So, you’ve decided to buy cannabis from a dispensary for the first time and the thought of walking in is making you a little nervous.
Not nervous like your first ever date nervous. Just the kind of nervous you get when you’re waiting in line at the movie theatre stand and you’re ill-prepared to pick your movie snacks when it’s your turn.
Sadly, we can’t help you decide on picking the best munchies for a movie. Instead, we can show you the important steps in how to order cannabis from a dispensary.
So grab your pen and pad, and get ready to take some notes in our buying weed for dummies guide.
8 Tips on How to Order Weed From a Dispensary
1. Research The Dispensary First
In states like California, Washington, Colorado, Nevada, and recently Illinois, dispensaries have been popping up like flowers in Spring. But just like flowers, not all of them smell or look the prettiest. Doing your research before entering is always helpful.
Sites like Weedmaps are great for reviews from past customers and will give you a general idea of what to look out for. Not only that, but the better dispensaries on top of their game will update their stock and inventory regularly. This is the first and a very crucial step in learning how to order weed from a dispensary.
2. Bring Your Government Issued I.D.
This may seem like a no brainer, but this is the most important tip in our buying weed for dummies guide. If you planned on leaving your I.D. at home for some reason, you might as well save a dispensary trip for another day. All dispensaries will ask for government-issued identification, and even if you’re 85 with a Gandalf looking beard, you’re getting carded.
3. Cash is King
While state-level laws have allowed for cannabis to be retailed, unfortunately at a federal level, it’s still illegal. This means that access to banking has become a nightmare for some dispensaries.
Most dispensaries will have an ATM for your service, but it’s best to stay prepared in case there isn’t a cash machine on premise. Plus who wants to get charged $3 just to take out your own money! That’s $3 that could be spent on a nice pre-rolled joint.
4. What are Your Goals?
You’ve found the perfect dispensary for you. It’s close, has excellent hours and looks like a top-notch product selection. From word of mouth, the customer service is described as nothing short of remarkable.
All set, right? Well, wait a gosh darn minute…next, you have to decide what you want to get.
Are you in the mood for edibles, a vaporizer, or will you stick to flower? As well, many new customers may have some form of illness or ailment that has led them to seek out cannabis. Getting a good idea of what you want to purchase pre-hand will make the process much smoother and help everything along.
But don’t worry, we’re assuming you don’t know how to buy marijuana from a dispensary, so the next step can’t be undervalued.
5. Ask Lots of Questions to Your Budtender
If there’s one thing that’s guaranteed 99% of the time, it’s that long-time cannabis users love to talk about all the benefits of weed. Now, put these people into a customer service role, and you shouldn’t expect anything less than stellar service.
It’s more than alright to have plenty of questions and each budtender will more than likely have all the answers you need. Whether it’s about potency, dosage, taste or how to use a vaporizer, a budtender is always a helping hand. And if they’re not helpful, it’s probably a sign you should order cannabis elsewhere.
6. Examine the Cannabis and Products
We understand that this may be your first time and your knowledge of marijuana is quite low, but a quick visual inspection goes a long way. Is the flower all stems and are the buds extremely dry? What about mold? If these exist, then chances are you could order cannabis from a dispensary that’s much, much better.
A good eye test on the packaging is also beneficial. If the vaporizer company branding and packaging looks childish or like zero effort was put in, then the product is probably lacking luster, to say the least. An ocular patdown may be all it needs.
7. Start Slow
Like a kid in a candy shop, it’s easy to get carried away. A good rule of thumb is to go in with less than a fistful of dollars. It’s best to buy small quantities of a few varieties to see what you enjoy the most.
Not all strains are for everybody. You may find that edibles aren’t for you, or vaporizers are a better option than smoking flowers. Whatever your eventual preference may be, it won’t be the first thing you purchase. But hey, who knows, you could luck out and fall in love with the first strain that comes your way.
Related: The Best Weed Strains for Sex to Rejuvenate Your Romance
8. Relax
Don’t stress it. Even though cannabis had been illegal for so long, don’t let the stigma make your trip to the dispensary an unpleasant experience.
Just take these tips on how to buy marijuana from a dispensary and go about your business. The transition from non-cannabis smoker to potential marijuana enthusiast doesn’t need to be painful. In fact, it should be quite harmless like the plant itself.
If you are still unsure about how to order weed, just ask a friend that’s got it down like adding 1+1.
Learning how to buy cannabis from a dispensary is easy, now it’s time to show us what you got and strut your stuff! Check out our shop for more.
