Purchasing cannabis can be a daunting task to the uninitiated. Everyone has their own unique tastes, preferences and desired effects when choosing a product for consumption.

One of the knock-on-effects of cannabis legalization was the explosion of product offerings in the legal cannabis market.

Certain products that are effective for one individual may not be the best products for others.

With new products and strains hitting the market every day, retailers are unable to carry everything at the shop and instead curate their menus to suite the needs of their customer base.

Not only can cannabis products vary in strain, but the effects can also vary based on consumption method: An edible will not have the same effect, duration, time to onset as flower and concentrates.

Final note before we dive into this: There has been a focus on potency over quality in the legal Canadian market, I do not believe this focus purely on potency is indicative of the quality of users experience and would caution against starting out with the highest THC products as they may cause anxiety.

 

Communicating your needs

Back to the basics for your dispensary visit.

Budtenders are people, think of them as your friends there to help guide you to the best way to experience cannabis. In order to maximize your experience feel free to ask them any questions you may have regarding consumption methods, certain products, brands, or the cannabis industry.

There is no such thing as a stupid question and from my experience they want to talk.

Not everyone is after the same effects, many budtenders will attempt to guess what you would enjoy based on their perspective built up by their own experiences but if you aren't able to properly communicate your needs they may just pick their favorite product which may not be the best product for your needs.

There are many factors that determine the future success of your interaction with your budtender and it's important that you approach this process in a way where you feel comfortable.

I tend to think that if you're not assertive enough you'll either be confused or disappointed by the outcome.

 

Picking the right cannabis products

I believe that the line between medicinal and recreational cannabis is blurred; regardless of where you stand consumption is therapeutic for wellness and you need to communicate your desires clearly.

It's important to remember that no two people are alike, you are unique in your desired effects and experience and that's exactly why dispensaries have budtenders on staff to help guide their customers through this process.

While budtenders are have the cannabis know-how, they can only provide you with consumption recommendations based on their cannabis experience.

Knowledgeable budtenders will be able to take the information you give them and narrow down the decision of cannabis related products that may suite your needs.

 

What are your cannabis needs?

Do you need a product with a quick onset for relief?

Would you like something that you can accurately dose and will provide prolonged relief?

Only you know the answer to these questions and if you want to find the right product you must first identify your needs and then communicate these to your budtender.

The basic building blocks of cannabis education start with indica strains vs. sativa, but we've evolved past this and can now more accurately judge certain product effects based on chemical makeup.

 

Recommending effective products

How willing are you to learn about cannabis products and how they affect the human body?

Asking this question may help a budtender direct you towards a product that will provide the results you're looking for. Someone who is knowledgeable about cannabis products will be able to help you find the specific product that suites your needs.

Don't be afraid to ask questions, budtenders are customer service representatives in a niche market and they live for this.

Remember when asking questions follow these guidelines:

Be open-minded, Be respectful, Speak with confidence - The confidence is an optional throw in, a budtender will enjoy speaking to you regardless.

 

First time cannabis consumption

If it's your first time consuming make sure you keep it simple; don't go too crazy and let your budtender know, this is valuable information.

A good budtender will advise starting slow - What's the rush?

If it's your first time recall my warning regarding potency, there's no rush to jump into the deep end, it's like building up an alcohol tolerance.

 

What should you ask your budtender?

What was the packaging date?

This is important because the fresher the product the better it will be. As a product sits it dries out with the volatile aromatic terpenes flashing off.

Additionally cannabinoids can break down into other compounds over time.

A humidity pack can help keep product fresh but regardless fresher is better and six months is typically my cut off but it varies based on product and producer.

Experiment around and determine what is best for your needs.

How was the product grown?

Was it organic, irradiated, hang dried, hand trimmed? These questions may seem complicated but they're really quite simple. Small batch, craft grown, hand trimmed buds typically have that extra level of care that helps determine quality of a product.

Irradiation is when a producer will blast radiation at the final product to allow it to stay within Health Canada regulations, this is not necessarily a bad thing but it can cause the breakdown of some terpenes and cannabinoids, if possible non-irradiated products indicate a level of care in the growing process that carries through to the final product.

Does the product have transparent packaging?

...I don't mean that you can see through.

Does the brand provide you with all of the information you need on the packaging or website? Strict regulations can make this difficult to do but it's always good to look out for if brands are transparent about the cannabinoids and terpenes in their final product.

Is the product full spectrum?

A full spectrum product will retain the same cannabinoid and terpene profile of it's organic flower through processing. Having this dynamic profile often leads to a more pleasant, balanced experience.

A whole new world

Legalization is an exciting time to be alive, a true paradigm shift in how we see this plant. Historically have been have been policing cannabis and incarcerating users but this is all changing right before our eyes.

The stigma surrounding cannabis use is slowly disappearing and with legalization sweeping across the nation more people than ever before are learning about the benefits of CBD, THC, and all of the minor chemical components.

Budtenders got involved in the industry because they are truly passionate about cannabis, they've done their homework and are here to help.

Field testing

I hope you enjoyed this short read on how to talk to your budtender and if anything I hope it inspired you to go spark up a conversation at your local cannabis dispensary and learn more about the cannabis community.

If you have any questions or comments feel free to let me know in the comments below.

Stay lifted,