Why Menu UX Matters
A menu is the most visited page on every dispensary website and app. It’s where intent meets experience. The difference between a “browse and bounce” and a $120 order often comes down to a few design details — filter placement, PDP clarity, and load speed.
Strong UX can increase:
- Conversion Rate (CR) by 15–25%
- Average Order Value (AOV) by 10–18%
- Menu Dwell Time without increasing friction
The Core UX Principles
1. Clarity Before Creativity
Customers come for speed and accuracy. Keep product cards clean, consistent, and scannable — strain type, THC%, price, and availability should be visible at a glance.
2. Visual Hierarchy
Use size, contrast, and whitespace to guide the eye. Primary CTAs (“Add to Cart,” “See Details”) should stand out without overpowering the product image.
3. Predictable Interactions
Buttons, filters, and navigation should behave consistently across desktop, mobile, and kiosk modes. Consistency breeds trust, which drives conversions.
Filter & Category Design
Smart Filters Convert.
Filters are your merchandising engine — the difference between frustration and discovery.
- Keep filters visible (not buried behind icons).
- Prioritize by user intent: Category → Potency → Price → Brand → Effect.
- Include “Reset” and “Show Results” buttons for clarity.
- Support multi-select — shoppers compare strains, not categories.
Pro Tip:
Add “Featured” and “Best Sellers” smart tags for social proof and faster decision-making.
Product Detail Pages (PDPs)
The PDP is where hesitation turns into confidence.
Essential Elements:
- Product image (multiple angles if possible)
- Key info: strain, THC/CBD, effects, ingredients
- “You might also like” recommendations
- Availability by store or delivery zone
- “Add to Cart” button above the fold
Best Practices:
- Keep it short — 3–5 scroll sections max.
- Display reviews and lab results where available.
- Use clear badges for availability (In Stock / Low Stock / Sold Out).
📱 Mobile-First Design
Most cannabis menu traffic is mobile. Prioritize:
- Large tap targets (at least 44x44px).
- Sticky cart or “Add to Cart” button.
- Simplified filters with horizontal scroll.
- Lazy loading for fast product browsing.
A fast, clean mobile menu increases completion rates by 20% on average.
Merchandising for Conversion
Cross-Sell Recommendations:
“Add a Pre-Roll for $5” or “Upgrade to 7g and save 10%” drives natural upsells.
Dynamic Sections:
Use “Recently Viewed,” “You Might Also Like,” or “Shop Again” for returning customers.
Contextual Promotions:
Tie deals to browsing context — if a user filters by “Edibles,” surface edible promos dynamically.
Data-Driven UX Improvements
Monitor your menu analytics:
- Top-Clicked Filters — optimize order and labels.
- Scroll Depth — see where users drop off.
- Add-to-Cart Rate by PDP — identify weak product listings.
- Search Queries — discover missing inventory or mislabeled products.
How DopeTech Makes It Easy
Dope Sites and Dope Apps include:
- Pre-optimized menu layouts for conversion.
- Configurable filters and PDP templates.
- Built-in analytics dashboards to measure UX impact.
- Real-time POS and inventory sync to avoid out-of-stock frustration.
TL;DR Menu UX Checklist
✅ Keep info scannable and predictable.
✅ Optimize filters for real user behavior.
✅ Prioritize mobile-first performance.
✅ Personalize recommendations by customer type.
✅ Track engagement and conversion data.
Ready to Redesign Your Menu?
DopeTech helps dispensaries turn menus into money-makers with UX built on real data, not guesswork.
Contact [sales@dopetech] or book a strategy session to see what a high-converting cannabis menu looks like in action.
