How to get more Google reviews (without breaking the rules)

Why reviews matter so much for dispensaries

When someone searches for a dispensary nearby, your star rating and review count sit right next to your name in Google Maps. Reviews are one of the signals Google uses for local rankings, and they’re often the deciding factor between two stores a few blocks apart.

Because cannabis businesses can’t lean on most paid ads, a steady flow of genuine reviews is one of the most valuable marketing assets you can build. The good news: it mostly comes down to asking consistently.

The rules: what not to do

Before tactics, the guardrails. Breaking these can get reviews removed, your profile restricted, or worse.

• Don’t offer anything in exchange for a review. Google’s policies prohibit incentives for reviews, so no discounts, points, freebies or entries into a giveaway for leaving one, even if you don’t ask for a positive review.
• Don’t only ask happy customers. Google also prohibits selectively soliciting positive reviews. Sending satisfied shoppers to Google while routing everyone else to a private form, a practice known as “review gating,” is not allowed.
• Don’t write or buy reviews. No reviews from staff, family or friends posing as customers, and no paid review services.
• Don’t suppress negative reviews with threats, pressure or offers in exchange for removing them.

It isn’t just platform policy. The U.S. Federal Trade Commission’s rule on consumer reviews and testimonials bans fake reviews, buying reviews that are conditioned on what they say, undisclosed reviews from insiders, and suppressing reviews through intimidation. The safest approach is also the simplest: ask every customer, and let them say whatever they honestly think.

When to ask

Timing matters more than wording. The best moment is shortly after a good experience, while it’s fresh:

• Right after pickup or delivery. A message within a few hours of a completed order gets more responses than one sent days later.
• At the counter. A small card or sign with a QR code that links straight to your Google review form works well for in-store shoppers.
• On receipts and order confirmations. A simple “Tell us how we did” link is easy to add.

Avoid asking the same customer over and over. Once every few months is plenty for regulars.

How to ask: wording that works

Keep it short, personal and neutral. You’re asking for honest feedback, not a five-star rating. A few examples you can adapt:

“Thanks for picking up today, Jordan! How did we do? We’d love your honest feedback on Google: [link]”

“Hi Sam, it was great seeing you at Sunset Cannabis Co. If you have 30 seconds, a quick review helps other shoppers find us: [link]. Questions about your order? Just reply here.”

A few tips:

• Link directly to your Google review form so it’s one tap, not a search.
• Use the customer’s first name and mention the visit or order.
• If you send review requests by text, you still need marketing consent and a way to opt out. See our guide to compliant texting.
• Train your team to mention reviews naturally: “If you enjoyed today, we’d really appreciate a review.”

Replying to reviews

Replying shows shoppers you’re listening, and it’s a chance to reinforce what makes your store great. Aim to reply to every review within a day or two.

• Positive reviews: thank them by name, mention something specific and invite them back. Keep it genuine, not copy-and-paste.
• Mixed reviews: thank them for the feedback, acknowledge what fell short and say what you’re doing about it.
• Protect privacy. Never confirm details about what someone bought, their medical patient status or anything else personal in a public reply.

Handling negative reviews

Every business gets them. Handled well, a negative review can actually build trust with the people reading it.

1. Pause before replying. Never reply angrily or argue the details publicly.
2. Apologize for the experience and take responsibility for what you can control.
3. Move the conversation offline with a phone number or email so you can make it right.
4. Fix the root cause. Patterns in negative reviews, like long pickup waits or out-of-stock items, are valuable operational feedback.

You can report reviews that genuinely break Google’s policies, such as spam, off-topic content or reviews from someone who was never a customer. But you can’t have a review removed just because it’s negative.

Your checklist

1. Get your direct Google review link and add it to receipts, order texts and a counter card.
2. Ask every customer, not just the happy ones, and never offer an incentive.
3. Send requests shortly after pickup or delivery.
4. Reply to every review within a day or two, without sharing personal details.
5. Review your feedback monthly and fix recurring issues.

Budfront’s reviews engine automates the timing and asks every customer, with AI-drafted replies you approve before they’re posted.

This article is general information, not legal advice. Platform policies and consumer-protection rules change; check the current versions or ask counsel.