5 questions to ask to help your budtender help you
Stepping into a pharmacy for the first time is a wonderful and surreal experience. Customers are immersed in a whole new world of strains, extracts, edibles, topicals and a multitude of evolving, innovative products.
In most cases, they need professional guidance to understand all of these decisions. This professional is the budtender.
Budtenders work as the crucial link between the industry and the public, but not all budtenders are created equal. Ideally, helpful budtenders ask lots of questions to personalize the products they recommend to customers. An experienced budtender knows the qualities and effects of the products they sell and communicates them clearly to potential buyers.
On the other hand, some budtenders operate with ulterior motives to pull certain products off the shelves. Their advice, based on personal experience or sales trends (e.g. “I tried this last night and loved it!” or “You should get this strain fast! It’s sold out!”) may seem helpful, but it may not be true with which a person needs to agree.
Do your research before you shop
Despite the proliferation of cannabis in dozens of states, budtenders do not have universal business training, so employee readiness varies from store to store. For an inexperienced consumer, this poses some problems. If you’re worried about lackluster help, do some research on the store you’re planning to visit first.
Resources like our Dispensary Locator can help you narrow down options in your area and provide reviews from other customers. Social media can also give you a feel for the business and its employee culture – do the employees look happy to be at work? Even with the most careful preparation, questions will surely arise on site.
Below are five questions to ask yourself before hiring the budtender, based on what they’re likely to ask you. Anticipating how you will communicate this information can greatly improve the effectiveness of your dialogue in finding the right products and learning something new.
1. How would you like to consume your cannabis?
There are a handful of ways to consume and use cannabis, from smoking flowers to eating gummy bears to bathing in an infused bath. Most dispensaries stock a variety of edibles, beverages, tinctures, capsules, mints, pre-rolls, vape pens, and more.
Narrow down a few questions about the methods and products you want to try; How you administer cannabis determines how you feel about it. This way you can also find out which pharmacies carry the products you need. Keep in mind that some products have limited availability and your local pharmacy may not stock them.
2. What do you want to do with cannabis?
Cannabis and its effects are very personal, and no two people relate to it the same way. Ask yourself why you want to use cannabis. Are you dealing with an illness or do you want to switch off at the end of the day?
While many pharmacies stock both medicinal and recreational products, your needs as a customer or patient influence what the Budtender recommends. A product designed to relieve pain may not work to manage anxiety, just as a sativa strain may not work to help you relax and sleep.
If you have medical needs but don’t already have a medical card, consider contacting a local doctor trained in medical marijuana if available. What symptoms do you need cannabis for? Your budtender and your doctor have very different backgrounds, even in medical markets. Both opinions make it easier to determine what type of relief you need.
If you don’t have access to a doctor, call the pharmacy and ask to speak to an experienced member of staff before paying a visit.
3. How much do you want to spend?
The price spectrum for cannabis products seems to be expanding more by the day. Think about your budget and how much you likely need to achieve your ideal session or well-being. If you don’t know how much to buy, use our visual guide to cannabis quantities. You don’t have to splurge on an ounce on your first trip
Most pharmacies offer customers multiple price points. Eighths of cannabis (3.5 grams) typically cost between $20 and $75. Pre-rolls range from $10 to $30 when available in a multi-pack or have been infused with concentrates for added potency. Edible prices vary by type — gummies and lozenges tend to be cheaper ($20) than capsules and baked goods ($25+).
Local and state taxes affect the prices you see on the menu much more than they do in stores – you may end up paying more than you bargained for.
4. How long would you like to be drunk?
Cannabis can affect your mental and physical state in very different ways, depending on the method of consumption, dosage, and how well you tolerate it. The cannabinoid THC creates the “high” that cannabis gives us, but not all cannabis strains and products induce a high.
Certain products are formulated to be non-intoxicating, e.g. B. those that contain high amounts of CBD. Other products feel uplifting and cerebral, while some work better for relaxation and calming. If you let your budtender know what experience you want, they will guide you to a product that fits your exact needs.
In addition, the length of your cannabis experience can depend on how you use it. Dabbing cannabis concentrates tends to offer a quick and intense experience compared to edibles. But like other inhalation methods, the effects wear off within an hour or two.
Related
Edible Dosage Chart
Edibles take time to take effect, but their effects typically last between 2 and 4 hours. Medical patients may need longer-lasting relief, while casual consumers just want to relax on weekends. Planning how and when you intend to use cannabis will help determine both the products and consumption methods to discuss with your budtender.
5. How discreet do you have to be?
The discreet consumption of cannabis depends on courtesy and legality. Most states do not permit public consumption, and cannabis smoke and fumes may be bothersome to some people around you. Some pharmacies now offer consumption lounges, although they rarely remain.
Your budtender can help you figure out how your cannabis use might be affecting those around you. If you plan to use in the presence of others who choose not to use cannabis, your budtender can direct you to products that you can use anywhere.
Edibles, vape pens, topicals, sublinguals, transdermal products, capsules, and even suppositories are examples of discrete products that don’t produce lingering odors or clouds of smoke.
You may not always be lucky enough to broker cannabis with an experienced advisor, but you can save a lot of time and guesswork by speaking clearly with your budtender. They both want the same thing, which is to help you find the exact product you need for the exact experience you want.
Patrick Bennett
Patrick lives in Denver with his wife and daughter, where he spends his time writing, photographing and creating content for the cannabis community.
Check out Patrick Bennett’s articles
By submitting this form, you are subscribing to Leafly news and promotional emails and agreeing to Leafly’s Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe from Leafly email communications at any time.
Post a comment: