August 2025 Biggest Dispensary and Cannabis Consumer Shifts
New York Cannabis Market: Why Now is the Time to Build Your Foothold
August 19, 2025
Every month, the cannabis retail market shifts in subtle, but important ways. Sometimes it’s a quiet nudge upward in visits. Other times it’s a change in how long customers are willing to spend inside a store. And when you zoom out, those little shifts add up to bigger trends that can shape how dispensaries grow, compete, and thrive.
August 2025 was no different. The data tells a story of two competing forces: efficiency versus experience. In some states, customers are walking in, buying quickly, and heading right back out. In others, they’re lingering longer, exploring, and building loyalty with the retailers who make the extra effort.
So, let’s break down what we’re seeing, why it matters, and what you can do about it.
Arkansas Dispensary Data: Small Market, Big Momentum
Arkansas is often overlooked, but this month it quietly posted one of the strongest moves: visitors up +3.2% and visits per dispensary up +1.1%.
What does that mean? Even in smaller markets, growth is possible when accessibility and engagement are consistent. If you’re operating in a market like Arkansas, don’t wait for competition to double before building customer loyalty. Now’s the time to lock in repeat visits with rewards, memberships, and strong community ties.
Arizona Cannabis Trends: The Rise of the Quick Trip
Arizona’s numbers tell a different story: visitors rose +2.8% but dwell time dipped (-1%). Customers are showing up, but they’re treating dispensaries more like convenience stops than destinations.
This isn’t necessarily bad. It means demand is steady. But it’s also a missed opportunity if you’re only moving products and not building relationships. Quick visits leave little room for upselling, education, or brand-building.
The takeaway? If you’re in a fast-paced market, you need to engineer reasons for customers to slow down, even just a little. Think sampling stations, bundling deals, or well-placed educational content.
California Dispensary Data: Small Shifts, Big Volume
California gained +56,000 visitors week over week (+2.4%). On the surface, that looks like a modest percentage. But scale matters here. A tiny swing in California equals tens of thousands of people, millions in revenue potential.
For large-market operators, the lesson is simple: don’t dismiss small percentage shifts. In big states, little movements create tidal waves.
Colorado Dispensary Data: Still the Dwell Time King
Colorado welcomed +21,000 visitors (+2.6%), though dwell time dipped slightly (-0.8%). Even so, it remains the leader in dwell time at ~12 minutes, nearly double what you see in other markets.
Why does this matter? Because dwell time is often where loyalty is built. The longer customers stay, the more likely they are to discover something new, connect with your brand, and come back for more.
If you’re not hitting numbers in Colorado, ask yourself: what’s missing in the experience that keeps people around?
Alaska Cannabis Trends: Steady and Loyal
Alaska may not make national headlines, but it’s quietly gaining traction. Visitors rose +2.2% and dwell time nudged upward (+0.96%). Growth may be slower, but it’s consistent fueled by loyalty and repeat customers.
For operators in smaller, steady markets, this is a reminder that consistency beats flash. Slow, dependable growth compounds into long-term resilience.
National Trends Worth Watching
Loyalty is creeping upward. Visit frequency rose in nearly every state. Customers aren’t just showing up once, they’re returning. That’s a big opportunity to lean into retention strategies.
Cross-shopping is increasing. Consumers are testing out more than one store, creating competitive leakage risks. If your customers aren’t fully loyal, they may be spending part of their wallet elsewhere.
Efficiency vs. Experience. States like Arizona and Colorado show customers opting for speed, while California and Alaska prove some still value time in-store. Knowing where your market leans is the difference between guessing and winning.
What Dispensaries Should Do Now
If customers are rushing: Add small friction points that add value, product education, bundling, or sampling can shift a “quick trip” into a “meaningful visit.”
If loyalty is rising: Cement it. Loyalty programs, text reminders, and personalized offers ensure repeat customers don’t drift to competitors.
If you’re in a big market: Don’t dismiss small swings, many tiny percentage shifts equal massive revenue opportunities.
If you’re in a smaller market: Act early. Arkansas proves that small markets grow too, and those who build loyalty before competition doubles will win.
Your Next Steps
August showed us one thing clearly: the cannabis market isn’t moving in one direction, it’s splitting. Some customers want speed, others want experience. Some states are riding growth; others are steadying their base.
The dispensaries that thrive will be the ones that stop treating data as “interesting” and start using it as a playbook. Know where your market stands. Adapt accordingly. Build loyalty before someone else does.
With real-time insights into visitor frequency, dwell time, and competitive benchmarks, you can finally see how your dispensary stacks up against the rest of your state and act. Stop guessing, start tracking, and turn raw foot traffic into loyal, repeat customers.
Ready to see how your dispensary measures up? Discover your market position with shopEQ today. Book a clarity call.
FAQs for Dispensary Data
- What does “visit frequency” mean in dispensary data?
Visit frequency refers to how often customers return to a dispensary within a given timeframe. Rising visit frequency indicates stronger loyalty and repeat purchasing behavior. - Why is dwell time important for dispensaries?
Dwell time measures how long customers spend in-store. Longer dwell times often lead to higher basket sizes, more upsell opportunities, and stronger brand engagement. - What is cross-shopping in the cannabis industry?
Cross-shopping happens when consumers visit multiple dispensaries instead of sticking with one. While this shows strong overall demand, it also signals competitive leakage, meaning your customers might be spending money elsewhere. - How can dispensaries increase customer loyalty?
Loyalty can be strengthened through repeat-visit incentives (bundles, memberships, discounts), personalized experiences, and consistent product availability. Data tools like shopEQ help identify when loyalty is slipping. - Why are small percentage changes in large states so impactful?
In massive markets like California, even a 2% increase in visitors can equal tens of thousands of people. That’s millions in potential revenue, which makes small swings critical to track. - How can dispensary operators use shopEQ?
shopEQ gives operators a clear view of visitor frequency, dwell time, and competitive benchmarks across their state. This helps retailers identify growth opportunities, measure marketing ROI, and strengthen loyalty strategies.