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Local Marketing Tactics to Drive Foot Traffic to Your Dispensary

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Local Marketing Tactics to Drive Foot Traffic to Your Dispensary

With more cannabis dispensaries opening across the country, standing out in your local market is more important than ever. While online ordering and delivery are growing fast, in-store visits still play a major role in customer engagement and revenue. The key is making sure nearby customers know who you are, where you are, and why they should stop in.

Local marketing focuses on reaching the people closest to your location—those who are most likely to visit your shop, tell others about it, and become regular customers. It’s not just about promotions; it’s about presence, consistency, and community connection. If you want to grow your dispensary’s walk-in traffic, here are the most effective local marketing tactics to put into action.

Optimize Your Google Business Profile

Your Google Business Profile is often the first thing people see when they search for cannabis near them. It shows your address, hours, contact info, and reviews—all in one place. An optimized profile improves your visibility in local searches and increases your chances of showing up in the Google Maps 3-pack.

To get the most out of your profile:

  • Make sure your name, address, and phone number match your website exactly
  • Choose the right primary and secondary categories like “Cannabis Store” or “Herbal Medicine Store”
  • Add high-quality photos of your storefront, staff, interior, and products
  • Keep your hours and holiday schedule up to date
  • Post updates weekly about events, specials, or new product drops
  • Encourage happy customers to leave reviews and respond to them promptly

Appearing in local search results gives nearby users a quick way to find you and learn why they should visit.

List Your Business on Local and Cannabis-Specific Directories

The more places your dispensary appears online, the more credibility and visibility you build. Start with general directories like Yelp, YellowPages, and Apple Maps, then focus on cannabis-specific platforms like:

  • Weedmaps
  • Leafly
  • Where’s Weed
  • Cannawayz
  • AllBud

These sites allow you to list your location, update menus, and run promotions. They’re often used by cannabis consumers looking for dispensaries near them, making them a valuable source of foot traffic when optimized correctly.

Make sure your information is consistent across all listings. Discrepancies in name, address, or phone number can confuse both customers and search engines.

Host In-Store Events and Vendor Days

Nothing brings people through the door like a well-planned in-store event. Vendor days, educational sessions, or themed celebrations not only attract foot traffic but also build relationships and keep your brand top of mind in the community.

Popular event ideas include:

  • Vendor pop-ups with product reps and giveaways
  • Patient education workshops or strain tastings
  • Holiday-themed sales or celebrations
  • Local artist showcases or music nights
  • Loyalty member appreciation days

Promote events in advance using your website, email list, and social media platforms. On the day of the event, capture content for future promotion and encourage visitors to tag your dispensary on Instagram or Facebook to extend your reach.

Use Geo-Targeted Advertising

Digital ads can be a powerful way to target people in your service area. Use geo-targeting tools in platforms like Google Ads, Meta, or cannabis-friendly ad networks to reach users based on location, age, and interests.

For example, run ads that appear to people within five miles of your shop who have searched for cannabis, CBD, or wellness products. You can also serve display ads on mobile apps or websites people in your area visit frequently.

Keep your messaging simple and locally focused. Phrases like “Visit Us in [City]” or “Now Serving [Neighborhood]” help reinforce your location. Link directly to your menu or a map with directions to encourage action.

Partner with Local Businesses

Collaborating with other local businesses is a great way to reach new audiences and create win-win relationships. Think beyond cannabis and look for partnerships with:

  • Coffee shops and cafes
  • Fitness studios or yoga instructors
  • Tattoo parlors, art galleries, or barber shops
  • Clothing boutiques or lifestyle brands

You can cross-promote through flyers, social posts, bundled giveaways, or shared events. These partnerships show that your dispensary is active in the community and help attract like-minded customers.

You might also consider sponsoring local events or causes such as food drives, community cleanups, or neighborhood festivals. Supporting local initiatives helps build goodwill and brings attention to your brand.

Use In-Store Signage to Encourage Referrals

Your in-store traffic is also one of your best local marketing tools. Encourage satisfied customers to refer friends, leave reviews, and follow your social accounts.

Some effective in-store promotions include:

  • “Refer a friend, get 10 percent off your next visit”
  • QR codes that link to your Google review page
  • Instagram check-in contests or giveaways
  • Loyalty programs with in-store exclusive perks

Make sure your signage is visible, easy to understand, and consistent with your overall branding.

Engage With Local Social Media Communities

Your social presence should feel like a reflection of your neighborhood. Engage with local hashtags, tag other nearby businesses, and share content that resonates with your local audience.

If your city or region has cannabis-friendly Facebook groups, Reddit threads, or neighborhood forums, participate respectfully and offer value when appropriate. These spaces are great for soft promotion, answering questions, and getting to know your customer base beyond transactions.

