Maybe you’ve just received your first medical weed prescription. Or you’re just curious. Here are things to know before visiting a weed dispensary.
Visiting a weed dispensary for the first time can be intimidating. These businesses are fairly new, but they are popping up everywhere, and at first, their offerings and selection can be overwhelming. Perhaps you have never had the opportunity to indulge in or to enjoy cannabis before, and you don’t know where to start.
Whether you received your first medical marijuana card or if you live in a state where recreational weed is now legal, chances are you will find yourself inside a dispensary sooner or later. Even if you are just curious, you may find yourself wanting to wander in to check it out.
Don’t Be Nervous
However, you don’t have to be nervous when you visit your first weed dispensary. The budtenders are there to help you and will be eager to show you the dispensary’s products and to answer your questions. They want your business and want you to come back time and time again as a returning customer, so they will do all they can to make you happy and comfortable during your visit.
Read on to learn seven things you should know before your visit. Even though all your questions will be answered, you will feel more confident if you have at least some knowledge before taking the leap.
Four Things to Know Before Your First Weed Dispensary Visit
Again, the people working at the dispensary you visit will be more than happy to help you and to answer any questions you may have, but it’s still good to know a few things ahead of time and before you go.
1. Bring Identification
No matter how old you may be or you may look, when you arrive at the dispensary, you will be asked for identification before you even get to look at any cannabis. Don’t forget to bring a photo ID along with you when you go, or you will be turned away.
Many dispensaries in many states offer discounts for people who served in the military. If you have proof of doing so, you will want to bring that along too.
If you live in a medical state, be sure to bring your medical marijuana card with you as well if you have one. In states that are able to sell cannabis for both medical and recreational purposes, your medical card will save you money, since no tax can be applied. Also, the products offered to medical patients and recreational customers are different, so if you are a medical patient, you should take advantage of that.
2. Familiarize Yourself with Cannabis Products
Budtenders can explain everything, but it is best if you at least spend a little time familiarizing yourself with the different products that may be available at the dispensary you will visit. The type of cannabis you are probably most aware of is flower. Flower is the buds of the plant and it can be smoked in a joint, pipe, or other vessel. It has been around for thousands of years and has been enjoyed by millions of people over that time.
However, that is not the only cannabis product that you will find at the dispensary. Today, there are so many more. In addition to flower, you can buy a wide variety of concentrates that you can also smoke, such as oil, wax, shatter, kief, hash, resin, live resin, and more.
Further, at most dispensaries, you can also buy cannabis in topical forms, such as in a salve or rub, or in an orally ingested form, as in edibles or drinks. If this is your first visit to a dispensary, you may want to start small and only buy some flower, or you may want to purchase several different products to see what you like best.
3. THC vs. CBD
Another thing that you will want to know before visiting a dispensary is the difference between THC and CBD. You have probably heard of both, but you may not know how they differ. THC is the substance in cannabis Sativa that gets the user “high.” When a product with THC in it is ingested, you will know it. It is psychoactive and will give you a buzz.
On the other hand, CBD is not psychoactive. It is often used for medical purposes and it is becoming more and more popular as the months pass. Today, CBD is legal in most states and is available everywhere from yoga classes to massage studios to gas stations. However, if you want high-quality CBD products, you should go to a dispensary. CBD is not well regulated yet and some of the CBD products offered elsewhere may not even contain CBD at all.
4. Sativa vs. Indica
If you decide that it is THC that you want, then you also should know the difference between Sativa and Indica strains. There are literally thousands of different strains of cannabis and you may find that you want to try as many of them as possible. However, they are divided into these two categories, and the high you will get from them is very different.
If you’re wondering how to decide between them, here are the main differences. Sativa strains will get you high, but will also give you energy. They are great for creative pursuits, doing work, playing music, or hanging out with friends. Indicas, on the other hand, offer much more relaxing highs and are perfect for days where you want to stay home and chill on the couch while watching television.
There are hybrids of the two types available as well. Depending on which you prefer, when you choose a hybrid, you will want to look at the percentages of each type before purchasing and enjoying it.
Happy Shopping
Now that you know some of the main things you should know before visiting a weed dispensary for the first time, you are equipped with at least some basic knowledge. It is likely that you already feel a bit less overwhelmed already. Now it’s time to head out and make your first visit. Have fun, and don’t be afraid to ask questions. Even many long-term cannabis users ask questions when they go to a dispensary, so you are not alone.
You are about to embark on a very exciting journey and learning experience. Enjoy!
Check back daily to never miss our latest!