A cannabis rewards program issues points when you buy at a dispensary. You collect points in an account tied to your phone number, email, or app login. Points convert to a discount, store credit, or a listed item at checkout. Earn rates run from 1 point per $1 spent to 10 points per $1 spent. Redemption values run from 100 points for $5 off to 1,000 points for $50 off. Store terms set the numbers. State law sets the limits.
How points are earned
Earn rules are simple at most stores: a set number of points for each dollar spent before tax. Common rates:
- 1 point per $1 spent
- 5 points per $1 on flower, 1 point per $1 on accessories
- Double points on a fixed day of the week
- Bonus points for a first order, a product review, or a birthday month
Points post after the sale completes. Returns and canceled orders remove the points from the account.
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How points are redeemed
Redemption turns points into value. Formats include a discount at checkout, store credit loaded to the account, a set item at a point threshold, and tier upgrades that raise the earn rate. Most programs set a minimum, such as 100 points. Some allow partial redemption. Some do not. Points hold no cash value and cannot be sold or transferred.
State rules that shape a program
Cannabis sits on Schedule I of the federal Controlled Substances Act. No federal rule covers loyalty points, so each state writes its own. Four limits show up in state codes:
- Bans on free cannabis as a prize, raffle item, or giveaway
- Caps on the discount as a share of the ticket
- ID checks at each visit, separate from the loyalty account
- Restrictions on points tied to medical cannabis sales
Ask the store which state rules apply to its program. Rules change with each legislative session.
Taxes and points
Cannabis taxes apply to the sale. States differ on the taxable base. Some tax the full price before the loyalty discount. Others tax the price after the discount. The receipt shows the base. A $5 discount may cut the tax, or it may not.
What to check before you join
- Earn rate: points per dollar, and whether accessories count.
- Redemption tiers: points needed for the smallest reward.
- Expiration: months of inactivity that void a balance.
- Exclusions: taxes, delivery fees, sale items, medical orders.
- Data: what the store keeps, who sees it, how to close the account.
- Limits: one account per person, no transfer, no cash out.
Medical patients and rewards
Medical cannabis rules are separate in most states. Some states bar discounts and loyalty points on medical purchases. Some allow them. Patient counts, possession limits, and tax rates differ from adult-use rules. Ask the dispensary before you enroll a medical account.
Points versus other promotions
A points program is not a daily deal. A daily deal cuts the price for a set window. Points accrue over time and pay out later. Stacking rules matter: many stores block a points discount on an item that is on sale.