5 Different Weed Products You’ll Find at the Dispensary
Learn How To Identify and Use Them Plus the Pros and Cons of Each
Flowers and edibles and tinctures…oh, high!
Even if you’ve been smoking weed for the last 30 years, walking into a dispensary can be incredibly overwhelming. These days, there’s a whole lot more to pick from than a couple jars of flowers.
Before you can begin to sift through the dozens of brands and hundreds of strain combinations lining the shelves, you must first decide what type of weed product you want. And before you do that, you must decide what exactly it is you’re trying to accomplish with weed.
Are you looking to alleviate joint pain? Have you been nauseous lately? Do you need something fast-acting but don’t want to smoke?
Narrowing down why you’re choosing to consume weed and whether or not smoking is an option for you will help you [determine the right cannabis product for your needs]. Generally, you’ll have five categories to pick from.
Different Products You’ll Find at the Dispensary
- Flower
Cannabis flower is the most popular weed product on the market. Smoking is the go-to consumption method for cannabis flower, but you can also inhale it through a vaporizer.
If inhaling weed is not your thing in general, you can use cannabis flower to make edibles. (We recommend purchasing packaged edibles from the dispensary versus making your own—they’re much easier to dose. More on that later.)
Regardless of the dispensary you hit, you’ll find flower sold in these standard sizes:
- 1 gram
- 1/8 ounce
- 1/4 ounce
- 1/2 ounce
- 1 ounce
If you’re purchasing a strain you haven’t tried before, we recommend purchasing the smallest amount of it you can. You don’t want to be stuck with a full ounce of something you can’t stand.
If you don’t have the right tools at home to smoke flower, like a pipe or a bong, you can also purchase it ready-to-go as a pre-rolled joint or blunt. Either way, make sure you have a lighter handy.
Pros of Flower
- Can be one of the most affordable types of weed products
- Effects are nearly instant
- Available at any dispensary
Cons of Flower
- Inhaling cannabis can be harsh on the lungs
- Standard dosing is not a thing
- Tools are required
- Concentrates
Concentrates are what they sound like—a concentrated form of cannabis. Because of this, they are incredibly potent and not recommended for new consumers.
If you feel comfortable taking your cannabis consumption to the next level, concentrates open up a world of options for you. There are several different types of extraction methods used to make concentrates, and they all create different textures and consistencies that can be used with different tools.
For example, if you want a concentrate to sprinkle over your flower before you smoke it, look for something with a more solid consistency, like crumble or budder. If you want something you can dab with a dab rig, look for something a little more syrupy, like live resin or wax.
Talk to your budtender about the best type of concentrate for your needs and preferences.
Pros of Concentrates
- High potency
- Effects are nearly instant
- Variety in consistency and usage
Cons of Concentrates
- High potency
- Can be one of the most expensive weed products
- Can require special tools/equipment, like a dab rig
- Edibles
Edibles are a great entry-level weed product because they’re easy to dose and require no extra tools. Generally, edible products at a dispensary include gummies/candies, cookies, brownies, and beverages, as well as traditional medical options like capsules and tablets.
Unlike flower and concentrates, which enter your bloodstream through your lungs when inhaled, edibles enter your bloodstream after going through your digestive system. This trip through your liver is known as the first-pass effect. It converts delta-9-THC (the THC you’re familiar with) into 11-hydroxy-THC. This new form of THC hits way harder than delta-9, which is why edibles are known to have such potent effects.
Because of the THC transformation that happens during the first-pass effect, it’s crucial you start with a low dosage of your edible and go slow. For example, if you pop a 5mg gummy, we recommend waiting at least two hours before deciding to take another one. You don’t want to take too much upfront and compound the effects.
Pros of Edibles
- Easy to dose
- No inhalation required; does not damage the lungs
- No special tools needed
Cons of Edibles
- Effects can take 30 minutes to two hours to kick in
- Easy to take too much because it takes time to feel the effects
- Can impart an intense high due to the first-pass effect
- Tinctures
Tinctures are widely available, though they’re a less common consumption method than most other weed products. A tincture features a blend or an isolate of cannabinoids, potentially some terpenes, and a carrier oil like MCT oil or sunflower oil to help deliver the cannabinoids to your bloodstream.
If you’re more curious about CBD than THC, a tincture can be a great place to start as CBD tinctures are incredibly common. You can oftentimes find them available outside of dispensaries since CBD is generally derived from hemp and therefore federally legal.
Tinctures usually come in three styles: full spectrum, broad spectrum, and isolate. Full spectrum means it contains the full cannabinoid profile of the plant, THC and all. Broad spectrum generally means it contains all cannabinoids except THC. An isolate is just that—one specific cannabinoid isolated, like CBD.
Tinctures are easy to dose. Simply fill the dropper up to the desired dosage and place it under your tongue. Hold there for as long as you can before swallowing the rest. The majority of the compounds will be absorbed through capillaries under your tongue. The rest will go through your digestive system after you swallow.
Pros of Tinctures
- Easy to dose
- No inhalation required; does not damage the lungs
- No special tools needed
Cons of Tinctures
- Can be expensive
- Contains other ingredients i.e. a carrier oil, so if you have any food allergies, make sure the carrier oil of the tincture you choose won’t trigger them
- Effects can take 15 minutes to an hour to kick in
- Topicals
Topicals are a unique weed product because they do not impart a high. They are applied externally, directly to the ache or pain you’re trying to address.
Topicals are generally lotions, balms, and salves. You may find transdermal patches and cannabis bath bombs/salts in this category, but be careful—those products will impart a high. For relief without a high, stick to the weed products you can physically rub onto your skin.
Pros of Topicals
- Does not impart a high
- Effects are generally quick, usually within 5-15 minutes
- Localized relief as opposed to full-body effects
Cons of Topicals
- Does not impart a high
- Can be expensive
- Can be scented, so make sure you pick one with an aroma you like
Time To Hit the Dispensary
Cannabis is a unique natural medicine that does not come one-size-fits-all. To gain the most from it, you must determine your wants, needs, and goals with weed. Talking to a budtender can help, and talking to a certified MMJ doctor can offer you even more insight.
If you have more questions and could use a doctor’s perspective.