solution. But ceasefires don’t become peace without action.
Now, with the medical value of cannabis formally recognized by HHS and FDA, the question before Congress is clear: Will they continue to protect state medical cannabis programs and find a permanent federal solution, or will they keep forcing patients to fight for their medicine year after year?
Take action today to protect patients. Scan here.
VAPING CRUSHES NICOTINE REPLACEMENT THERAPY
The Data-Driven Case for Tobacco Harm Reduction
The medical-industrial complex loves its FDA-approved gums and patches, yet real-world evidence shows vaping annihilates traditional nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) in smoking cessation efficacy. Consider just some of the evidence.
Vaping Helps More Smokers Quit
A just-published clinical trial in Annals of Internal Medicine found that vaping helped 28% of smokers quit cigarettes compared to just 9% of those who used NRT. Likewise, a 2019 New England Journal of Medicine randomized controlled trial found e-cigarettes achieved 18.0% abstinence at one year versus 9.9% for NRT.
and behavioral rituals crucial for successful switching. Behavioral psychology research demonstrates that maintaining hand-to-mouth actions and inhalation rituals increases cessation rates versus gum-chewing.
Vaping is Safer
Safety profiles favor vaping by orders of magnitude. Public Health England’s 2022 evidence update confirms vaping poses “at least 95% less harm” than smoking, while NRT’s long-term adherence creates
By Alli Boughner Vice President American Vapor Manufacturers
often encourages smoking where vaping cuts or eliminates cigarette consumption.
Critics cite dual-use concerns— smoking and vaping simultaneously increases health risks, the argument goes. Yet dual use almost always means that smokers are replacing at least some of their smoking with vaping, meaning they are partially substituting a very dangerous for a much less dangerous habit. This is a net positive, just like when a dieter replaces some candy in their diet with vegetables. Smokers don’t need to achieve abstinence to improve their health.
More than 50,000 people in England have quit thanks to vaping. Meanwhile in France, a staggering 700,000 people say vaping allowed them to abandon cigarettes forever. This isn’t marginal superiority—it’s domination.
Population-level data reinforces vaping’s triumph. More than 50,000 people in England have quit thanks to vaping. Meanwhile in France, a staggering 700,000 people say vaping allowed them to abandon cigarettes forever. This isn’t marginal superiority—it’s domination.
The mechanism explains this impressive track record: vaping replicates both nicotine delivery
persistent nicotine dependence without addressing behavioral addiction. The Cochrane Review (2023) synthesized 78 trials and concluded “high-certainty evidence” that vaping increases quit rates without serious adverse events, whereas NRT users frequently relapse due to inadequate craving suppression. Simply put, NRT
Conclusion
The evidence isn’t close. Vaping delivers nicotine more effectively, maintains critical behavioral components, and achieves abstinence rates that make NRT look like a glorified placebo. Public health bureaucrats pushing pharmaceutical patches over vapes are condemning smokers to continued combustible use. The verdict is in: vape beats gum, every single time.
LEVEL UP ALTERNATIVE LIFESTYLE BRANDS AT MJBIZCON
DEC. 2-5, 2025 | MJBizCon | Las Vegas
The Culture+ Neighborhood at MJBizCon is where counterculture thrives.
Join together with manufacturers, importers, distributors, wholesalers, product developers, press, influencers and advocates to support the growth of smoke, paraphernalia, hemp/CBD, functional mushrooms and alternative lifestyle businesses.
WANT TO ATTEND THE SHOW? INTERESTED IN EXHIBITING?
