If you’ve ever tried ordering cannabis from a dispensary online or through an app, chances are you’ve run into a few headaches along the way. From confusing layouts to outdated product listings, customers and patients alike are voicing the same complaint: these menus are supposed to make shopping easier, not harder. As cannabis retail evolves with technology, some of the digital tools dispensaries rely on are falling short—and it’s driving people nuts.
Let’s break down some of the most common frustrations customers experience when using digital menus in cannabis retail.
1. Outdated or Inaccurate Product Listings
One of the biggest gripes patients and customers have is that menus often display products that aren’t actually in stock. There’s nothing worse than getting excited about a particular strain, only to find out it’s unavailable once you arrive or after you place an order online. Whether it’s due to inventory not syncing properly or delays in updating the menu, customers expect real-time accuracy—and when they don’t get it, it feels like false advertising.
2. Missing Lab Results and COAs
For medical patients especially, knowing the cannabinoid profile and terpene content is essential. But many digital menus lack easy access to Certificates of Analysis (COAs), batch info, or detailed lab results. This makes it difficult for consumers to make informed decisions—especially if they rely on specific THC:CBD ratios or need to avoid certain terpenes for health reasons.
3. Poor Search Functionality
Imagine searching for “edibles under 10mg THC” and getting hit with a list of every edible on the menu—no filters, no sorting, just a wall of product tiles. Frustrating, right? Many digital cannabis menus lack intuitive search tools or filtering options, making it hard to find products based on effect, potency, price, or form factor. This creates a major barrier for new users who don’t know brand names but do know how they want to feel.
4. Overwhelming Interface and Bad Design
A menu with too many categories, inconsistent product photos, or weird color schemes can turn a simple shopping experience into a mess. Some menus are designed for desktop, others for mobile—but too often they fail to work well on both. If buttons don’t load, product images don’t match the description, or you have to scroll endlessly to find anything, people just give up and call the store—or worse, walk out.
5. Lack of Personalization
Customers want more than just a list of products. They want recommendations based on their preferences. Many menus miss the opportunity to ask simple questions like “Are you shopping for sleep, pain relief, or creativity?” and then personalize the menu results. This kind of functionality is standard in other retail industries, and cannabis consumers expect the same level of user experience.
6. Confusing Checkout Process
Even if you manage to find what you want, checking out is another story. Some menus redirect you to third-party sites, others require multiple logins or don’t clearly confirm your order. Patients have reported placing an order online and never hearing back—no text, no confirmation, nothing.
Final Hit
A great digital menu should guide the customer, not confuse them. With cannabis becoming more mainstream, dispensaries need to prioritize better user experience, clean design, live inventory, and clear information. Because in a competitive market, even a slightly annoying online menu might be the reason a customer chooses to shop somewhere else.