Avoid overly salesy posts and focus on building trust and awareness through storytelling, education, and consistency.

Send Targeted Emails With Local Offers

Email marketing remains one of the most effective ways to bring people into your store. Use location-based segments within your list to send relevant updates and local promotions.

Ideas for location-driven emails:

  • “This Weekend in [City]: Vendor Day + 20% Off Select Brands”
  • “New Arrivals at Our [Neighborhood] Location”
  • “Just Dropped in [Zip Code]: Exclusive Edible Packs”

Highlight in-store exclusives to give people a reason to stop by in person. Include your address, store hours, and a link to directions so readers can act right away.

Track What Works and Adjust Your Strategy

Every market is different, and your approach should evolve based on what your audience responds to. Use tools like Google Analytics, your POS system, and customer feedback to understand:

  • Where foot traffic is coming from
  • What promotions drive the most in-store visits
  • Which events or campaigns led to spikes in activity

Over time, this data will help you invest more in the strategies that actually bring people through the door and less in those that don’t deliver results.

Final Thoughts

Local marketing is about more than just visibility—it’s about connection. When customers feel like your dispensary is a part of their community, they’re more likely to support you, visit often, and bring their friends.

By combining digital tools with real-world presence, your dispensary can attract consistent foot traffic, build stronger relationships, and stand out in a crowded market. Start with a few tactics, stay consistent, and keep showing up for your local audience in ways that matter.

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Dispensaries

Trulieve to Open New Dispensary in Maricopa, Arizona

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Trulieve to Open New Dispensary

Trulieve, one of the country’s largest and most trusted cannabis operators, is bringing its signature retail experience to Maricopa, Arizona. The company will open a brand-new dispensary on Saturday, January 11, located at 44405 West Honeycutt Avenue.

To mark the occasion, Trulieve is hosting a ribbon-cutting ceremony at 7:45 a.m., followed by a grand opening celebration featuring local food trucks, live music, vendor giveaways, and exclusive discounts for patients and adult-use customers.

“We are proud to bring Trulieve’s high-quality, affordable products and elite customer experience to Maricopa,” said Kim Rivers, Trulieve’s Chief Executive Officer. “We are committed to helping customers in western Pinal County enhance their lives through cannabis.”


What to Expect at the Maricopa Grand Opening

Trulieve’s grand opening events have become known for their energy, community focus, and generous promotional offerings — and the Maricopa launch is no exception. Attendees can expect:

  • Early access to premium cannabis products starting at 8:00 a.m.
  • Music and entertainment to keep the vibe lively throughout the morning
  • Local food trucks offering bites and beverages to customers
  • Partner giveaways from popular cannabis brands
  • Opening-day discounts on select products and merchandise

Customers are encouraged to arrive early for best access to doorbuster deals and limited-edition promotions.


A Full-Spectrum Cannabis Shopping Experience

The new Trulieve Maricopa location will carry a wide variety of both Trulieve in-house brands and third-party partner products, including:

  • Alchemy – premium live concentrates and extracts
  • Avenue – consistent and approachable cannabis for daily use
  • CO2lors – clean, flavor-rich CO₂-extracted vape products
  • Loveli – wellness-inspired cannabis offerings
  • Modern Flower – stylish, balanced products for modern consumers
  • Muse – precision-formulated for creative and mindful experiences
  • Roll One – everyday value-focused products for budget-conscious consumers

Alongside these, the dispensary will stock top Arizona partner brands across flower, vapes, edibles, tinctures, topicals, and concentrates — ensuring customers at every experience level can find something that suits their needs.


Expanded Access Across Arizona

The Maricopa store becomes the latest addition to Trulieve’s growing footprint in Arizona, joining locations in:

  • Apache Junction
  • Avondale
  • Casa Grande
  • Chandler
  • Cottonwood
  • Glendale
  • Guadalupe
  • Maricopa
  • Mesa
  • Peoria
  • Phoenix
  • Scottsdale
  • Sierra Vista
  • Tempe
  • Tucson

By continuing to expand across key metro and suburban areas, Trulieve strengthens its mission of offering safe, legal access to cannabis across the state.


Community-Centered Cannabis

Trulieve’s expansion into Maricopa isn’t just about increasing retail access — it’s also part of a broader mission to foster community engagement and promote wellness education. The company frequently hosts in-store patient appreciation days, vendor pop-ups, and educational sessions about product selection, proper dosing, and responsible use.

As part of its corporate values, Trulieve also emphasizes economic empowerment through local hiring and community partnerships in every region it serves.


Dispensary Hours and Customer Information

Trulieve Maricopa will be open seven days a week from 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. The location will serve both medical marijuana patients and adult-use cannabis customers, offering:

  • Online ordering and in-store pickup
  • First-time patient and customer discounts
  • Rewards programs and promotions
  • Knowledgeable budtenders to assist with product recommendations

To learn more about the new dispensary or to place an order, customers can visit www.trulieve.com.


