Cannabis geofencing for dispensaries: how it works

Cannabis geofencing sends a message to a customer’s phone when they’re near a place you choose. In Sticky Cards, that place is a pin you drop on a map, and the message lands on the lock screen from the loyalty card already in their wallet. No app, no hardware.

Below: what geofencing is, where dispensaries put their fences, and how to keep the messages worth reading. Want to see it on your own store first? Book a demo.

What cannabis geofencing is

A geofence is a virtual boundary around a real place. When a phone crosses it, something happens. For a dispensary, that something is usually an offer.

In Sticky Cards you name the zone, type an address, place the pin, choose which cards it covers and write the message. A phone preview beside the field shows the message on a lock screen as you type, so what you see is what lands.

It reaches the people who carry your card. The loyalty pass sits in Apple Wallet, and the phone decides when the customer is close enough to surface it, the same way it handles every other pass. There’s no separate location permission for your store to ask for. More on how zones work is on the geo-fenced offers page.

Why Geofencing Works for Cannabis Retail

Cannabis customers are often impulse-driven. They may be searching for a deal, trying a new product, or visiting a dispensary for the first time.

Geofencing ads let you:

• Target people near your dispensary
• Send promotions when they're close and likely to convert
• Attract foot traffic from nearby competitors
• Increase awareness during key hours (lunch, commute, etc.)

How to Use Geofencing With Sticky Cards

Sticky Cards runs geofencing through the loyalty card in your customer’s wallet, so there’s no app to download. Here’s how you can make it work:

1. Set Up Custom Geofences

Choose specific locations to geofence:

• Your own dispensary
• Competing dispensaries
• Events, concerts, or festivals
• Busy intersections near your shop

2. Trigger Smart Campaigns in Real Time

When a customer enters your geofence, automatically trigger a push notification like:

“You’re nearby! Pop in and get 20% off today only.”

“2x loyalty points if you visit us in the next hour.”

These messages are timely, personal, and drive immediate action.

3. Capture Walk-Ins & Build Loyalty

Even if someone doesn’t buy right away, you’ve captured their attention and with Sticky Cards, you can prompt them to join your loyalty program with just a tap.

Add a wallet pass directly to their Apple Wallet or Google Wallet, so your brand stays on their phone, even after they leave.

The rules still apply

A geofenced message is still advertising, and it answers to the same rules as anything else you send. Sticky Cards applies your send window and your age gate to it like every other send. Check your state’s rules before you fence a competitor or anywhere near a school.

Pro Tips to Maximize Geofencing ROI

• Segment your audience: Don’t blast the same message to everyone. Tailor it to loyalty members, first-timers, or VIPs.
• Test different messages: A/B test offers and timing.
• Use exclusivity: “Today only” and “members-only” offers work great near competitors.
• Measure and optimize: Use Sticky Cards’ analytics to track conversion rates and customer visits.

Final Thoughts

Geofencing works best as a reminder to people who already know you, sent at the moment they’re close enough to act on it. When paired with Sticky Cards’ loyalty marketing tools, it becomes a powerful combo to engage, convert, and retain customers near your dispensary.

Want to map your first zones? Book a demo.