What advice do you have for dispensary newcomers?
Perhaps you’re a seasoned flower connoisseur who’s always grown their own or knows someone who does. Maybe you’ve never dabbled in cannabis, but now that adult-use is legal in Missouri, you’re ready to give it a try. No matter how much experience you have with enjoying cannabis, the dispensary experience can be a bit overwhelming the first few times you go. Here are a few expert tips for navigating the process.
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Bring your ID. “It’s something we have to do in order to be compliant,” explains Kind Goods marketing coordinator Lindsay Hof, who’s also a veteran budtender.” We’re not doing it to be intimidating, and I promise that it will get easier every time you visit. It’s even OK to make a joke about it, which kind of opens up the whole thing.”
Ask yourself a few key questions. Hof recognizes that even the most seasoned consumers can get overwhelmed by the sheer variety of options. “I would always ask people two questions up front: What is the purpose of your purchase? And what methods are you comfortable using?” Hof says. “Are you using them for sleep? Do you have a timeline in mind—say, 15 minutes, 45 minutes, an hour? By asking yourself a few of these questions, you can really start to narrow things down.
“If you prefer edibles and are going to a golf tournament all day where you don’t want to drink, now we have information so that we can give recommendations on different suggested edibles and dosages,” Hof adds. “If you prefer flower and are using it for sleep, that is something different entirely.”
Know yourself. You don’t necessarily need to know how cannabis affects you, per se, says Carl Hazel, director of edibles for Revolt Brands, but it’s nice to have an understanding of how your body metabolizes food, for instance, or whether you have breathing issues that make certain consumption methods, such as vaping or smoking flower, more difficult. In his work with Revolt, Hazel has come across some people who can’t take edibles because they feel their impact too strongly; others choose not to take them because they feel no effects at all. In that case, vaping might provide an alternative option. For those with asthma, however, smoking or vaping are totally out of the question, so edibles might be a better option.
“There are a million ways to do it, and figuring out which one works for you and understanding what you need and what outcome you want are important,” Hazel says. “Then do some online research and talk to a budtender, who is usually a great resource because they deal with so many different products and brands. They will be able to tell you what works for you.”
Talk to the budtender. “For someone who might be relatively new to cannabis, I think it’s important to know what you are looking for and why you want to use cannabis,” Hazel says. “Do you want to use it to feel energized and spend more time in the park or out hiking and biking? Are you managing pain or need help with lack of sleep or appetite? Have an idea of what you want to accomplish, and then talk to your budtender and let them know what kind of high you are looking for or what you need help managing, and then ask what they recommend. This is going to help them steer you in the right direction.”
