What Is an Online Dispensary & Where Can I Find One?

December 12, 2023

An online dispensary can simplify the weed-buying process and cut down shopping time. It can be a great fit for people who want to keep their cannabis purchasing discreet, who know exactly what products they’re looking for, and who don’t need face-to-face advice.

There are around 8,000 licensed dispensaries in the U.S., according to Statistica. That number is growing as more cannabusinesses shift from storefront to screen to meet customer demands for a simplified and more efficient shopping experience.

Read on to learn what an online dispensary is and how to use one to find the best cannabis deals near you.

What Is an Online Dispensary?

An online dispensary allows you to make purchases from the dispensary’s website. After you add products to your shopping cart and place your order — usually through a secure, online point-of-sale (POS) system like Dutchie — the store will prepare it for you to pick up.

Nothing can replace the knowledge and warmth of a face-to-face interaction. But an online dispensary or catalog — like Leafly and Weedmaps — is great for people who want to keep their time spent in a dispensary to a minimum.

Some people prefer online dispensaries for their discreteness. Others prefer them for their efficiency. In either case, you only have to stop in the dispensary to pick up your products. 

But like most things in the online world, not all online dispensaries are safe, so it’s helpful to know the most reputable places to buy your cannabis online. 

Is Dutchie an Online Dispensary?

Dutchie was created in 2017 in Bend, OR, as a collaboration between three dispensaries. It’s not an online dispensary, but a POS platform that allows dispensaries to take payments online through Dutchie Pay. 

Its “one-click” digital payment option, Dutchie Pay, enables customers to link their debit cards and pay online at checkout. Dutchie Pay uses a closed-loop automatic clearing house (ACH) bank transfer and is available to customers across the U.S. and Canada.

You can order from The Santa Fe Dispensary via Dutchie.

Is Leafly an Online Dispensary?

Leafly is a platform that lists local dispensaries and their latest deals. Using the customer’s ZIP code, Leafly pulls up the nearest online dispensaries to them. This allows the customer to browse different locations and order through their chosen dispensary’s website. Think of Leafly like an online dispensary phone book.

Leafly holds a wealth of information for people who want to learn about cannabis — in fact, it has “the most comprehensive weed strain database on the web,” according to its website. The Leafly app even allows you to keep a “budtender” in your pocket, so consumers can ask questions — and place orders — on the go. 

Products from The Santa Fe Dispensary will soon be listed on Leafly. 

Is Weedmaps an Online Dispensary?

Weedmaps, like Leafly, is not an online dispensary but an online catalog — and an app! — where customers can browse dispensaries and the latest deals near them. 

Shoppers can browse a list of dispensaries and their menus, order directly through their chosen dispensary’s website, and pick up at their nearest location.

Look out for The Santa Fe Dispensary on Weedmaps soon. 

What Are the Benefits of an Online Dispensary?

Let’s face it, hardly anyone uses cash anymore. Not only is online shopping convenient — you can shop from the comfort of your own home, while you’re walking the dog, or even on the train ride to work! — but it’s also an easier way to keep track of your purchases.

What’s more, marijuana legalization in states across the U.S. has stopped the clandestine element of buying weed. It’s no longer a cash-only transaction. Customers can use their bank accounts to keep accurate records of their cannabis purchases just as easily as they would their groceries and utility bills.

Can I Order Through an Online Dispensary & Pay in Cash at Pick Up?

Yes, you can still order online and choose to pay in cash when you get to the dispensary to collect your products.

At The Santa Fe Dispensary, our staff are always happy to chat face to face and answer all your questions about cannabis consumption and the products we carry. Thanks to online dispensary shopping options, your weed-buying experience has gotten a whole lot more flexible in the last few years.
Look out for The Santa Fe Dispensary on Leafly and Weedmaps, or visit us in store to pick up your order today!

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