Looking Ahead

With its newest location in Maricopa, Trulieve continues to build on its reputation as a leader in Arizona’s cannabis industry. By combining affordable pricing, diverse product offerings, and a premium retail experience, the company remains at the forefront of the state’s evolving cannabis market.

For cannabis consumers in western Pinal County, the opening of Trulieve Maricopa offers more than convenience — it’s an invitation to experience a modern dispensary designed with the customer’s well-being and lifestyle in mind.

Whether you’re a medical patient, a new adult-use consumer, or a cannabis connoisseur, Trulieve’s latest dispensary is ready to welcome you with open arms, knowledgeable staff, and products you can trust.

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New York Opens First Legal Recreational Marijuana Dispensary with Housing Works at the Helm

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New York Opens First Legal Recreational Marijuana Dispensary

In a historic and highly anticipated moment, New York officially launched its legal recreational cannabis market with the opening of its first state-licensed dispensary on December 29, 2022. Operated by Housing Works, a nonprofit that supports individuals living with HIV/AIDS and those impacted by homelessness and incarceration, the lower Manhattan storefront became the inaugural example of the state’s socially driven cannabis rollout.

Located near NYU in one of the city’s busiest and most walkable neighborhoods, the dispensary attracted a crowd of eager customers and curious onlookers. By the time the doors opened at 4:20 p.m., the line had wrapped around the block. For many, the launch wasn’t just about purchasing marijuana legally—it was about witnessing a pivotal shift in cannabis access and justice in New York.


A New Chapter for Cannabis Access in New York

New York legalized adult-use cannabis in March 2021, becoming one of nearly two dozen U.S. states to allow recreational marijuana. However, state regulators took a unique approach to launching its retail market: prioritizing nonprofits and individuals impacted by prior cannabis convictions for the first round of retail licenses.

Among the 36 recently issued licenses, Housing Works emerged as the first to open its doors. Eight of the initial licensees were nonprofit organizations, highlighting New York’s commitment to pairing legalization with social equity.

“We’re absolutely thrilled to be the first and hopefully setting a model that other folks will have to follow,” said Charles King, CEO of Housing Works. “This isn’t just about cannabis. It’s about repair and reinvestment.”


The Social Equity Model: Addressing Past Harms

New York’s cannabis rollout goes beyond retail. The framework includes a $200 million public-private fund to support “social equity businesses”—defined as those owned by women, minorities, veterans, farmers, and individuals from communities heavily targeted during the War on Drugs.

By intentionally placing licenses in the hands of formerly incarcerated individuals and nonprofits like Housing Works, the state aims to rectify decades of over-policing and inequitable drug enforcement.

“We have seen firsthand the ravages of the War on Drugs,” King noted. “It’s time to give those same communities a stake in the economic opportunities legalization brings.”

Housing Works is also hiring people who were directly impacted by cannabis-related arrests, offering job training, support, and pathways to long-term employment in a newly legal industry.


What the Opening Means for Consumers

For everyday New Yorkers, the opening signals a new era: legal access to safe, tested, and regulated cannabis products. Until now, the market has been dominated by unlicensed “gray market” retailers, many operating openly despite lacking formal approval.

“This is historical,” said Lino Pastrana, one of the first customers in line. “It’s really important for us who buy and smoke weed because now we can buy quality, instead of buying random weed that you don’t know what it’s mixed with.”

New York State cannabis regulators echoed that point, emphasizing that the legal market is designed not just for accessibility but consumer safety.


What You’ll Find Inside the Dispensary

At Thursday morning’s ceremonial first sale, Chris Alexander, Executive Director of New York’s Office of Cannabis Management, purchased watermelon-flavored gummies and a tin of cannabis flower. The dispensary carries a curated selection of edibles, flower, tinctures, and accessories, with a product lineup expected to grow as more producers and processors receive licensing.

Councilmember Carlina Rivera was also among the early customers, celebrating the ability to now buy legal cannabis locally without leaving the state.

“We are the financial center of the world, the greatest city on Earth,” she said. “And now people will come here to enjoy all kinds of things—including safe, legal cannabis.”


More Dispensaries Coming Soon

The Housing Works location is just the beginning. An additional 139 licenses are expected to be awarded in the near future, with over 900 applicants still under consideration. Dispensaries will gradually open across the state in both urban and rural communities.

While unlicensed shops and pop-up storefronts continue to operate in large numbers, regulators say enforcement will intensify as legal alternatives become available.


