By Jeff Eckenrode, COO

A visit to a cannabis dispensary like Hashtag should always be enjoyable. Not sometimes, or once in a while ⎼ all the time, every time. 

But if you’ve never visited a dispensary before, then stepping foot in one can feel alien and bizarre. 

And when you’re outside of your comfort zone, it can be really hard to know what to ask or who to ask for help.

But don’t panic! 

If you’re new to using cannabis or have never used it before, then you’re in the right place.

Whether you’re a medical patient looking for relief, or a canna-curious adult planning your first dispensary visit, a Hashtag budtender is the perfect person to lean on. 

Not only are our budtenders knowledgable about the hundreds of products we carry, but they also understand that each person’s body is different.

So cannabis products can cause different reactions and effects from person to person. 

But where do you start?

What should you ask your budtender on your next dispensary visit to find the information you need, so you can make the very best decisions?

Here are a few “smart” questions to help you jump-start your next dispensary visit at Hashtag.

“What’s good for relaxing?” or “What do you have that’s energizing?”

When buying cannabis, the first question to ask is, what effect you are seeking? Are you looking to focus while you work? Be creative and carefree? 

Maybe you need to relax, or are you looking for an increased appetite or a better night’s rest?

Different strains and products produce different results, and these can vary from person to person as we mentioned earlier. 

And although Sativa/Hybrid/Indica classifications are commonly used in dispensaries, they are not reliable at predicting a strain’s effects of how you will experience using a product.

“What’s easy to dose?”

Whether you’re looking for a tasty edible, a discreet vaporizing cartridge, or some good ol’ fashioned flower, dosing can make all the difference between an amazing experience or a harrowing trek through the 10th dimension. 

So if you’re trying a product for the first time, it’s important to start with low doses so you can monitor how your body responds and to adjust.

“How do you recommend I use this best?”

It may surprise you to know that almost none of the cannabis products sold in a dispensary come with instructions.

Common but important questions like: “Should I take this on an empty stomach?”, “What’s the smallest dose I can take?” or “Can I smoke this?” don’t often come up until after you have taken your product home. 

So asking your budtender for their opinion on how they would use the product you’re about to try is a great place to start!

They can offer a helpful reference point for you to start at, so you’re not left wondering how to use your new purchase best.

“How does your loyalty program work?”

It may sound silly but you would be amazed at how different each dispensary’s loyalty program works. 

So asking questions like: “Do you offer discounts based on your visits?” or “How much does someone need to spend to get a discount?” will help you to determine how you can spend your hard-earned dollar best. 

Did we include all your favorite questions?

If we didn’t, then let us know!

Leave us a comment here or on our social media accounts so others can benefit from your experience, too.