Cannabis Loyalty Program Benefits: Points, Tiers, Rules

A cannabis loyalty program returns value to repeat customers. Stores use points, member prices, tier discounts, birthday credit, and early access to new products. Benefits and limits depend on the store and on state law. Some states restrict discounts that tie to a purchase.

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Benefit types

• Points per dollar. Earn 1 point per $1 spent. At 100 points for $5 off, that returns 5% of your spend.
• Tier pricing. A spend threshold, such as $500 in 12 months, moves you to a higher tier with lower prices on flower, vape, and edibles.
• Member drops. Text alerts go out 24 hours before a public release.
• Birthday credit. A set amount, such as $10, valid in your birth month.
• Referral credit. The referrer and the new customer both get points after a first purchase.
• Expiration and stacking. Points may expire at 90 or 365 days. Some stores block stacking a loyalty discount with a sale price.

Three numbers to ask for

1. Earn rate. Points per dollar, or a flat percent back.
2. Redemption rate. Points needed for $1 off.
3. Expiration window. Days until points drop off the account.

Divide the earn rate by the redemption rate to get your real return. A program at 1 point per $1 and 200 points for $5 off returns 2.5%. The same program at 100 points for $5 off returns 5%.

Maximize Your Savings with the Best Cannabis Loyalty Program Discounts

State rules

Cannabis agencies write the rules. The Washington State Liquor and Cannabis Board publishes limits on loyalty programs and purchase discounts. The Colorado Marijuana Enforcement Division publishes rules on promotions. The California Department of Cannabis Control publishes advertising and promotion rules for licensed retailers. Ask the store what it can offer in your state.

Cannabis Loyalty Program Examples: Boosting Customer Retention at Pop's Cannabis

What a program does not do

Points do not remove the tax. Taxes are added at the register, and a discount can change the tax base. Points do not move between stores. A points balance holds no cash value and cannot be sold.

Questions with no public answer

Program terms change. We cannot confirm the current terms of any single store. Ask for the printed terms and the expiration date before you enroll.