5 Clever Ways to Market Your Dispensary Without Google or Facebook Ads

It’s a grind to run a cannabis dispensary. You’ve got good products, good staff, and a plan to scale, and then you go try to post an ad on Google or Facebook and boom, rejected. “Policy violation,” you’re informed. You’re losing your mind, right? Big Tech doesn’t like our world, and that leaves you scrambling to figure out a way to reach new consumers or get that weekend sale out the door. But the silver lining: you don’t have to play on their fields to win. There are smarter, scrappier ways to market your dispensary that don’t involve the usual suspects. Let’s look at five strategies you can start using today, along with a little secret on how to make them even easier.

1. SMS Campaigns That Stick

Text messages are pure gold here. Humans actually read them, over 90% in minutes, according to research. How’s that vs. spam-ridden emails? The catch? You can’t just send out “25% off pre-rolls!” anywhere, SMS regulations have tightened. Instead, get creative with vetted messages like “Your reward points just updated – check your balance!” or “New message for you.” Add a link to an age-gated landing page (21+ age verification required), and that landing page can go into detail: “Flash sale: 25% off until 5 PM!”

Pro Tip: You’ll need a service that works under cannabis laws, most of them block us flat out. Start small, track clicks from those links, and watch your regulars get lit.

2. Build a Branded Community

Why chase customers when you can make them come to you? Create a members-only club, might be a simple email list, a site forum, or even an app, where your devoted fans are in the know: early sale alert, strain drop, or cannabis tips. Make it a VIP club, exclusive and all that. Maybe add a monthly giveaway (free eighth, anyone?).

Why It Works: People stick around for community, not just products. And it’s your space, no ad bans. Begin small with your most valuable customers and let word-of-mouth do the rest.

3. QR Codes in Real World

Old-school meets new-school courtesy of QR codes. Place them on receipts, billboards, or store windows, link them to an offer (“Scan for a surprise discount”) or sign-up form for your text list. They are cheap to print out (scores of free generators online) and fill that gap between in-store to online.

Hack: Write down the number of scans that translate into sales. A simple spreadsheet will tell you what works and what doesn’t. Example: 20 scans from that counter last week translated into five extra sales. It is not automated but does work.

4. Local Influencer Collabs

Influencers aren’t always celebrity million-followers. Get a local weed blogger, TikTok-followed budtender, or vape shop owner who has influence in your area. Offer ’em a freebie or discount code for their followers (“Use BUDDY10 at checkout”). Be cool and authentic, no hard sell.

Measure It: Give them their own code or link so that you can tell how many customers they drive in. Last month, a dispensary I am familiar with got together with a local strain reviewer and 50 new faces walked through the door. Not bad for a handshake and a sample.

5. Niche Ad Platforms with HighDay

Big platforms can ignore us, but cannabis-friendly platforms can’t. HighDay’s dedicated ad system lets you run campaigns of your preference for your people, geo-targeted, product-based, no BS. Rates vary (think $500/month for a solid push), but you’re targeting users already looking for bud, not scrolling past cat vids.

Get Started: Dip your toe in with a small budget. Use a promo or “new customer” offer. Monitor the clicks and traffic in a week, better ROI than begging Meta for mercy.

Wrap-Up: You've Got This

Here’s the bottom line:
Big Tech’s ad bans don’t have to stop you cold. SMS with smart links, your own community, QR codes, local buzz, and HighDay’s ad platform can keep your dispensary open, gatekeepers notwithstanding. Start with one idea, track what works, and build from there. It’s hustle, not handouts.

Want to Make It Even More Seamless?

HighDay connects all these tricks into one place, compliant SMS and age-gated landing pages, community building, cannabis-friendly ad copy, and tracking, all in one place. And if you’re tired of scribbling notes to follow up with leads, pick up our free guide below. It’s got a manual system to keep you rolling and a glimpse at how to eliminate the hassle altogether.

Curious how other dispensary owners keep up with customer follow-ups?
Download “The Dispensary Owner’s Guide to Manual Follow-Up (And How to Ditch It)” and see what’s working.