Flower vs. vapes is less a rivalry than a tale of two velocities. In most legal markets, flower still commands the largest share of sales; meanwhile, vape products often “move” faster on an average week because they generate frequent, low-friction repeat purchases. The pattern flips on big promo windows (e.g., 4/20), when price-driven flower surges. Understanding these dynamics helps wholesalers position inventory for both steady cash conversion and high-octane promotional spikes.
Category size sets the baseline. LeafLink’s Spring 2024 market report pegged flower at ~40% of retail sales and ~34% of wholesale, with cartridges the No. 2 form factor at ~25% of wholesale—shares that remained stable through 2024. BDSA likewise describes category share as largely stabilized at the top level, with flower the largest category and vapes second. Headset’s 4/20 performance recap adds a crucial nuance: vapor pens are the second-largest category overall but see the smallest holiday lift, implying vapes sell as everyday, convenience-driven items rather than promo-spike buys.
Why vapes move quickly. Vapes benefit from discrete use, dose consistency, and battery-anchored ecosystems that lower decision friction. A customer who already owns a 510 battery or proprietary system (e.g., STIIIZY pods or PAX Era) can repurchase a familiar oil and terpene profile in seconds. Price compression has accelerated turns, too: MJBizDaily, drawing on LeafLink wholesale data, reported 2023–24 declines in average cartridge prices, reducing per-gram costs and making replenishment easier for retailers and consumers alike. Add the format’s portability for on-the-go occasions, and weekly sell-through becomes remarkably dependable.
What sells within vapes. Brands with strong hardware fit and broad flavor/strain menus tend to churn quickly: STIIIZY’s proprietary pods; Select Elite and Live Resin cartridges; Rove Classics; Raw Garden live resin; 710 Labs live rosin carts; and PAX Era pods often anchor the set in mature markets. LeafLink’s year-end lists spotlight STIIIZY among top-selling national brands, and cartridge winners like Breeze Canna illustrate how recognizable names drive velocity at the peg. BDSA also flags fast-rising disposable vape segments in several markets, underscoring the category’s momentum.
Why flower still flies—especially on promos. Flower remains the most shoppable entry point and the most price-elastic category. During tentpoles, retailers lean into eighth and ounce discounts, and sell-through spikes accordingly. Flowhub’s 420 guide shows flower was the most popular category on 4/20/2024, while Headset’s 2025 cut confirms vapes’ holiday lift is comparatively muted—evidence that flower’s velocity is highly responsive to promotions and “fresh drop” cycles. Strain hype and bag appeal matter; launches featuring terp-rich lots and eye-catching buds can move premium eighths rapidly, particularly when layered with bundle pricing.
Operational drivers of speed. Outside promotions, flower’s physical bulk, perishability, and batch variability can slow turns. Inventory managers track “days of supply,” navigate humidity control, and watch for quality degradation. Vapes, by contrast, are space-efficient, have longer shelf lives, and are easy to face and count. Subcategories—distillate (value), live resin (terpene-forward), and live rosin (solventless premium)—give buyers good-better-best levers across price tiers so pegs stay full without overcommitting to any one strain or batch. Those characteristics translate to smoother weekly reorders.
Wholesale implications. If the objective is consistent cash conversion, maintain a rolling slate of vape SKUs in proven ecosystems, balancing value distillate with terpene-rich live resin/rosin. Lean on brand gravity—STIIIZY, Select, Raw Garden, 710 Labs, Rove, PAX—to anchor the assortment, then layer in credible local heroes to localize demand. For flower, plan tighter buys, align drops with promotional calendars, and pair premium eighths with budget ounces to capture both trade-up and value-seeking missions. LeafLink’s pricing compendia for 2024–25, which aggregate billions in wholesale orders across hundreds of thousands of SKUs, are useful benchmarks when setting tiers and negotiating terms.
Bottom line: flower is still king on dollar share, but vape products usually move faster in the “everyday” lane thanks to habitual, low-friction consumption, hardware lock-in, and recent price compression. Make flower sprint with freshness and promos; rely on vapes to keep weekly velocity—and cash flow—steady.