Cannabis rewards programs can be a great way for customers to save money and access exclusive perks at their favorite dispensaries. But behind the deals and discounts lies a set of agreements that consumers often overlook. When signing up, you’re not just joining a loyalty club—you’re entering into a relationship that may involve data sharing, marketing permissions, and specific terms of use.
Personal Information Collection
When you join a cannabis rewards program, you’re typically asked to provide personal information such as your name, phone number, email address, date of birth, and sometimes even a government-issued ID. This data helps dispensaries verify that you’re of legal age and eligible for enrollment, but it also enables them to track your purchasing behavior and engagement over time.
Depending on the dispensary’s privacy policy, this information may be stored in third-party systems—often tied to their point-of-sale (POS) or customer relationship management (CRM) platforms. Some companies even share anonymized data with marketing firms for trend analysis.
Communication Consent
By signing up, you usually agree to receive communications via SMS, email, or app notifications. These messages may include exclusive offers, birthday discounts, product announcements, or reminders to redeem points. While many programs offer opt-out options, the default setting is often opt-in, and some customers find the frequency of messages excessive if they don’t adjust their settings.
Purchase Tracking and Profiling
Rewards programs are designed to encourage repeat visits by monitoring your spending and purchase habits. Every time you scan your phone number or membership card, dispensaries log your product preferences, visit frequency, and transaction totals. This allows for more personalized offers, but it also builds a profile of your cannabis use—which can raise privacy concerns for some consumers.
In regulated markets, this data must be kept confidential and secure, but it’s still wise to read the fine print. Check whether the dispensary retains your data after account deactivation, and if so, for how long.
Terms and Conditions
Most cannabis loyalty programs include terms and conditions that may change over time. These terms cover how points are earned, when they expire, whether they can be redeemed with promotions, and whether they hold any cash value (hint: they usually don’t). You’re agreeing to those rules when you join—and dispensaries often reserve the right to modify them without prior notice.
The Takeaway
Joining a cannabis rewards program has real benefits: savings, insider access, and personalized experiences. But it also comes with commitments—especially regarding data sharing and communication preferences. Before enrolling, take a moment to read the privacy policy and terms. It’s a simple step that ensures you stay informed and in control while still enjoying the perks.
