Smoke Shop Front Counter Staff Training

Vocabulary flashcards covering legal regulations, product categories, hardware, safety, and POS procedures for front counter smoke shop staff.

Minimum age to buy tobacco and vape products (federal and California)

21

What to check on every ID

Photo, birthdate, expiration date, and hologram or security features

Straw purchase

Someone buying tobacco or vape products for a minor. Refuse the sale.

When to refuse a sale

No valid unexpired ID, suspected straw purchase, or customer visibly intoxicated

Why avoid health claims

Never say a product treats, cures, or helps a medical condition

California flavored tobacco rule

California restricts flavored tobacco statewide, and some cities add their own rules. Confirm what your shop can stock.

Menthol cigarettes

Cigarettes with a cooling flavor. Restricted in some places, so check local rules.

Cigarette pack types

Hard box and soft pack

Cigarette sizes

Regular, 100s, and slims

Natural leaf wrapper vs. homogenized wrapper

Natural wrappers are whole tobacco leaf. Homogenized (reconstituted) wrappers are made from processed tobacco. Wrapper type affects taste and burn.

Humidor

A box that keeps premium cigars at proper humidity (about 70 percent)

Common rolling paper brands

RAW, Zig-Zag, OCB, Elements

Common rolling paper sizes

Single wide, 1 1/4, and king size

Pre-rolled cones

Ready-made rolling papers that save the customer time

Snus

A moist tobacco pouch placed under the lip, no spitting needed

Nicotine pouches

Tobacco-free pouches. Strength is listed in mg.

Pipe tobacco

Loose-leaf blends, often aromatic or non-aromatic

Chewing tobacco forms

Loose leaf, plug, and twist

Disposable vape

All-in-one, pre-filled device. Simple and popular with beginners.

Refillable pod system

Small device with replaceable or refillable pods. Mid-level option.

Box mod

Larger, more powerful vape with adjustable settings. For experienced users.

Freebase nicotine

Harsher on the throat. Usually lower strengths in larger devices.

Nicotine salts

Smoother at higher strengths. Used in small pod devices.

PG vs. VG

More PG gives a stronger throat hit and better flavor. More VG gives bigger clouds and a smoother inhale.

How e-liquid nicotine strength is listed

In mg/mL or percent. Higher numbers mean stronger nicotine.

Why check compatibility before selling coils or pods

Coils and pods are specific to a brand and often a model. The wrong one will not work.

External vape battery size example

18650. Needs the correct charger.

Vape battery safety rules

No loose batteries in pockets with keys or coins. Stop using damaged, swollen, or hot batteries. Follow shop emergency procedure if one overheats.

Bong vs. hand pipe

Bongs use water filtration. Hand pipes are small and portable.

Pipe materials

Glass, silicone, metal, and ceramic

Glass pipe tradeoff

Clear and flavorful, but breakable

Silicone pipe tradeoff

Durable and hard to break

Grinder types

Two-piece, three-piece, and four-piece (with a kief catcher)

Common lighter and torch types

Disposable, refillable, and butane torch lighters

Common way to clean glass

Isopropyl alcohol and coarse salt

Storage accessories

Airtight jars, humidity packs, and smell-proof bags

CBD

Non-intoxicating hemp compound sold as oils, gummies, and topicals

Delta-8

Can be intoxicating and is heavily regulated or banned in many places

Federal hemp law change

Federal hemp law changed in late 2025, with new limits taking effect in November 2026. Ask your manager what is legal now.

Kratom legal status

Mixed across states and cities. Some places ban or restrict it.

Kava

Plant-based drink or powder, usually less restricted. Still check local rules.

Good way to start a product conversation

Ask a simple question like: Are you looking for something disposable or refillable?

How to upsell the right way

Suggest relevant extras like a spare coil, lighter, or cleaning kit without pressure

Void vs. return on a POS

A void cancels an item before the sale is finished. A return happens after the sale and usually needs a receipt and manager approval.

Steps to ring up a sale on a POS

Scan or tap the item, check the age, choose Pay, then take cash or card

End-of-day POS tasks

Count the drawer and run the end-of-day report

Stock rotation

Sell older products first

Common theft targets

Small, expensive items. Keep high-value items behind the counter or locked.

Counterfeit bill check

Check large bills for security features