Getting Started
If you’ve been paying attention to the weed universe, you’ve probably noticed that it’s grown up a bit, with more selection, more complexity, and more choices. Walking into a cannabis dispensary can be nothing short of intimidating. Here are a few tips.
RIGHT FOR YOU
FIND YOUR FORM FACTOR
Cannabis comes in all kinds of shapes, sizes, and potencies. If you’re familiar with flower, you may want to start there. You can buy it loose or as pre-rolls; both are good. But, depending on your experience, it’s always good to check with the budtender on strain and potency. Edibles are convenient and offer very interesting micro-dosing options. They are also a bigger commitment as they release their potency over a longer period of time. An extract is a highly concentrated and potent form of cannabis that you typically add in small amounts to other drinks, consumables, or through a dab rig. Vape pens are smokeless, portable, and fast-acting—with a shorter duration of effects than other form factors. Topicals are balms, lotions, and oils intended to target specific external areas for pain or discomfort.
FIND YOUR STRAIN
Many words have been written about cannabis strains. But all of them fall under three basic categories: Indica, sativa, and hybrid. While each of these plant strains tends to produce its own general outcomes (e.g., chill, high, balanced), the cultivation and formulations within these categories can vary wildly. So, if you don’t know that White Widow is a particular hybrid strain known for its energizing and conversational effects, don’t worry. Just ask a budtender.
TALK TO A BUDTENDER
Most dispensaries feature budtenders working behind the counter. These aren’t just salespeople. They have an intimate knowledge of form factors, strains, terpenes and a lot of things you probably don’t need to know right away. But they are also trained to help all levels of cannabis customer, from the curious to the experienced. They’ll be happy to suggest what they like. But what they really love is to pair people with product. The more they know about what you want, the more likely you’ll walk out with something to love.
