Your First Time? How to Shop at a Cannabis Dispensary in 2024
Introduction
Stepping into a cannabis dispensary for the first time can feel like entering a whole new world.
With so many products and so much lingo, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed and lost.
Imagine going into a liquor store for the first time, “What’s…bourbon? Is bourbon good?”
You don’t know the language and you don’t want to look dumb.
You don’t want to end up with something so strong it sends you to the fetal position.
You don’t want to waste your hard-earned money on the bunk stuff.
I get it.
I’m here to share everything I’ve learned to make your dispensary visit enjoyable and successful.
We’ll cover everything from understanding local regulations to finding the right products for your needs and preferences. By the end of this guide, you’ll comfortable and confident as you shop your dispensary.
Know Before You Go: Dispensary Regulations
Where is weed legal?
Cannabis is legal on a state-by-state basis, and is still illegal at the federal level. A majority of states have already legalized cannabis, but don’t assume that you’ll be able to find a dispensary in every state.
Click on the map for an up-to-date list of states that have legalized cannabis:
State Laws for Purchasing Cannabis
Every state with legal cannabis has its own set of laws and they are all slightly different. That means your experience at a dispensary in Colorado will be different than in Arizona or Connecticut.
One thing they have in common: all states require recreational cannabis consumers to be age 21+.
To find the rules for the state you’re shopping in, Norml has a really nice summary of each state’s cannabis laws and regulations.
If you want to be extra sure, you have to go to that state’s website to read through their laws.
Medical vs. Recreational Cannabis
Some states have only legalized cannabis for medical use, sometimes called “medical marijuana.”
Some states have legalized both medical marijuana and “recreational” marijuana, sometimes called “adult use” marijuana.
To buy medical marijuana, you have to get a state-issued medical marijuana card. It will look like some version of the blank card pictured.
Each state has a different list of “qualifying conditions” that will permit the doctor to issue you a medical marijuana card.
The benefit of getting a medical marijuana card is that medical marijuana patients are usually allowed to buy more quantity at a time, and pay less taxes on their purchase. If you are using cannabis regularly and medicinally, this will make a big difference.
How to Get a Medical Marijuana Card
If you want to get a Veriheal is an awesome, reputable resource to help you get your medical card.
Verhiheal will walk you through all of the steps to get your card so you can do it yourself, or you can pay them to do it for you. They have a HIPAA-compliant online platform and a good industry reputation.
In a state with legal “recreational” or “adult use” cannabis, you do not need a medical marijuana card, you only need to be an adult age 21+. You will need to show your ID, but it can be from out of state.
Dispensary Near Me
Finding a dispensary you like is the first step in having a good experience.
Each dispensary has its own vibe. Find a dispensary that makes you feel comfortable. For me, that means friendly staff who are ready to answer questions, well-displayed products, nice decor, and an overall feeling of calm.
To find a dispensary near you, the two leading websites are Leafly and Weedmaps. They are both excellent resources for locating dispensaries, reading reviews, and in some cases, ordering ahead online for in-person pickup at the dispensary.
But you can also always Google “cannabis dispensary near me,” Google Maps serves a decent list as well, but without the handy bonuses offered by Leafly and Weedmaps.
Bring Your Essentials: What You’ll Need
Your government-issued ID
This is non-negotiable. You need to have your government-issued ID ready that shows you’re age 21+. If you don’t have one with you, they will not let you in the door.
Cash or Debit Card
Dispensaries are cash-only businesses (fun fact: because cannabis is federally illegal, the FDIC won’t insure cannabis business bank accounts). They almost always have an ATM on site, but they often have high service fees. Some, but not all, dispensaries take debit cards. It’s smart to bring enough cash for your entire purchase.
Your Cannabis Questions!
I’ll walk you through the basics below, but DO YOUR HOMEWORK before you go to the dispensary! My site is FULL of all of the information you need to find the right products for you.
Read as much as you can. Learn as much as you can.
Write your questions down and bring them with you.
Wondering what you should buy once you’re actually in the dispensary?
