Dispensaries are the modern liquor stores—stocked shelves, diverse products, and label specifications that make little sense to newcomers and outsiders. Sifting through the mountain of offerings to find a suitable product can feel like a herculean task.
Thankfully, you don’t have to go it alone. Any dispensary worth its salt will employ a knowledgeable and patient “budtender” (the “bud” equivalent of a bartender, har har) whose sole goal is to guide and inform the buying process.
If you want to capitalize on their knowledge to find the right cannabis for you, it’s crucial to ask the right questions. This article arms you with the three critical questions to try the next time you shop for bud.
“What Strains Would You Recommend for [Insert Desired Effect]?”
Most often, cannabis buyers tailor their purchase to a desired effect. They want “couch lock,” “creative sparks,” “focus,” “a sense of childlike giddiness,” “a spike in appetite,” etc. What are you looking for?
Understand that different types of weed produce different sensations depending on their individual “entourage effect” (essentially, the synergistic effects of their cannabinoids, terpenes, and other compounds). Finding a strain/product aligned with your desired outcome will ensure a smooth and enjoyable experience.
Before you enter the dispensary, develop a clear understanding of what you want.
“What’s the THC and CBD Ratio?”
Desired effect is only one half of the equation. The other is the intensity of those effects. For instance, do you want to feel a mild sense of couch lock, a relaxed and sinking feeling that still allows you to get up and move around? Or do you want a fully locked-in-place feeling, like you can’t (or don’t want to) move a finger?
This level of intensity mainly derives from the balance between cannabis’ two main cannabinoids: THC and CBD. THC is responsible for psychoactive feelings, while CBD contributes to calming feelings. If you’re just starting out, ask the budtender for a ratio that is more weighted to CBD. As you gain experience, slowly ask for higher THC products.
“Are There Any Dominant Terpenes I Should Know About?”
Terpenes give cannabis its kaleidoscope of alluring flavors and aromas. They are one of the key elements in what makes the product so enjoyable.
Once you’ve zeroed in on a shortlist of products that meet your criteria for effects and intensity, you can start singling out flavors you love. For instance, if you love citrusy flavors, ask the budtender for a strain with dominant limonene terpenes. If you love spicy, peppery flavors, ask for a strain dominated by beta-caryophyllene terpenes. Pinene terpenes give cannabis a fresh, woodsy aroma; linalool has lavender-like floral notes; myrcene has a fruity, mango-like profile, etc.
As mentioned, terpenes also play a role in the entourage effect. So, in addition to choosing flavors that agree with your palette, check out this article on the varying impacts of different terpenes. To preserve terpene integrity once you take the stash home, always store your cannabis in an airtight container alongside a 2-way humidity control pack.
With just three questions up your sleeve, you should be able to communicate well enough with the budtender to get the ideal cannabis for you. Once you’ve established that baseline, you can start experimenting with other strains, products, and brands.