California cannabis dispensary introduces RFID-powered self-checkout

Perfect Union Northside in Sacramento has become the first licensed cannabis dispensary in California to receive regulatory approval for RFID-powered self-checkout technology. The system, developed by EXO, is designed to speed up transactions while improving inventory management and security.

The California Department of Cannabis Control (DCC) approved the system following an inspection and review. Regulators confirmed that the technology could remain in use on the shop floor while complying with state cannabis regulations.

During the assessment, the system successfully communicated with the dispensary’s point-of-sale platform and Metrc, California’s cannabis tracking system. This integration is intended to support compliance with regulations governing the sale and distribution of cannabis products.

The EXO platform uses radio-frequency identification (RFID) to identify multiple tagged products simultaneously. This reduces the need to scan individual items manually and is intended to make checkout faster and more efficient.

In addition to self-checkout, the technology provides real-time inventory visibility and supports automated stock counting. It also offers additional controls designed to help prevent losses and improve retail security.

The implementation brings RFID technology, already used in various mainstream retail environments, into California’s regulated cannabis sector. The system combines checkout, inventory management and loss prevention in a single platform.

EXO developed the solution in collaboration with Perfect Union, retail software provider Treez and Riot Insight. The partners aim to combine transaction processing, inventory tracking and regulatory compliance within an integrated system.

According to MWG Holdings CEO Tom Sheridan, the technology is intended to improve the customer experience while giving employees better control over inventory and security. EXO also sees the project as an opportunity to demonstrate how RFID can be applied in a highly regulated retail environment.

The deployment marks a new step in the use of automated checkout technology in California’s cannabis industry, where retailers must balance operational efficiency with strict regulatory requirements.