What to Buy at Dispensaries for Beginners: Your Essential Guide

Finally ready to take the first step into your local cannabis dispensary? No matter your curiosity about cannabis, walking into a cannabis dispensary can seem daunting, especially if your state is newly legal. It’s normal to feel overwhelmed, but don’t stress, we’re here to help you navigate your first cannabis dispensary experience. We’ll walk you through how to shop at a dispensary, teach you some of the basic slang terms for weed, and break down exactly what newbies should be buying at the cannabis dispensary.

When you first walk into a cannabis dispensary, a staff member will usually greet you and check your ID. If you’re visiting a medical dispensary, they’ll also ask for your medical marijuana card. Once you’ve been checked in, you’ll be directed to the sales floor, where a number of budtenders are waiting to help you find the perfect cannabis product for you.

So, how do you shop at a dispensary?

It may seem overwhelming to see the wide variety of cannabis products on the dispensary shelves, but no need to worry, dispensaries are a judgment-free zone. Budtenders are knowledgeable professionals who are experienced in dealing with all types of consumers, especially newbies, and they are there to help you find your ideal cannabis product.

They may ask you about your desired effects and if you’re looking for any therapeutic benefits. Budtenders may also ask how you prefer to consume cannabis, whether that’s smoking, vaping, eating edibles, using topicals, or trying tinctures. Knowing a few common weed terms ahead of time can help you feel more confident asking questions and making sense of the budtender’s suggestions.

Learning the basic slang terms for weed can help you feel more confident in your cannabis journey when shopping at a dispensary. Here is a quick beginner’s guide to get you started.

Basic Products:

• Flower: Dried cannabis buds that are harvested from the cannabis plant and used for smoking, vaping, or infusing.
• Preroll: A ready-to-smoke rolled joint made with ground cannabis flower.
• Infused preroll: A preroll infused with a cannabis concentrate, like hash or rosin.
• Edibles: A cannabis-infused food, like brownies or gummies.
• Tincture: A liquid cannabis extract used under the tongue. A tincture is made with either MCT oil or alcohol as the base.
• Topical: A cannabis infused lotion or balm that you can apply to your skin for potential topical pain relief.
• Cart/Cartridge: A small, pre-filled container of cannabis concentrate that attaches to a vape battery for inhaling vapor.
• Disposable: A single-use device pre-loaded with a cartridge filled with cannabis concentrate.

Consumption Methods:

• Bong: A water pipe used to consume cannabis flower that filters the smoke.
• Pipe: A small, handheld piece of blown glass or carved wood used for smoking.
• Blunt: Ground cannabis flower rolled in a tobacco leaf wrap.
• Joint: Ground cannabis flower that has been rolled in rice or hemp paper, similar to a cigarette.
• Spliff: Ground cannabis flower that is mixed with tobacco leaf before being rolled in rice, hemp, or cigarette paper.
• Concentrate: A highly concentrated form of cannabis compounds, concentrates are made by extracting the compounds, like THC and CBD, from the cannabis plant material using either hydrocarbon extraction or mechanical extraction.
• Dab: A single serving of cannabis concentrate that is vaporized using high heat and a bong-like device called a dab rig.

Potency & Consumption:

• THC: Tetrahydrocannabidiol is the compound in cannabis products that gets you high.
• CBD: Cannabidiol is a non-intoxicating compound found in high-CBD cannabis flower and legal hemp.
• Sativa: A variety of the cannabis sativa plant known for its more energizing effects, also known as the narrow leaf variety.
• Hybrid: Hybrid varieties are a cross of two cannabis cultivars, leaning either indica-dominant or sativa-dominant, or in the middle.
• Indica: A variety of the cannabis sativa plant known for its more sedating effects, also known as the broad leaf variety.
• Terpenes: Compounds in the cannabis plant that contribute to the aroma, flavor, and potentially effects of cannabis as well.

