Believe it or not, more than 55 million American adults use some form of cannabis. As more states make marijuana legal, more dispensaries will open up, making it easier and more fun to buy high-quality cannabis products.
If you’ve never gone to a dispensary, you’re probably not sure where to start. The thought of walking into a store and buying a substance that used to be illegal can feel intimidating.
It doesn’t have to be a stressful experience. Here are a few tips to help take the mystery out of how to get weed at a dispensary.
1. Research the Dispensary Ahead of Time
Before you head to your first cannabis dispensary, take some time to research the options in your area. Different dispensaries have different products and some only serve people with a valid medical cannabis use card.
The last thing you want to do is show up to a dispensary only to find that you can’t buy anything from them.
If you have questions or can’t find the information you need, call the dispensary and ask.
2. Bring a Photo ID
In order to buy cannabis products from a dispensary, you need to be ready to present a valid government-issued photo ID at the door. The staff will use your ID to make sure you’re of legal age to buy marijuana.
Passports, driver’s licenses, and state-issued ID cards are all valid options. Just make sure that the ID hasn’t expired and all information is clear and readable.
3. Have Cash On-Hand
Unfortunately, many dispensaries can’t accept credit cards. This is because federal bank regulations prevent them from using credit card processors in some states and municipalities.
Cash is king and you can always use cash to pay for your purchases no matter where you’re buying weed. Some locations even have an ATM in the lobby so you won’t have to worry about just showing up.
Those in-lobby ATMs do charge a withdrawal fee, so you may find it best to stop by your bank’s ATM on your way.
4. Be Willing to Wait
Dispensaries pair you with a budtender who can help you find products you love. Unfortunately, this means you may have to wait in the lobby for other shoppers to check out before you can start looking at products.
Only go to the dispensary if you have enough time to wait. Depending on how many people are waiting ahead of you, this could take about half an hour.
If you’re in a hurry, try to come back to the dispensary at a different time. You can always ask the staff when their slowest times are so you can plan accordingly.
5. Think About How You Want to Get High
Use the time in the waiting area to think about how you want to get high. Are you looking to smoke some high-quality bud or do you want to try an edible or tincture?
There’s no right or wrong answer. It all depends on your personal preference.
Keep in mind that smoking or vaping weed will get you high more quickly. If you’re not a huge fan of smoking or have upper respiratory conditions like asthma, you may want to stick to an edible or topical product.
6. Give Other Shoppers Space
Once you’re with your budtender, do what you can to give other shoppers space. Remember, people use cannabis for different reasons and many of your fellow shoppers are using it for very personal reasons.
Try not to eavesdrop and don’t crowd others around the counter. If someone gets too close to you while you’re shopping, you can always ask them to give you a little space.
7. Let the Budtender Guide You
If you’re shopping at a dispensary for the first time, it’s normal to have questions about every product you see. Budtenders expect this and are always happy to make recommendations.
They’ll ask you a few questions to better understand what you’re trying to accomplish with the cannabis. From there, they’ll show you products that they think you’ll enjoy using most.
Don’t hesitate to speak up if you know something’s not right for you. It’s a dialogue and the more information the budtender can get from you, the better your experience will be.
8. Ask Questions
When you first come to a dispensary, it’s normal to not want to look like a total beginner. Unfortunately, this leaves many shoppers with tons of unanswered questions.
Save yourself the trouble and ask your budtender questions while you’re there. If you’ve never smoked out of a pipe before, they’ll give you advice on how to do it.
There are no stupid questions and you can bet that your budtender has heard everything before. They won’t judge you—they just want to make sure you have the tools you need to enjoy your high.
9. Buy Only What You Plan to Use
Cannabis can and will lose potency over time. This means you may not want to stock up on weed during your first visit. Instead, only buy what you know you can use in a reasonable time.
By keeping your purchase amounts small, you’ll be able to try new things more often which can help you better understand your preferences.
If you’re traveling from out-of-state, you’ll need to buy only what you can use while you’re in town. Crossing state lines with marijuana is a federal offense and can get you in serious legal trouble.
10. Wait to Use Until You’re Home
Unfortunately, you can’t use your newly bought weed on dispensary grounds. You need to wait until you’re home to light up or imbibe.
It may not be a felony to light up on the street corner, but you can still get stuck with a hefty fine!
Now You Know How to Get Weed from a Dispensary
Figuring out how to get weed from a dispensary can seem confusing if you’ve never shopped at one before. These tips will make your first trip simple and enjoyable.
Once you’ve had the chance to try the items you buy, use that experience to help you in the future. You might need to try several strains and products before you find one you love. No matter what that is, your dispensary will help you find the freshest products possible.
Check out our latest posts for more helpful tips and tricks for first-time legal cannabis users.
