As a loyal cannabis consumer, I’ve come to expect a smooth, convenient experience—especially when it comes to something as simple as redeeming rewards points. But lately, using dispensary mobile apps to track and redeem points has been more frustrating than rewarding.

It all starts with logging in. Every time I open the app, it either logs me out or asks me to verify my identity again through text or email. That might seem like a small inconvenience, but when you’re just trying to see how many points you’ve earned or check if you have a discount available before heading to the dispensary, it slows everything down.

Once I do get in, the interface itself is usually a mess. Most apps don’t clearly show how many points I have or how much those points are worth. Some apps list points in weird increments—like 225 points—but don’t explain what that actually translates to. Is that worth $5 off? A free pre-roll? Who knows. I’ve even tapped into a rewards section only to find “no rewards available,” even though the cashier at the store told me last week I had plenty saved up.

It doesn’t help that each dispensary uses a different app or system. Some use native apps, others text-based platforms, and some send you to third-party websites. That means I’ve got four or five different apps on my phone, each with their own login, layout, and policy. Why isn’t there a universal rewards system or at least some consistency?

Even more aggravating is trying to actually use the points. You’d think it would be as easy as tapping a “redeem” button—but nope. Sometimes you have to add the item to your cart, then manually apply the reward. Other times, rewards can only be used in-store, not online, or only on certain days of the week. I once tried to use a $10 discount I’d earned, only to be told it couldn’t be used with sale items—despite the app saying nothing about that limitation.

In-store, the process isn’t any smoother. I’ve waited in line only to find out I had to activate the reward in the app before getting to the register—and by then, the app crashed or froze. The budtender usually looks just as confused, trying to scan a QR code that doesn’t work or searching for my phone number in the system. When the system doesn’t sync properly, it makes me feel like I’ve wasted my time earning those points in the first place.

Cannabis isn’t cheap, and regular customers like me spend hundreds of dollars a month. The least dispensaries can do is offer a rewards system that respects our time and loyalty. I don’t expect perfection, but I do expect clarity, consistency, and convenience. If I’m going to commit to your brand, your tech should at least work as hard as I do.

Until then, I’ll continue collecting points I can’t easily use, buried in apps that seem to forget the customer experience entirely.