Most dispensaries text best from a registered 10DLC number
Most dispensaries should text from a registered 10DLC number, a local ten-digit number registered through The Campaign Registry. Toll-free suits a group that wants one national number, once verification clears. A short code suits high-volume programs, but each carrier decides which short code programs it carries, and approval takes longer.
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Each number type has its own approval path, and no number can text until its approval clears. Pick the type that fits your store, and the wait before your first send is the shortest it can be.
| Number type | What it is | How it is approved |
|---|---|---|
| 10DLC | A standard ten-digit local number. | Brand and campaign registered through The Campaign Registry by a messaging provider, then reviewed by the provider and carriers. |
| Toll-free | A text-enabled 8XX number, such as 800 or 888. | Toll-free verification. Since January 31, 2024, texts from unverified or pending toll-free numbers are blocked. |
| Short code | A five or six digit number leased from the Short Code Registry. | Carrier approval before launch. The U.S. Short Code Registry says provisioning can take two to four weeks. |
10DLC fits most single stores and small groups
It is a local number your customers recognise when your Friday text lands. Throughput depends on your brand and campaign rather than how many numbers you hold, and vetting is the route to higher throughput.
Sticky SMS files your 10DLC registration at no charge
Sticky SMS by Sticky Cards is texting built into Sticky Cards, the loyalty and marketing platform for cannabis dispensaries. We file your 10DLC registration with The Campaign Registry. There is no charge for the number, the registration or any other setup to get it approved, and you pay only for the texts you send.
Most stores are live in 1 to 2 days. It can take longer depending on the brand, and we work through it with you. We work with carriers and their partners to get your store approved under its own brand and legal name.
On Sticky SMS, one number serves your brand across several stores, so a group does not need a number per location.
Toll-free fits a group that wants one national number
A group that sends the same weekly text from every location can run it from one national number. The trade-off is timing: the number cannot send a single text until toll-free verification is approved.
A short code fits high-volume programs, once each carrier accepts them
Short codes suit high-volume programs and short keywords a customer can read off a counter sign. Each carrier decides which short code programs it carries, and CTIA tells short code senders to raise topics like controlled substances with each carrier during onboarding.
In Canada, Sticky SMS files your Canadian short code, with no filing fee.
Content still decides how each text is judged
An approved number can still have texts filtered. CTIA’s principles let providers block or filter traffic they consider unwanted, so what the text says matters whichever number you pick. See why dispensary texts get blocked.
For the registration form itself, read our 10DLC registration guide for dispensaries, or browse all Sticky SMS guides for dispensaries.
Build your text program with us
Book a time and we will walk through your list, your POS and the texts you want to send, on a video call with a real person.
Book a demoFrequently asked questions
Which number type is best for a dispensary?
A registered 10DLC number, for most stores. A group that wants one national number may prefer toll-free, and a high-volume program a short code. On Sticky SMS, one number serves your brand across several stores.
How long does 10DLC approval take with Sticky SMS?
Most stores are live in 1 to 2 days. It can take longer depending on the brand, and we work through it with you.
Does Sticky SMS charge for 10DLC registration?
No. There is no charge for the number, the registration or any other setup to get a 10DLC number approved. You pay only for the texts you send.
How long does a short code take?
The U.S. Short Code Registry says provisioning can take two to four weeks. Each carrier also decides whether it carries the program.
Can a toll-free number text without verification?
No. Texts from unverified or pending toll-free numbers have been blocked since January 31, 2024.
Sources
- The Campaign Registry, Resources and FAQ (opens in a new tab), accessed October 18, 2026
- CTIA, Messaging Principles and Best Practices (May 2023) (opens in a new tab), accessed October 18, 2026
- CTIA, Short Code Monitoring Program Handbook, version 1.9 (opens in a new tab), accessed October 18, 2026
- Twilio, Error 30032: toll-free number has not been verified (opens in a new tab), accessed October 18, 2026
- U.S. Short Code Registry, FAQs (opens in a new tab), accessed October 18, 2026
- T-Mobile, Consumer versus non-consumer text messaging (opens in a new tab), accessed October 18, 2026