For a full list of the best types of cannabis products, read my article, 24 Exciting Ways to Use Cannabis in 2024.
For info on cannabis vapes, read my article, All About Cannabis Vapes: How to Choose and Use the Best Vape for You.
For info on cannabis gummies and edibles, read my article, THC Gummies for Beginners.
The first question you’ll have to answer in the dispensary is “are you looking for Indica, Sativa, or Hybrid?” To learn what these terms mean and how to answer the question, read my article, Indica vs. Sativa vs. Hybrid Strains EXPLAINED.
When to Expect When You Walk in the Dispensary
The Lobby
Most dispensaries have limits on how many people can be inside at a time, so they may have you sit in a lobby until your turn comes up. When you walk in, you are likely to see one or more people waiting in the lobby to go in.
There will be a front desk, the staff person will ask you for your ID as soon as you walk in. Sometimes they scan it into a database that tracks your purchases to ensure compliance with the state’s purchase limits.
Sometimes the staff person is behind a glass wall like a bank teller. This is to protect their safety. Being cash-only businesses means that dispensary safes are chock full of cash and cannabis products, making them easy targets for robberies.
Inside
When you are admitted inside the dispensary, you will see a huge range of products, including cannabis flower, vapes, edibles, and topicals.
Most often you’re not allowed to touch the products, they are securely displayed behind glass or behind the counter. That means you need to have a good idea of what you want – or what your questions are – before you arrive. (Hint: read the Learn section of my site!)
Budtender Banter: How to Talk to Dispensary Staff
The staff who help you at a dispensary are called “budtenders.”
For the most part, they are friendly, knowledgeable, love cannabis and want you to have a good experience. In larger dispensaries, budtenders will have an iPad with their inventory loaded, and will use it to talk you through and show you the products.
Be honest with budtenders about your experience level and what you’re looking for.
Let the budtender know right away that this is your first time visiting a dispensary. That will help them know how to help you.
A friend once told a budtender that she was looking for “the Mike’s Hard Lemonade of weed.” Meaning something low-dose and tasty. That is a perfect description for the budtender to go on!
Don’t be ashamed about not knowing the cannabis “lingo.”
Tell them how high or not high you want to get. Tell them what setting you’ll be using in – a hike in nature? After-work chill? How long do you want it to last? This will help guide the budtender toward the right products for you.
Ask questions.
Take your time to ask questions. A good budtender will be patient with you.
If you’re open to trying new things, ask the budtender what their favorite products are, or products are most popular with their customers.
If they make you feel dumb asking questions or feel rushed, you don’t have to spend your money there. Go back on Leafly or Weedmaps and find a different dispensary.
Don’t feel pressured to buy anything you don’t want.
Know your budget and shop within it.
Budtenders are almost always cannabis lovers, but they are also retail employees. They have sales goals to meet, products to push, and pressure from managers.
If you feel like the budtender is pushing you into an expensive product you don’t want, it’s okay to say “maybe next time” and move on.
Finding your sweet spot
As a Certified Cannabis Educator, one thing I often hear from new cannabis consumers is some version of, “I tried a cannabis chocolate bar from a dispensary once and I loved it. I’ve never felt so good. Do you know which one it is?”
There are a lot of different kinds of cannabis chocolate bars in dispensaries. A lot. But I like to help, so I start asking questions like, “What state did you buy it in?”
“Do you know the brand name?” “What did the package look like?”
“How much THC is in it? How much did you take?”
And I get sheer deer in the headlights looks. They don’t remember a single thing about the product or how much they took.
What good is it finding a delicious cannabis chocolate bar that makes you feel incredible in the perfect dose if you can never find it again?!
Save yourself from this fate.
Once you’re home with your new cannabis products, take a minute to write down what they are, or just take a photo of them all together.
When you consume, write down how they made you feel, making note of your set and setting.
This will help you fine-tune which products work best for you.
Conclusion
Do not be intimidated by the dispensary! Armed with the information in this post, you can now shop the dispo like a pro.
