How To Shop at a Marijuana Dispensary
Budtenders Are Your Best Friends and Greatest Cannabis Allies
The “bud” in “budtender” isn’t just referring to all the weed. They really are great buds to have.
When you’re at the dispensary, don’t think of budtenders as pharmacists. They’re so much more than that. (And generally way more fun to talk to; this is weed, after all.)
Unlike pharmacists, budtenders have firsthand experience with the products they sell. They try everything in the dispensary so you don’t have to. Because of this direct experience, they can be your ticket to symptom relief, so long as you know your goals for using cannabis and the right questions to ask to achieve those goals.
In this guide, we’ll break down how to determine your cannabis consumption goals and how to talk to and work with the budtenders at your local dispensary so you get the exact plant medicine you need to live your best life.
What Do You Want From Weed?
To get a better sense of how a budtender can help you, you first need a solid grasp of the type of help you’re looking for. We suggest making a list of all the things you’d like weed to help you with and all the things you’re not sure if weed can help you with or not. This list can include things like:
You should also consider how you want to consume your weed. Generally speaking, you can inhale it, ingest it, or apply it topically. Keep in mind the issues you’re trying to address and your personal preference. (If you don’t like smoking, you can still very much benefit from cannabis!)
Check out our guide on cannabis products and consumption methods here.
Once you know what you’re trying to achieve and how you’re trying to achieve it, you’re ready to talk with a budtender. Make sure to bring your list with you!
Helpful Questions To Ask Your Budtender
The list of issues you’re hoping to address with cannabis is a helpful place to start. Your budtender will be impressed. But there are other questions to ask before making your final purchase. Check ‘em out below.
Is this indoor or outdoor flower?
If you’re shopping for flower, this is an important question to ask. Indoor flower is considered “the best” because the grower has total control. They can manipulate the plant’s cannabinoid and terpene content, and they can manage every aspect of the plant’s growing environment and cycle.
But! There are pros to outdoor flower too. Outdoor flower grows as nature intended—soil, sun, rain, wind. (There’s something to be said about not fixing what isn’t broken. Know what we mean?) The grower still has a decent amount of control here, though not nearly as much as they do when producing indoor flower. If you’re looking for super high THC content, you probably won’t find it in outdoor flower. However, you are likely to find a strain with a very balanced entourage effect.
Are the terpenes in this product natural?
Excluding (most) flower, many cannabis products have added terpenes as opposed to just using what the cannabis plant grew itself. This could be to enhance the flavor or certain effects of the product. Adding terpenes isn’t necessarily a bad thing, but it’s important to ask if the terpenes were derived naturally or synthetically. And if they were derived naturally, clarify if they were extracted from cannabis or from some other plant—all plants have terpenes!
Is this tincture full spectrum, broad spectrum, or an isolate?
If you’re shopping for a tincture, this question is crucial to understanding what you’re consuming and what effects you can expect.
- Full spectrum means the tincture includes all cannabinoids, including THC. It features the full spectrum of the plant’s chemical compounds.
- Broad spectrum is a maker’s blend. These tinctures feature some of the cannabinoids, but not all. Broad spectrum usually means all cannabinoids except THC, but this is not always the case.
- Isolate is just like it sounds—it’s one cannabinoid, isolated. These are helpful if you’re looking for very specific effects. Keep in mind, with just one cannabinoid, you cannot experience the full entourage effect.
What time of day would you recommend I consume this product?
This question applies to all products. You don’t want to hit your high-THC vape first thing in the morning if it’s going to put you right back to sleep. Unless that’s exactly what you want it to do, of course.
Find a Dispensary Near You
Now that you’re armed with info, you’re ready to shop at a dispensary! (Ya know, as long as you have your medical card.) Check out our lists of Ozark dispensaries below.
Check out our YouTube channel for dispensary deep-dives, and sign up for our newsletter for monthly content to answer all your burning questions. Or if you’d rather talk to a human, give us a call! Like your budtender, we spend all day talking about weed, and we’re happy to answer any questions you may have about this powerful plant.