Choosing between indica strains, hybrid strains, and sativa strains can be difficult with so many options presented to you on a dispensary menu. Knowing how to choose the best weed strain starts with a few key questions:

• What is the desired effect from a cannabis strain that you want? Would you prefer something to boost your energy and mood with a more cerebral effect, or something to help you relax and unwind, giving you a restful sleep?
• Do you need help with chronic pain, struggle with anxiety, or are looking for something to boost creativity?
• What is your tolerance like? Are you a new consumer or one who smokes infrequently?

After asking yourself these questions and communicating with the budtender, they can help guide your cannabis experience in the right direction by finding the ideal product based on THC and CBD levels, and the terpene profile.

Now that we’ve covered some of the basics, let’s look at what to buy at dispensaries for beginners. The best cannabis products for beginners are ones that are simple to dose and low in potency.

Cannabis edibles offer a safer method to consume cannabis than inhaling smoke. Not only that, but edibles are a discrete and convenient option when on the go. Edibles are made with decarboxylated cannabis plant material, which can be infused into a medium like butter or oil and added to a number of food items, including capsules, gummies, baked goods, dips, and more.

Some edible products like lozenges, or, as some medical cannabis states call them, troches, are sublingually absorbed when placed under the tongue or in between the gum and cheek. This type of consumption method allows for faster absorption of the cannabinoids, resulting in more immediate effects.

Edibles can offer more precise dosing than other methods of consumption. For new consumers and those who don’t consume frequently, it is suggested to start low and go slow by taking low doses of no more than 2.5mg of THC, which is typically a half or a quarter of a standard serving size. Edibles can take up to two hours for the THC to be fully absorbed, so it is best to start slow and not overdo it on your first time with higher doses.

Non-infused prerolls are simply ground cannabis flower rolled and ready to smoke. Infused prerolls, on the other hand, have added cannabis concentrates like hash, kief, or rosin, which can significantly increase the THC content.

Because of the higher potency, infused prerolls may be overwhelming for new consumers. For a standard preroll, start by taking 1 to 2 puffs and waiting 15 to 30 minutes before smoking more cannabis. Some dispensaries even sell joints called “dogwalkers,” which usually contain around 0.25 to 0.5 grams of cannabis — these can be a great choice for those worried about smoking too much.

You may be wondering what the differences are between whole cannabis flower and shake vs pre-ground weed.

Whole cannabis flower is the unbroken buds harvested from the cannabis plant. When comparing shake vs pre-ground weed, the difference lies in how it’s curated. Pre-ground cannabis flower is whole flower buds that have already been ground for you, making it easier if you struggle with using a grinder. Shake, on the other hand, is the loose cannabis flakes that break off the larger cannabis buds. Shake may typically have more sugar leaves in the mix when compared to pre-ground flower.

To smoke cannabis flower, you’ll need a device such as a glass pipe, bong, or rolling papers. If using a pipe or a bong, it is common to “corner” the bowl when inhaling, as this keeps the cannabis fresh for the next person in the sesh.

Vape cartridges and disposable vapes can help you avoid the combusted byproducts of cannabis smoke. Vape carts require a battery to operate, while disposables are all-in-one devices that require no setup. Both should be properly recycled when empty.

While vape cartridges can be easy to use for consumers and provide a more controlled experience than some methods, they also contain a high-potency THC oil, which, if overconsumed, may cause adverse effects.

For new cannabis consumers, there are a few products you should steer clear of at the dispensary:

• Infused pre-rolled joints: These products contain a high THC concentrate or extract, which is not suitable for beginners.
• Edibles or drinks with unclear dosing: If you’re unsure of the serving size for an edible or drink, it’s best to avoid consuming them.
• Concentrates and extracts: These highly concentrated cannabis products contain upwards of 70% THC, and new consumers and those with a low tolerance should wait until they have a higher tolerance for THC.

• Don’t be afraid to ask your budtenders questions if you need help; that’s what they’re there for.
• Bring cash, you may run into a dispensary that doesn’t accept card payments.

Shopping for cannabis may not be like shopping at your local retail store, but it doesn’t have to be overwhelming. Following these basic beginner’s guide tips can help you snag the best cannabis product for your needs.