The Meadow Blog
Cartoon image
Colleen
Head of Communications
Colleen has worked in tech, cannabis and communications for over a decade, specializing in retail strategy, industry leadership, and operations. She creates resources to empower dispensary teams, drive success, and highlight innovative retail models.

Posts by Colleen

Cannabis 280E tax guide: what dispensary owners need to know,

Cannabis 280E Tax: What Every Dispensary Owner Should Know

280E taxes dispensaries on gross profit, not net. Learn the one legal lever that lowers your bill, plus what 2026 rescheduling actually changes.
What 280E really costs dispensaries, and how to manage it.
Cartoon image
Colleen
Head of Communications
Cannabis ComplianceCannabis Retail
SparkPlug's sales incentive platform is designed to motivate and reward budtenders for bigger sales and happier employees. And the best part? The incentives are paid for by brands you already carry in your shop! 

Meadow & SparkPlug Join Forces to Supercharge Budtender Sales

The Meadow + SparkPlug integration lets dispensaries run budtender contests, commissions, and sales goals, motivating teams to lift sales and service.
Learn more about how to reward budtenders and supercharge your sales teams using the new SparkPlug integration with Meadow.
Cartoon image
Colleen
Head of Communications
Cannabis Retail
How Norman Yousif’s Off the Charts Opened 30+ Dispensaries in 2 Years with Meadow

How Norman Yousif’s Off the Charts Opened 30+ Dispensaries in 2 Years with Meadow

See how Off the Charts scaled to 30+ California dispensaries in two years on Meadow POS — 99.99% uptime, fast staff training, and real-time multi-store inventory.
Discover their growth secrets—read the full case study now.
Cartoon image
Colleen
Head of Communications
Cannabis Industry LeadershipCannabis RetailDispensary Inventory ManagementCannabis Events and CultureCase Study
A stylish interior of PleasureMed on Santa Monica Boulevard in Los Angeles, showcasing its unique blend of cannabis retail and hospitality. The focal point is the sleek, modern cocktail bar with polished countertops and elegant glassware. Behind the bar, a server stands attentively, ready to take an order, embodying the warm and welcoming atmosphere of the space. In the background, hints of the upscale dispensary and farm-to-table restaurant elements are visible, seamlessly integrated into the setting. The ambiance exudes sophistication, innovation, and the pioneering spirit of PleasureMed’s mission to redefine the cannabis retail experience.

PleasureMed: A First-of-Its-Kind Cannabis Experience Built on Meadow’s Dispensary Software

See how PleasureMed runs a dispensary, restaurant, and cannabis lounge as one seamless experience — 800+ SKUs, sub-30-second checkouts — on Meadow POS.
See how Meadow helped PleasureMed streamline operations and elevate customer experiences.
Cartoon image
Colleen
Head of Communications
Cannabis Events and CultureCannabis Industry LeadershipCannabis RetailCase Study
Best Treez Alternatives 2026 banner with logos of the top five cannabis POS systems compared.

Best Treez Alternatives, 2026: Top 5 Cannabis POS Systems Compared by Real Operators

Looking for a Treez alternative? Compare the top cannabis POS systems of 2026, Meadow, Dutchie, Jane, Flowhub, and BLAZE, by ease of use, delivery, compliance, payments, and cost.
Why dispensaries are switching from Treez, and the top alternatives in 2026.
Cartoon image
Colleen
Head of Communications
Cannabis DeliveryCannabis Retail
Meadow vs. BLAZE: The Delivery Edition. We break down how each system handles delivery, compliance, and efficiency—so you can choose the best option for your dispensary.

Meadow vs. BLAZE: Choosing the Best Cannabis Delivery Software, 2026

Compare Meadow vs. BLAZE for cannabis delivery. See G2 ratings, delivery models, compliance, and why operators switch.
Find out which system dispensaries trust for delivery 🚚
Cartoon image
Colleen
Head of Communications
Cannabis Industry LeadershipCannabis RetailCannabis Delivery
Blog banner reading 'How to Open a Dispensary in New York: 2026 Guide' with a Manhattan skyline view and an I-Love-NY style emblem featuring a cannabis leaf.

How to Open a Dispensary in New York: 2026 Guide

Complete 2026 guide to opening a New York dispensary: licensing, costs, Metrc, taxes, delivery, and common mistakes.
The 2026 operator's guide to opening a dispensary in New York.
Cartoon image
Colleen
Head of Communications
Cannabis RetailCannabis ComplianceCannabis Delivery
Banner image for Meadow's 2026 guide to the best Dutchie alternatives, comparing the top five cannabis POS systems for dispensary operators. A banner graphic with a pink center panel and red side panels. The headline reads "Best Dutchie Alternatives, 2026" in bold gray and coral type, with the subhead "The top five cannabis POS systems compared" below a purple divider. A vertical column of five rounded app-icon logos runs down the right side: Dutchie, Jane, Meadow, Treez, and BLAZE.

Best Dutchie Alternatives in 2026: Top Cannabis POS Systems Compared

Looking for a Dutchie alternative? Compare the top cannabis POS systems of 2026 — Meadow, Jane, Flowhub, Treez, and BLAZE — by reliability, features, payments, and cost.
Why dispensaries are leaving Dutchie, and the top alternatives in 2026.
Cartoon image
Colleen
Head of Communications
Cannabis RetailCannabis Delivery
The blog banner image shows a clean, modern design highlighting the New York cannabis industry’s transition to Metrc. On the left, a gray background with a white New York City skyline silhouette frames bold dark gray text reading “METRC IN NEW YORK: WHAT DISPENSARIES NEED TO KNOW,” with a thin purple underline. On the right, a dark green background features the white silhouette of the Statue of Liberty and high-rise buildings, alongside the vertical Metrc logo. The banner visually connects New York dispensaries, cannabis compliance, and Metrc software to reinforce the blog’s focus on preparing operators for the upcoming Metrc rollout.

Metrc in New York: What Dispensaries Need to Know

Metrc is coming to New York. From training and credentialing to tagging inventory and integrating your cannabis POS, this guide breaks down every step dispensaries need to take to stay on track.
➡️ Read the full guide to New York’s Metrc transition
Cartoon image
Colleen
Head of Communications
Cannabis ComplianceCannabis Retail
Budtender helping a loyal customer shop at Erb & Arbor dispensary

Use Your Dispensary Data To Level Up Loyalty

Most dispensaries have loyalty programs; few use data to make them work smarter. Here’s how.
Learn to Turn Your Data into Loyalty That Lasts
Cartoon image
Colleen
Head of Communications
Cannabis RetailDispensary Inventory ManagementCannabis Marketing