Medical Dispensary Visit: A Beginner’s Guide Covering Essential Information

In just a handful of years, cannabis has gone from a stigmatized substance to a well-researched and respected product. For people who have a wide range of medical conditions, cannabis can be a lifesaver.

Still, the act of going to a dispensary for the first time can be extremely intimidating, especially if you don’t know what you’re looking for. The concern that you’ll do something wrong or sound like a novice is understandable, but not something that you should worry about. Cannabis dispensaries are staffed by caring, well-trained individuals who want to help you.

To get the most out of your first experience in a medical dispensary, we’ve put together a short list of things that you should know before you go.

What to bring

Depending on why you’re going to the dispensary, you may want to do a little bit of research ahead of time to determine exactly what you want out of your cannabis. It’s not important that you know exactly what strain of cannabis works for your condition, but rather what it is that you’re trying to treat.

For example, tell your budtender if you are having issues with anxiety or insomnia to help find which cannabis product is right for you.

It’s also a good idea to have a note-taking app on your phone, or bring a notebook, so that you can write down any advice to make it easier to request that product the next time.

Another consideration is to bring cash with you. The laws vary from state to state, but most dispensaries are only allowed to take cash. Though an ATM may be on site, it may have a high fee.

And of course, do not forget your government-issued ID — and medical cannabis card, if you have one.

Be comfortable stating your preferences

Decades of stigmatization have created a culture that equates cannabis consumption with smoking, but now there are many different ways to consume cannabis. For instance, if you don’t like to smoke, you can eat cannabis edibles or drink tincture. There are vape pens for people who like the taste of the terpenes in the cannabis but who do not want the harshness of smoke. A huge variety of topical applications, supplements, vape pens, and other consumables are available to match your tastes.

Dispensary etiquette

Again, laws vary from state to state, but there are a few things that you might encounter when you visit the dispensary for the first time.

For instance, many dispensaries do not allow you to be on your phone or to take pictures. As we said above, most dispensaries only deal with cash, so bring enough to cover what you think you might buy.

Please be respectful and courteous to the people who wait on you, and note that they have to abide by very strict behavioral and legal standards. And don’t forget to tip! Industry standard is 5-10%, but if they’ve spent a lot of time helping you, a larger tip for greater effort is always appreciated.

Other considerations

You might be asking yourself if you can go to a dispensary without a medical card, and in most cases the answer is yes. It’s not illegal to walk around a dispensary and look at what they have, and it’s a good thing to do while you wait for your medical card to be approved.

Check your local ordinances, but in Massachusetts, if you’re 21 or older, you can buy recreational cannabis without a medical card. And if you’re wondering, “Do medical dispensaries sell recreational cannabis?” in most cases the answer is yes. In the states where recreational cannabis is legal, it’s typically just a slight tweak in a medical shop to provide recreational products.

NE Harvest wants to make your first visit the best

If you’re in New England and looking for top-notch advice in a friendly, welcoming atmosphere with exceptional cannabis products, come check out NE Harvest. Our staff is highly trained, extremely friendly, and incredibly knowledgeable about the wide range of exceptional products that we sell. We will help you become a confident, informed cannibis customer.

Check us out today and see what a difference the NE Harvest family can make in your medical cannabis journey.