A cannabis consumer may hesitate to buy a $25 grinder, then spend several hundred dollars on a second dab rig they’ve had their eye on. The difference is how much each purchase matters to that person.
The same shopper can want a basic glass pipe and a premium concentrate device. They may pay for craftsmanship or a particular brand in one category and see little reason to spend more in another.
After years of watching cannabis accessories sell across dispensaries, we’ve found that consumers decide where to splurge category by category. Retailers that understand those choices can build a better assortment and put less money into products their customers do not want.
That pattern is holding in 2026. Internal LuvBuds sales data shows steady demand for value-priced basics and more selective demand for premium electronics, while glass is producing some of our clients’ strongest gross margins. Price alone tells only part of the story.
Glass Serves Both Ends of the Market
Glass is a useful place to start. A shopper who needs a functional pipe can find one for around $5. Someone buying a water pipe for everyday use might spend $25 to $50. Enthusiasts can spend considerably more on pieces they value for their craftsmanship, design or collectability, though those high-end “heady” pieces are usually bought directly from a glassblower rather than at a dispensary.
That range gives retailers room to serve different needs within a single category. With the right sourcing, a modest retail price can still leave room for a healthy gross margin.
At the basic end, the purchase is easy to understand. A customer buying flower can add a pipe without much research or a lengthy explanation. Shoppers who want more elaborate glass can trade up because they appreciate what makes a particular piece worth more.
Grinders often behave similarly. New designs and features keep arriving, but a straightforward grinder at the right price continues to sell. Its job has not changed: It grinds flower.
A High Price Does Not Create Demand
Premium electronics require a different approach than other cannabis accessories. These devices can cost hundreds of dollars and last for years, so customers have less reason to replace them often. Simply putting an expensive device on the shelf does not give someone a reason to buy it.
Puffco is one example of a brand that can generate demand beyond the normal replacement cycle. In our business, we see customers respond to its limited-edition releases, distinctive colorways and brand loyalty. A shopper who wants a particular release may already own a device that works perfectly well.
That demand is specific. If the edition sells out, the customer may not buy the similarly priced device sitting next to it.
Retailers should be careful about reading one successful product as evidence that customers want more expensive accessories across the board. A premium price needs a reason the customer recognizes. Otherwise, it can become cash tied up in slow-moving inventory.
The Same Customer Can Have Different Priorities
Income alone is a poor guide to spending on cannabis accessories. We have seen concentrate enthusiasts with limited disposable income own multiple expensive devices because that’s the part of their cannabis experience they care about most. The same person may buy a basic grinder or inexpensive rolling papers.
It’s a familiar pattern outside cannabis, too. Someone may wear a luxury watch with a $20 T-shirt, or spend thousands on a bicycle while driving an old car. People make room in their budgets for the things that matter to them.
For dispensaries, the useful question is which products their customers consider worth paying more for. Sales history and conversations at the counter will tell a retailer more than a broad label like “premium customer.”
Build the Assortment Around the Customer
At many dispensaries, cannabis accessories still account for less than 1.5% of revenue, according to internal LuvBuds data. That leaves room to increase basket size and gross profit by serving customers who are already in the store.
Stores participating in our merchandising and inventory programs have seen accessory sales grow by at least 80%, and by as much as 300%. They did not need walls of glass or thousands of SKUs to get there.
In many stores, a well-chosen starting assortment of roughly 40 to 50 products can cover the core needs. The mix should reflect how that store’s customers consume cannabis, what they ask for and what actually sells.
Execution matters just as much. Put accessories where shoppers can see them, make prices clear and keep dependable sellers in stock. Staff should be able to explain why a customer might choose one option over another.
Then look at sales, gross-profit dollars and inventory turnover to decide which products deserve more space. An expensive device that rarely sells should not crowd out a basic product customers buy every day.
A $5 pipe and a premium device can both earn their place in the same store. Consumers already know which parts of their routine matter enough to splurge on. The retailer’s job is to give them the choice.
