By: Kristilyn Waite
Looking for tips for your first marijuana dispensary visit?
The day has finally come. Your state has gone legal and your local dispensary is open for business. Or maybe you’ve made the trek to a legal state.
Either way, you’re on the threshold of something big. You can just walk into a shop and buy weed. Flower. Concentrate. Edibles. Soda?!
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In whatever form you fancy, it’s beautifully branded and ethically packaged, accompanied by thoughtful product descriptions.
And if you’re still not sure, a budtender waits at the ready with answers and assistance.
It sounds like a dream, we know. But it’s going to happen for you. And likely, soon.
Eleven states legally permit recreational cannabis use, and it’s on the table for 2020 in at least a dozen more.
This is exciting new territory, for even the most seasoned of cannabis consumers, and a little guidance is in order. Following these tips, you’re sure to do it right.
Know what you need to bring.
You definitely need a valid ID verifying that you are at least 21 years of age. Some shops won’t even let you enter without proof of age.
State and federal cannabis laws conflict, and fines and penalties for violations could be seriously detrimental to these businesses’ and their owners’ livelihoods.
Federal illegality also complicates banking for canna-businesses. As a result, many dispensaries are cash only.
It’s worth checking out and, if necessary, hitting the ATM on the way.
Not all dispensaries are alike.
While there is no question that we are experiencing a cannabis revolution, laws, which vary widely from state to state, weigh heavily on any dispensary’s business model.
Some feel like candy stores. Customers are free to roam and explore all kinds of products on display. Others are total hospitality experiences.
At these cool little bars and cafes, you can order freshly packed pipes from curated menus and enjoy the product right there.
But in some states, legislation has been more conservatively executed.
Dispensaries can be required to serve only one customer at a time, and shopping for weed can feel more like a trip to the pharmacy, waiting area and all.
If you know your options, and what is possible, you can manage your expectations and, if you’re lucky, plan a fun little outing.
Know what you want.
Browsing those big shops can be pretty fun, but you know what they say about time and fun.
Choice can be overwhelming, and especially when the whole experience is so novel and exciting.
And in those stricter states, waiting in line behind someone sorting it all out at the counter – that’s no fun.
You don’t have to spend hours researching and identifying your ideal strain (also fun) but knowing how and what you want to feel is a good idea.
Some people use the plant for pain relief or sleep, while others use it to fuel late night creativity sessions. Know thyself.
Even better?
Know the 101’s.
Cannabis horticulture can be impressively specific and maybe a little overwhelming.
Cultivating a basic grasp of what does what makes for easier navigation. Among the 113 cannabinoids the plant contains, THC and CBD are the two you really need to understand.
THC will get you “high” and, like alcohol by volume, the higher THC percentage the product contains, the higher you will get.
CBD is more therapeutic with few to no psychoactive effects. There are THC- dominant strains that contain a good amount of CBD, but you’ll have to look a little harder for them.
Generally, you’ll find it’s one or the other.
Strains containing THC will be labeled according to species: Indica, Sativa, or hybrid, containing varying levels of both.
Indica will mellow you out, maybe even make you sleepy. More stimulating, sativa is usually preferred for social, physical, or creative endeavors.
Utilize the budtender.
A good budtender is like a sommelier. They know it all. They care. They understand nuance and complexity. They have just the strain for you. And you. And you.
And with cannabis evolving so rapidly, they may be able to turn you on to your new go-to that you had no idea even existed! So say hello!
Etiquette matters.
Mind your manners, please.
More often than not, store policies will prohibit photography inside the shop.
But even on the rare occasion that no policy expressly forbids it, other patrons might not appreciate showing up as extras in your weed shop shots.
Discretion is really where it’s at. You can be excited. It’s exciting! But be cool.
Tipping your budtender – is cool. In retail situations, it’s more of a bonus, and definitely not expected.
In more service oriented establishments, expect to tip.
Often, your menu will include information on the tipping policy, but if you’re unsure, just ask.
There is probably a security guard on site.
It’s ok! It’s legal!
No refunds or exchanges.
While policies vary from location to location, you can generally expect no returns/no exchanges.
Some dispensaries will exchange for defective products within a designated time period, but even those shops will determine eligibility on a case by case basis.
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Kristilyn Waite is a writer who focuses on cannabis culture and lifestyle.