How to Build a Cannabis Loyalty Program That Actually Works

In today’s hyper-competitive cannabis retail landscape, having a loyalty program isn’t optional – it’s essential.
But here’s the hard truth: most cannabis loyalty programs don’t work.

Why? Because they’re either too complicated, too disconnected from the customer journey, or too outdated to deliver real results.

At Sticky Cards, we help dispensaries across North America build loyalty programs that actually work – ones that drive retention, boost revenue, and keep your brand top-of-mind with zero friction.

In this guide, we’ll break down how to build a cannabis loyalty program that delivers results, not just points.

Why Most Cannabis Loyalty Programs Fail

Let’s start with what not to do. Many dispensaries make the mistake of launching loyalty programs that:

• Require customers to download an app they’ll never use

• Only reward discounts, with no emotional engagement

• Don’t integrate with their POS system

• Are hard to explain at checkout

• Don’t notify customers when they’ve earned or can redeem rewards

The result? Low engagement, low ROI, and missed opportunity.

What Makes a Cannabis Loyalty Program Actually Work?

Start With the Right Technology

A good loyalty program starts with the right foundation. If your POS and marketing tools don’t talk to each other, you’re setting yourself up for failure.

Sticky Cards integrates directly with your POS, making it easy to enroll customers, track rewards, and send real-time updates, all without the need for clunky apps or manual input.

Keep the Earning & Redemption Process Stupid-Simple

Customers won’t use a loyalty program if it’s confusing. You need a system that:

• Enrolls them in seconds (ideally at checkout)

• Clearly shows them how to earn points

• Sends a push notification when they’ve earned a reward

• Makes it super easy to redeem it

Sticky Cards does this automatically through your POS + push notifications – no cards, no apps, no guesswork.

Offer More Than Discounts

Discounts are nice, but they’re not the only motivator.

To stand out, build loyalty by offering:

• Exclusive product drops

• Early access to sales

• VIP-only events or merch

• Birthday rewards

• Referral bonuses

These kinds of emotional rewards foster real brand loyalty — not just deal-chasing behavior.

Use Push Notifications to Stay Top-of-Mind

Let’s face it – SMS is expensive, restricted, and fading fast. And emails get buried. But push notifications? They go straight to the lock screen and cost a fraction of SMS.

It’s instant gratification that keeps customers engaged and coming back.

Track & Optimize Your Program

You can’t improve what you don’t measure.
Look at metrics like:

• Repeat visit rate

• Average order value (AOV) for loyalty members vs. non-members

• Redemption rate on rewards

• Customer lifetime value (CLV)

Sticky Cards gives you real-time insights into loyalty performance, so you can tweak rewards and campaigns for max ROI.

Bonus: Promote Your Loyalty Program Everywhere

Even the best loyalty program fails if nobody knows about it.
Promote it at:

• Checkout (train your budtenders to offer it every time)

• Your website (banner, homepage, menu)

• Social media (“Join our loyalty club for early drops”)

• In-store signage with QR codes to enroll

• Push notifications (“You’re one visit away from a free reward!”)

  
  

Make Loyalty a Profit Center — Not a Cost Center

The best cannabis loyalty programs don’t just give away discounts. They increase the value of every customer relationship.

With Sticky Cards, you’ll build a loyalty program that:

• Runs itself in the background

• Drives measurable repeat business

• Builds emotional engagement with your brand

• Integrates fully with your POS

• Costs less than SMS marketing, with way better results

  
  

Ready to Build a Loyalty Program That Works?

You don’t need another app.
You don’t need another “punch card” system.
You need loyalty that fits your dispensary, your POS, and your customers.

Book a demo with Sticky Cards and let’s build a loyalty program that actually works.