Get Seen: 10 Different Ways to Advertise Your Cannabis Store on Google

Key Insights

• Google processes more than 40,000 searches per second, and 95 percent of those searches happen on Google. Dispensaries that run Google ads or rank well in search results are positioned to capture purchase-ready customers at the moment of highest intent.
• There are 10 distinct Google ad types available to cannabis dispensaries, from intent-driven search ads to visual display and retargeting campaigns, each suited to different goals including brand awareness, direct conversions, and re-engagement.
• Retargeting ads perform at 10 times the effectiveness of standard display ads because they re-engage people who already visited your website or Google Business Profile and left without purchasing.
• Dynamic keyword insertion ads increase trust and click-through rates by automatically inserting each searcher's exact query into your ad copy, making your listing feel directly matched to what that individual is looking for.
• Before launching any Google ads campaign, setting up e-commerce tracking through Google Analytics gives dispensaries accurate revenue attribution across every marketing channel.

Expert Answers

[{Can cannabis dispensaries advertise on Google?}

Yes. Dispensaries can and should use Google ads to reach customers. There is significant misinformation in the industry suggesting otherwise, and many dispensaries have avoided the platform unnecessarily. Cannabis dispensaries have been advertising on Google successfully for years. Avoiding the platform gives that advantage to competitors.

{What is the difference between expanded text ads and responsive search ads?}

Expanded text ads give you three headlines, two descriptions, and one URL. Responsive search ads let you input up to 15 headlines and four descriptions, and Google tests combinations to identify which pairings drive the best results. Using both together allows for systematic testing and refinement of your ad copy over time.

{What are dynamic search ads and why do location landing pages matter for them?}

Dynamic search ads use Google's understanding of your website to generate relevant ad headlines automatically. Location landing pages are ideal targets because Google scans them to produce contextually matched headlines for relevant searches, making them valuable for both dynamic ad performance and organic local rankings.

{Why are retargeting ads so effective for dispensaries?}

Retargeting ads reach people who already engaged with your dispensary but left without converting. That prior engagement signals real interest. Retargeted ads perform at 10 times the effectiveness of standard display ads. You need Google Analytics with e-commerce tracking to build the right audience segments.

{How do Google Maps ads help dispensaries drive in-store traffic?}

Google Maps ads place your dispensary in the local pack when someone searches dispensary near me on mobile. Half of all local mobile searches result in a store visit. For multi-location operators, Maps ads allow zip code targeting so your ads are highly relevant to searchers in each area.]

Webinar Highlights

00:00 – Why Google Is the Foundation of Dispensary Digital Advertising

Eduardo Silva opened by establishing the scale of Google's search dominance. Google processes 3.5 billion searches daily, handles 90 percent of desktop searches, and drives 34 percent of dispensary near me desktop searches to an in-store visit - a number that rises to 50 percent on mobile. No platform matches this combination of scale and purchase intent for reaching ready-to-buy customers.

05:00 – Search Campaign Ad Types: Expanded Text, Responsive, and Dynamic

The first five ad types all fall within the search campaign category. Expanded text ads give maximum copy control with three headlines and two descriptions. Responsive search ads let Google test up to 15 headline and four description combinations to find what works best. Dynamic search ads scan your website to automatically generate relevant headlines for each query, which is why having dedicated location landing pages for each store matters so much.

10:00 – Dynamic Keyword Insertion and Smart Campaigns

Dynamic keyword insertion places the searcher's exact query into your ad headline, building immediate trust and relevance for every individual search. Smart campaigns are built around specific selling points - first-time buyer deals, curbside pickup, veteran discounts - and use keyword targeting to reach the right searchers with messaging tied to what makes your dispensary worth visiting.

16:00 – Display, Responsive Display, and Discovery Ads

Display ads extend reach beyond search, appearing across Google's network of websites, YouTube videos, and Gmail. Responsive display ads automatically adjust in size and format depending on the placement and device. Discovery ads function as brand awareness tools that place your dispensary in front of target audiences wherever they are browsing online, keeping your dispensary visible throughout the customer's day.

20:00 – Retargeting: Re-Engaging the Warmest Audiences

Retargeting re-engages people who already visited your website or Google Business Profile and left without purchasing. Because this audience has already shown real interest, retargeted ads are 10 times more effective than standard display ads. The prerequisite is Google Analytics with e-commerce tracking enabled, which also provides the revenue attribution dispensaries need to understand which channels drive actual sales.

25:00 – Google Maps Ads and Q&A

Google Maps ads place your dispensary in the local pack when nearby customers search on mobile, directly driving foot traffic. Eduardo answered audience questions: confirming dispensaries can advertise on Google, explaining how ad type selection starts with campaign goals and budget, walking through the results timeline with initial data within hours and solid baselines by week three, and describing how his team builds revenue attribution for every client before any campaign launches.

Frequently Asked Questions

[ {Can dispensaries run Google ads without getting suspended?}

Yes. Cannabis dispensaries can run Google ads successfully. The key is correct campaign setup with compliant ad copy, appropriate keyword targeting, and landing pages that meet Google's policies. Cannabis advertisers have been running successfully on the platform for years. Working with a team experienced in cannabis-specific Google advertising reduces policy risk and improves performance.

{What is a location landing page and why does it matter for Google advertising?}

A location landing page is a dedicated page on your website for each dispensary location, built around local SEO signals like city name, neighborhood, and store-specific details. For dynamic search ads, Google scans these pages to generate contextually matched headlines. They also support organic rankings over time, making them a dual-purpose asset for both paid and organic search.

{What is dynamic keyword insertion and how does it improve dispensary ads?}

Dynamic keyword insertion automatically places a searcher's exact query into your ad headline. If someone searches LA dispensary, that phrase appears in the ad. If they search Los Angeles dispensaries, that version appears instead. The result is an ad that feels directly relevant to each individual searcher, increasing trust and click-through rates.

{How should a dispensary decide which Google ad types to prioritize?}

Ad type selection starts with your campaign goal. For fast revenue, search campaigns with strong keyword targeting are the most direct path. For brand building, display and Discovery ads extend reach. Retargeting becomes valuable once you have enough site traffic. Budget also plays a role - smaller budgets call for a focused approach before expanding to multiple ad types.

{How quickly do Google ads produce results for dispensaries?}

Initial data appears within hours of a campaign going live. The first week establishes early baselines. By the second week, patterns emerge to support meaningful optimization. By the third week, there is typically enough data to draw concrete conclusions about performance. Results improve the longer campaigns run and the more data accumulates.

{What is revenue attribution and why does it matter before launching Google ads?}

Revenue attribution connects specific sales back to the specific marketing channels that drove them. Setting up Google Analytics with e-commerce tracking before launch makes it possible to see which keywords, ad types, and campaigns produce actual purchases, not just clicks. Without it, you cannot distinguish which parts of your ad spend are generating revenue.

{What makes retargeting different from other display ad types?}

Retargeting specifically targets people who have already interacted with your dispensary online and left without purchasing. Because these individuals have already shown interest, they convert at a far higher rate than cold audiences. Retargeted ads perform at 10 times the effectiveness of standard display ads, making retargeting one of the highest-return formats for dispensaries with consistent website traffic. ]