How Dispensaries Are Crafting Delivery Deals for Medical and Recreational Buyers
As delivery continues to reshape the cannabis retail experience, dispensaries are under increasing pressure to offer compelling deals that resonate with both medical patients and adult-use recreational customers. Striking the right balance between compliance, customer expectations, and profitability has become a defining challenge in today’s maturing market.
According to cannabis retail analysts, consumer behavior among medical and recreational buyers diverges sharply—necessitating targeted delivery strategies. Medical patients tend to be repeat purchasers of specific therapeutic products and often value price stability, reliability, and discretion. Recreational customers, however, are more responsive to seasonal sales, product variety, and social experiences tied to their purchases.
“In 2025, it’s not just about offering a deal—it’s about offering the right deal to the right customer,” said Jamie Thompson, a retail strategist with Greenline Insights. “The best operators are running parallel campaigns tailored to the unique motivations of each segment.”
Segmented Incentives Are Key
Leading dispensaries are leaning into segmented promotional structures. Medical patients may receive consistent weekly discounts on select products like high-CBD tinctures or topicals, while recreational buyers are offered time-sensitive flash deals—such as 20% off pre-rolls during evening hours or weekend bundles on edibles and concentrates.
Markets like Pennsylvania and Maryland, which maintain regulatory distinctions between medical and adult-use transactions, make it essential for dispensaries to manage separate inventory rules and price tiers. As a result, delivery platforms are increasingly integrating with robust POS systems like Flowhub, Blaze, and Cova to automate compliance while supporting dynamic promotions.
Delivery Zones & Order Minimums
Another popular tactic is to leverage delivery geography. By establishing varied delivery minimums and fee structures by distance, dispensaries can offset fuel and labor costs while incentivizing higher-value orders. For instance, medical patients living within a 10-mile radius might receive free delivery with a $65 order, whereas recreational customers outside that zone may be encouraged with “$15 off $100” offers.
Operators are using platforms like Onfleet and Meadow Delivery to optimize these structures through route planning and real-time analytics—essential tools in a time when margins are tighter and competition is fierce.
Loyalty, Subscriptions, and Personalized Offers
Loyalty programs are being retooled to prioritize delivery behavior. Medical customers who frequently reorder the same SKUs are often offered accelerated point accumulation or exclusive access to first-in-line product drops. Recreational customers benefit from gamified systems, where rewards are earned for ordering during slow hours or engaging with brand partners.
Some dispensaries are also exploring subscription box services, offering curated monthly deliveries—pending regulatory approval. These models can serve both segments, providing predictability for patients and novelty for lifestyle consumers.
Additionally, targeted SMS campaigns powered by customer relationship management (CRM) systems like Alpine IQ or springbig are driving delivery engagement. With personalized triggers based on past purchase behavior, a medical patient might receive a 10% off code for RSO products, while a recreational user gets a BOGO alert on their favorite vape brand.
The Future of Equitable Delivery Deals
As state regulations evolve and consumer expectations grow, delivery will no longer be a differentiator—it will be a standard. The dispensaries that succeed in this landscape will be those who craft intentional, data-driven promotions that address the needs of both patient and recreational markets.
By embracing segmented pricing, location-based strategies, and personalized marketing, retailers can drive meaningful growth while remaining compliant and customer-centric. Delivery deals are no longer one-size-fits-all—and that’s precisely the point.