Here’s the gist: Upside doesn’t work for dispensary purchases — cannabis is federally illegal, so major payment networks and general-purpose cash back apps like Upside can’t process or reward those transactions. If you’ve searched for “Upside for weed” hoping to stack cash back on your next dispensary run, here’s what actually works instead.

What is Upside?

Upside is a cash back app focused on everyday spots like gas stations, grocery stores, and restaurants — you claim an offer in the app, pay as usual, and get cash back credited once your purchase is verified.

Why Upside Doesn’t Work for Cannabis Purchases

Upside verifies purchases through its network of partner merchants and payment processors, none of which extend to dispensaries. Cannabis is federally illegal, so mainstream payment processors and merchant networks like Upside’s can’t legally process or verify those transactions. That’s the core gap: Upside 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 Upside leaves open. Instead of relying on merchant-network purchase verification, 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 Upside have a cannabis or dispensary category?

No. Upside’s partner 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 Upside 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.

Also worth a look: our Ibotta for Weed and Rakuten for Weed, Drop for Weed, Swagbucks for Weed, and Shopkick for Weed guides.