Shopping for your greens can be a confusing and frustrating process if you don’t know how or where to start, let alone what you’re even looking for. The most important thing is to approach this process with an open mind, and go in wanting to learn. I think the most difficult thing about shopping for cannabis is the general lack of education and information on the products that are available to us, so it’s up to you to do a little bit of your own research if you don’t want to drop endless money on a plethora of things, just to figure out what may or may not work for you.
THE BUDTENDER IS YOUR GUIDE
- use them as such!
It can feel extremely intimidating to enter a dispensary, dependent on which state you are in and the general vibe of the environment. I was already a stoner the first time I actually walked into one, and I still remember feeling out of place and slightly nervous and definitely worried I was going to ask a “dumb question.” THERE ARE NO DUMB QUESTIONS. It is the budtenders job to answer these questions all day.
Budtenders get handed so much product, they have truly tried probably 80% of the items on their shelves. They want and EXPECT you to ask questions! Remember that they get trained by almost every brand in the store on how to sell their products, and there is no one that knows the formulations better than them, unless there is a brand representative hanging around the store.. (& if there is, you should totally pick their brain too!) When I was budtending, It was always easiest for me to guide a patient when they would immediately tell me their level of usage before diving deeper into questions/product knowledge.
START HERE:
I’m a total novice/ beginner, light user, moderate user, moderate/ routine user, heavy user, heavy/ habitual user.
I medicate for: relaxation, personal enjoyment, or targeted use— pain management, anxiety, stress, insomnia, or other medical issues, etc.
Next, follow these prompts:
My preferred consumption method is: smoking, vaping, concentrate, edible, tincture, drinkables
X is a product that has worked for me in the past
X is a dosage that I know I like
X is a strain that I responded to well
I know I don’t like X
I had a bad experience with X
ADD ON QUESTIONS THAT WILL CHANGE YOUR EXPERIENCE:
What are the THC / CBD percentages?
What kind of approach was this grown with?
Is this lab tested/ how can I find the results?
Have you tried this brand and what was your experience?
Is this popular?
Are there any products here that aren’t very popular but you think they should be? Why?
Is this fairly priced?
Do you find that overall this brand presence is quality?
Are the brand practices ethical/ sustainable/ do they give back?
Which brands do you not like and why?
I like this product from this brand, do you know of a similar one you would recommend in place of it and if so why?
Where does this brand cultivate or where do they source their flower from?
IF you are purchasing concentrates: ask the budtender to explain distillate vs. live resin and rosin. These are 3 very different extraction methods and the potency, cannabinoid levels and terpene profiles will all vary drastically from one another, therefore delivering very different highs.
IF you are purchasing flower: ask the budtender to explain different flower types-- sungrown, greenhouse, mixed-light, and indoor. The grow practice will most directly affect the price point, but you will also see different characteristics (like bud structure, quality of smoke & THC%) from one to the other.
Because the dispensary experience is so personal, it’s imperative to go to a shop where you feel welcomed and they are able to equip you with the kind of information you are seeking. It may be worth it to head to a higher-end shop the first couple of visits if you’re a newer user, before you get the hang of it all and can better guide yourself.
Another tip is to absorb everything while inside of the store.
What are the other customers looking at, talking about, noticing; what brands are offering deals, education, or budtender support? Since we lack so much education around the space, the best thing you can do is use everyone else around you as a resource. Picking up on these little things may give you even further insight as to what types of brands really deserve your support!
We would be honored to guide you through it, come meet our Brand Ambassadors and learn about our Brands at any of your events listed on our Events page at the top of our website - We can't wait to meet you!
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