Here’s the gist: Rakuten doesn’t work for dispensary purchases — cannabis is federally illegal, so major payment networks and general-purpose cash back apps like Rakuten can’t process or reward those transactions. If you’ve searched for “Rakuten for weed” hoping to stack cash back on your next dispensary run, here’s what actually works instead.
What is Rakuten?
Rakuten is a general cash back and rewards app that partners with retailers to give shoppers a percentage back on everyday purchases like groceries, clothing, and online orders. It’s a solid app for mainstream retail — but cannabis products aren’t part of that retailer network, and can’t be, given federal restrictions on how cannabis payments move through card networks and banking partners.
Why Rakuten Doesn’t Work for Cannabis Purchases
Dispensaries mostly run on cash, debit-only workarounds, or cannabis-specific payment processors — not the mainstream card rails that apps like Rakuten depend on to track and reward purchases. That’s the core gap: Rakuten simply has no way to see a dispensary transaction happen, so it can’t reward it.
The Cash Back Alternative Built for Cannabis: HighRewards
HighRewards is a 21+ marketplace app built specifically to reward dispensary shopping — the exact gap Rakuten leaves open. Instead of relying on card-network purchase tracking, HighRewards partners directly with dispensaries and brands, so you earn points for visiting, shopping, and uploading receipts at the stores you already go to.
Quick facts
- Earn points for dispensary visits, purchases, and receipt uploads
- Bonus points from games, videos, and referrals
- Redeem points for gift cards from Amazon, Walmart, Chipotle, and more
- 21+ marketplace, built for cannabis consumers specifically
Frequently asked questions
Does Rakuten have a cannabis or dispensary category?
No. Rakuten’s retailer network doesn’t include dispensaries, and federal restrictions on cannabis payments keep it that way for any mainstream cash back app.
Is there a cannabis version of a cash back app?
Yes — HighRewards is built specifically for cannabis shoppers, rewarding dispensary visits and purchases the way general cash back apps reward retail shopping.
Can I use HighRewards alongside my other rewards apps?
Absolutely. HighRewards covers dispensary purchases specifically, so it fills the gap left by apps like Rakuten rather than competing with them for your everyday retail shopping.
This article is for informational purposes only and is not financial advice.
Turn your dispensary runs into gift cards
Earn gift cards by earning rewards at any dispensary — and even liquor stores! Every purchase earns points you can redeem for gift cards to Amazon, Starbucks and more with the HighRewards app.
Scan now to download for FREE!
Also worth a look: our Fetch Rewards alternatives roundup, and our HighRewards vs. Fetch Rewards comparison, plus our Dosh for Weed and Upside for Weed, Drop for Weed, Swagbucks for Weed, and Shopkick for Weed guides.