Visiting a Dispensary
You’re interested in cannabis, but you’re not sure where to start. If you take medication, the first thing you want to do is use a drug interaction checker to see if cannabis will have a negative interaction with your medication.
CANNabinoid Drug Interaction Review
PENN State College of Medicine
Drugs.com Cannabis Interactions Checker
Start Online
Search for a dispensary near you and go to their website.
Look for products on the dispensary’s website that align with your needs. Are you looking for a CBD topical cream for tennis elbow? THC gummy for back pain? A low-dose THC and CBD beverage to replace alcohol and help you unwind? Something to help you sleep?
Make notes about products that appeal to you, write down questions, and familiarize yourself with what is available. If there is more than one dispensary in your area, look at their websites; not all dispensaries carry the same products.
Be Prepared
- Know what you want to achieve using cannabis.
- How you want to consume it.
- Questions for the budtender who will be helping you.
- Bring your I.D.
- Bring your medical recommendation if you have one or need one in your state.
The Dispensary
Most dispensaries have security and a check-in process. Before you enter, you must show your I.D. and medical recommendation if you have one.
Dispensaries can offer a dizzying assortment of products, including gummies, cookies, sodas, tinctures, creams, transdermal patches, and dried flower (bud). Many of them have different intensity levels and ratios of THC, CBD, and other cannabinoids.
How products are displayed and stored varies. In some dispensaries, products will be behind the counter or in cases. At others, some products like edibles will be on shelves out on the store floor. A budtender will greet you, yep, that’s what they’re called, and escort you through the dispensary. In this case, the budtender will take those items to the counter for you. Cannabis flower is almost always behind the counter.
When you speak with a budtender, mention that you looked at their website. Tell them what you want to achieve using cannabis and mention the products you looked at. Ask the budtender for their thoughts. While the knowledge of budtenders may vary, many are knowledgeable and trained and keep abreast of new products, industry trends, and scientific research.
Purchasing and Tipping
The cannabis marketplace is predominantly cash-only. If you don’t have cash on hand, many dispensaries have an ATM in the store. They often take debit cards as a cashless ATM.
Cannabis dispensaries do not take credit cards. While cannabis is legal in the majority of states in the U.S., it is still a controlled substance on a federal level. Because it is a controlled substance, credit card companies are wary of allowing their services to be used in the cannabis industry.
At most dispensaries, it’s appropriate but not mandatory to tip a budtender if they were knowledgeable, helpful, and provided great service. Cash tips are appreciated. If you don’t want to leave a cash tip, get their name and let the dispensary manager know that you received great service.
Go home and enjoy your cannabis!
