Shopify is excellent for mainstream ecommerce — but it prohibits cannabis (THC) in its terms. DabDash gives you a delivery-first shop on your own domain, map-based zones, cash-on-delivery checkout, and Google-friendly pages from $95/month, live in minutes without a sales call.
Shopify is one of the largest general-purpose ecommerce platforms in the world. Dispensaries sometimes try it for online menus — but Shopify's terms explicitly prohibit cannabis (THC) products. CBD may be allowed under narrow rules, yet Shopify Payments does not support cannabis categories, so operators depend on fragile third-party processors and live with account-termination risk.
Cannabis delivery is not "Shopify plus a few plugins." You need zone-aware checkout, age verification, COD workflows, and a storefront Google can index — without violating platform policy. DabDash is built for that job: server-rendered shop pages, automatic zone detection from the customer address, optional driver dispatch, and Metrc connection for US licensees who need it.
| What you need | DabDash | Shopify |
|---|---|---|
| Going live | Self-serve signup — publish your shop in minutes | Theme setup, apps, and compliance workarounds |
| Coverage & fulfillment | Map-based zones, slots, dispatch — Metrc sync for US licensees | Shipping apps or custom dev — not native cannabis delivery |
| Your online menu | Your subdomain or custom domain — built for Google | Strong themes, but cannabis use violates ToS |
| How customers pay | You choose — COD, payment links, QR, crypto, or your processor via webhook | Shopify Payments unavailable for cannabis; third-party processors only |
| Monthly cost | $95/month published — no platform cut of your sales | Plan fee plus apps, dev, and processor fees — termination risk |
| Being found on Google | Server-rendered pages, structured data, optional SEO Max blogs | Strong SEO tools — if your store stays online |
Choose DabDash if you run cannabis delivery and need a shop that will not get shut down for selling THC. Strong fit when you were deplatformed from Shopify or Wix, need zones and COD as daily workflows, or want Metrc-aware ecommerce in the US without bolting apps together.
Shopify may still fit non-cannabis retail or hemp-only SKUs that clearly comply with its CBD rules — and operators who already have a compliant Shopify stack plus a developer to maintain it. For THC delivery, the policy risk usually outweighs the theme library.
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No. Shopify's terms prohibit cannabis (THC) dispensaries and products. CBD may be permitted under strict rules, but Shopify Payments does not support cannabis categories. Many operators face account suspension when flagged.
Yes. DabDash is purpose-built for cannabis delivery with owned storefronts, zone detection, COD checkout, and optional Metrc sync for US vendors — without Shopify's cannabis prohibition.
Not natively for hyper-local cannabis delivery. Operators typically add apps or custom development for zone-aware menus, age gates, and slot booking. DabDash includes zones and address-based detection out of the box.
Shopify Payments is unavailable for cannabis, so operators rely on third-party processors with higher fees and termination risk. DabDash supports cash on delivery natively plus payment links, QR, crypto, or your own processor — with no platform fee on your sales.
Yes. DabDash includes a Shopify product and customer importer in vendor settings — useful when you are migrating off a risky or terminated Shopify store.
Yes — for US vendors. Connect Metrc, sync inventory, map packages, and run compliance checks from your dashboard.
Operators selling non-cannabis goods, or hemp-only catalogs that clearly meet Shopify's CBD policy, may stay. THC delivery operators generally need a cannabis-specific platform.
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