Wait, should I buy weed from my local distributor or pharmacy?

This article originally appeared on Cannabis.net and has been republished with permission.

When asked where to get weed from, you should expect an easy answer, right? Not correct. For many cannabis consumers, choosing where to obtain a desired product remains a major problem that many have yet to solve. Some are unaware of the benefits of getting cannabis from a trusted source. Here’s what you need to know before making a decision.

Sources of Cannabis Products

The advent of laws allowing recreational and medical marijuana fueled the growth of cannabis dispensaries. Prior to this period, classifying marijuana as illegal meant it came from illegal markets that were unregulated. Many cannabis users today have come to believe that dealers are the only source of marijuana available. However, the importance of legal markets in various states across the country has made cannabis dispensaries an accepted source.

Dealers were mistaken by many as stoners trading weed on the side of the road or in shady spots. The advent of legalization has upgraded many cannabis dealers with the trend and value of their services. This has repeatedly kept them relevant in the market among cannabis users, despite the fact that their activities are illegal. Most traders in the market are more demanding than ever. They have a wide range of curated products to offer, making them an option for many cannabis users.

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Cannabis dispensaries are the structured framework under recognized regulations authorized to dispense and make available cannabis products. Pharmacies have budtenders that provide customers with proper information about the strains as well as the expected effects. More cannabis dispensaries are opening in legal states across the country, some offering delivery services.

dealer or pharmacy

The decision to purchase cannabis products from either a retailer or a pharmacy depends on a number of factors. There are a number of professionals who prefer using distributors (although we don’t advise you), and also those who prefer pharmacies. To be fair, we’re going to look at some of these factors holistically and see how both sources compare in terms of the factors.

legality

This is perhaps the most important factor that characterizes these sources of cannabis products. While traders are legally backed by regulators, traders are labeled illegal, unregulated, or gray markets. Cannabis users who purchase products legally from pharmacies have peace of mind knowing they are on the right side of the law. However, this does not apply to those who illegally possess cannabis from cannabis dealers. While it seems regulators haven’t been too harsh on those who patronize traders in legal market states, one simple step could rectify this. The repercussions can be very dire for those caught on the wrong side.

Availability

Retailers are less mirroring community pharmacies when it comes to cannabis products. This is because they are close to the users and have willingly provided the drug. Merchants are present in the cities and states and carry out delivery services that induce many users to use their services. Cannabis dispensaries are less mobile as few have delivery services, meaning users mostly have to physically go to the dispensaries. This can be a disadvantage for some privacy-seeking cannabis users.

Price

Price is an important factor that tends to influence the choices most users make where to source their cannabis products. The merchants, as expected, have lower prices for their products, which makes many users patronize them. Pharmacies, on the other hand, have higher prices for their products. This is mainly due to the presence of excise, sales and local taxes on the products. Likewise, cannabis dispensaries also have to pay for staffing and other logistical requirements that affect their prices.

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environmental sustainability

This factor is more of a continuation for prices related to cannabis dispensaries. The tax levied on cannabis products is used by the government for environmental sustainability. It’s often used to promote health, education, drug abuse research, and so on. Retailers, on the other hand, have the potential to lead in environmental sustainability. This is because their activities tend to deplete the integrity of structures in the area.

safety and quality

Cannabis dealers offer consumers products whose safety and quality cannot be verified. Users receive products whose origin or ingredients they have no idea. Some of these products can pose serious health risks to the user due to the presence of pesticides, heavy metals and other residues. In addition, retailers provide estimates of the THC concentration of products, which may be incorrect as no testing procedures are performed on the products. Products from cannabis dispensaries, on the other hand, are very safe as they would have gone through various stages of analysis to establish the safety of the products. Such products are free from harmful substances such as pesticides and heavy metals. The quality of the products is also ensured as proper tests are conducted to determine the effectiveness of the product.

bottom line

The truth is that the choice of where to source your products is ultimately yours. However, given the factors outlined above, there seems to be only one logical choice. This is the choice that will keep your civic character in proper condition by not getting in trouble with the law. It’s the choice that ensures the proceeds of your sourcing go towards supporting your community and environment. This is the choice that ensures you are getting products that are safe to use with no health risks. This is the choice that ensures what you ordered or needed was delivered. We don’t need to say more because you already know what choice to make.

This article originally appeared on Cannabis.net and has been republished with permission.