The annual 4/20 holiday remains a critical benchmark for retailers and their supporting technologies. This year, the performance of point-of-sale (POS) systems was under particular scrutiny, given past challenges during peak sales periods.
Cova Software: Maintaining a Flawless Record
Cova Software once again demonstrated its reliability, marking its eighth consecutive year without any system outages on 4/20. The company reported a 51% increase in U.S. sales compared to a typical Saturday, with Canadian retailers experiencing a 38% boost on April 17th, the peak sales day of the 4/20 weekend. Cova’s ongoing system stability and real-time sales monitoring proved vital in handling the surge.
Dutchie: A Year of Redemption
After facing significant outages in previous years, Dutchie invested heavily in infrastructure improvements, including dedicated servers, a strengthened engineering team, and updated standard operating procedures. These efforts appear to have paid off, as no major disruptions were reported during 4/20 2025. Retailers like The Travel Agency in New York City worked closely with Dutchie’s technical teams in the days leading up to the holiday to conduct stress testing and ensure peak performance.
Industry-Wide Preparations and Outcomes
Retailers across the country took proactive measures to prepare for the 4/20 sales surge. In New Jersey, Sparkology conducted a soft launch in March to identify any operational inefficiencies, allowing them to optimize ahead of the holiday. Hi! People Cannabis Market in Connecticut significantly increased inventory and installed additional ATMs to prevent transaction delays. Meanwhile, Cannabis & Glass, which operates in Washington and Oregon, began preparations months in advance, focusing on forecasting staffing needs, conducting POS load tests, and training employees on contingency plans.
The result was a largely smooth and uninterrupted shopping experience across most legal markets, with increased customer satisfaction and faster transaction times. Consumers noted fewer queues and more efficient checkout processes compared to previous years.
The Bigger Picture
The cannabis industry’s approach to 4/20 in 2025 reflected a broader shift toward professionalization and operational excellence. POS systems, which once posed a weak link during high-volume events, have become more robust thanks to increased investment, cloud redundancy, and 24/7 monitoring. Retailers now view POS technology as a strategic asset rather than just a transactional necessity.
Additionally, some systems incorporated AI tools to manage traffic spikes, provide predictive insights into consumer behavior, and automate product restocking alerts—further streamlining operations during critical sales windows.
Final Thoughts
The 4/20 holiday in 2025 showcased the cannabis industry’s growing resilience and adaptability. With POS systems like Cova maintaining impeccable uptime and others like Dutchie demonstrating significant improvements, retailers were better equipped to handle the demands of the year’s busiest sales day. These developments indicate a positive trajectory for the industry’s technological infrastructure and promise even smoother operations in future high-demand periods.
As more states embrace legalization and consumer expectations rise, reliable and scalable POS systems will remain essential to success in the modern cannabis retail landscape.