Why This Moment Matters

Beyond the economics and the product, New York’s cannabis launch represents a deliberate departure from how other states have handled legalization. By putting marginalized communities first and weaving social service organizations into the cannabis supply chain, New York is aiming to build a market that is equitable, restorative, and long-lasting.

The lower Manhattan store is expected to attract both locals and tourists, not just for its convenience but for what it represents—a new vision for what cannabis commerce can look like when designed with justice in mind.

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Good Day Farm Makes History with Opening of Largest Medical Cannabis Dispensary in the South

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Good Day Farm Opens Largest Medical Cannabis Dispensary in the South

In a major milestone for medical cannabis access in the Southern United States, Good Day Farm has officially opened the largest medical cannabis dispensary in the South, located in Lake Charles, Louisiana. The 10,000-square-foot flagship store, situated at 3005 L’Auberge Boulevard, marks a bold leap forward in the state’s medical marijuana program and positions Good Day Farm as a leading provider of high-quality cannabis products across the region.

As Louisiana’s largest medical cannabis grower and trusted brand, Good Day Farm is known for its award-winning gummies, premium flower, flavorful vapes, and convenient pre-rolls. The new dispensary brings all of these offerings under one expansive roof while introducing a reimagined retail experience designed to welcome patients of all backgrounds.

A New Cannabis Experience for the South

At nearly 10,000 square feet, the Lake Charles dispensary was built to redefine what patients expect from a medical cannabis store. The space is more than just a retail location—it’s a destination that invites curiosity, encourages education, and offers personalized support for those exploring cannabis for wellness and relief.

Key features of the new flagship dispensary include:

  • Immersive Sensory Hallways
    Visual and interactive displays introduce customers to the many dimensions of cannabis, from plant anatomy to extraction methods and wellness applications.
  • Interactive Flower and Terpene Tables
    Patients can learn about terpene profiles, smell different strains, and better understand how cannabis chemistry connects with therapeutic outcomes.
  • A Premium Flower Bar with 40+ Strains
    The Flower Bar features a curated selection of premium strains, including a limited-edition Holiday Collection, offering new and exclusive options for seasoned patients and newcomers alike.
  • Free Samples and Seasonal Flavors
    The dispensary provides un-dosed samples of its award-winning gummies. This season’s spotlight flavor: Cranberry Apricot Smash, a festive addition to its popular edible lineup.

Services Designed for Comfort and Convenience

Accessibility and ease-of-use are at the heart of the dispensary’s design. Good Day Farm aims to make medical cannabis more approachable by integrating a number of patient-friendly services:

  • Easy-Order Kiosks and Express Pickup Windows
    Patients can place and collect orders quickly, reducing wait times and streamlining the shopping process.
  • Drive-Thru Service and Free Home Delivery
    For those with mobility concerns or time constraints, the dispensary offers drive-thru ordering and delivery straight to the patient’s door.
  • In-Store Medical Evaluations
    New patients can consult with licensed medical professionals onsite to obtain their medical marijuana recommendation at no cost—removing a major barrier to entry for many.
  • Wellness Programming and Education
    Events and classes focused on the therapeutic potential of cannabis will help inform and empower patients on their health journeys.
  • Lifestyle Boutique
    The dispensary also includes a retail section featuring locally inspired merchandise and cannabis accessories designed with both function and flair.

Meeting Growing Demand in Louisiana

The opening comes at a critical time for Louisiana’s medical cannabis program. According to CEO Terence Fitch, the state has experienced a 60% increase in new medical marijuana patients year-over-year. This surge in demand reflects a broader shift in public acceptance and highlights the growing need for accessible, high-quality cannabis options.

“Good Day Farm is deeply committed to serving patients in Louisiana and across the South in states where access to medical cannabis has been limited,” said Fitch. “Our mission is to enhance lives by bringing really good cannabis to more and more good people. The Lake Charles flagship store is a major step forward in making that mission a reality.”

A Welcoming Space for All Patients

The new dispensary is designed to feel less clinical and more comfortable. Whether you’re a longtime patient, a first-time visitor, or simply curious about cannabis, the space offers a judgment-free, supportive environment where staff take the time to understand your needs and guide you toward appropriate products.

With expert budtenders on hand, a diverse range of products, and an open commitment to patient education, Good Day Farm continues to remove the stigma around cannabis and prioritize patient empowerment.

A New Era of Cannabis Access in the South

With its bold footprint and forward-thinking design, the Lake Charles location sets a new benchmark for medical cannabis dispensaries in the region. From sensory exploration to streamlined services, Good Day Farm’s new flagship clinic is not just the largest—it’s also one of the most patient-centric dispensaries in the South.

As access continues to expand and more patients turn to cannabis for relief, Good Day Farm’s leadership in quality, innovation, and experience ensures it will remain at the forefront of medical marijuana in Louisiana and beyond.

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