Buzz
If it’s been a while since you last bought cannabis, especially since your school days, stepping into a dispensary can be both exciting and a bit overwhelming. The sleek, stylish atmosphere of these shops may feel worlds away from the shady dealings of your youth, but the sophistication of the environment could make you feel a bit out of your comfort zone.
Fortunately, understanding the difference between indica and sativa is not essential for an enjoyable shopping and consumption experience, but it’s important to have a clear sense of how you want to feel.
Assist the budtender in guiding you toward the right choice
In a conversation I had via email with Cami Noecker, founder of the friendly Serra dispensaries, she emphasized that “creating a non-intimidating shopping process” was a top priority. This is why the store employs a “feelings-based approach to helping you discover cannabis products that align with your desired experience,” whether for fun or health. She noted, “You may not be familiar with terms like sativa, indica, or terpene, but feelings are universal. We encourage customers to tell our docents/budtenders how they want to feel, so we can match them with the right product.”
Just like any vendor, dispensary staff are there to assist you, but they can't read your mind. During an email exchange with Andrea Sparr-Jaswa, Director of Education at the approachable Farma, she pointed out that knowing how you want to feel is crucial. She shared, “In an ideal situation, the person behind the counter will engage you right away and ask questions to guide both novices and experts. Unfortunately, that’s rarely the case, and much of the available information is either incomplete or inaccurate. It’s often essential that the customer comes in with more answers than questions, especially when it comes to understanding the type of effects they want or want to avoid.” To help prepare, Sparr-Jaswa recommended asking yourself a few key questions: “Are you okay with being intoxicated? Are you seeking symptom relief or just a recreational experience? Do you know your ideal dosage, especially when it comes to THC and edibles? Are you aiming to get high or just treat symptoms without a high? If you’re open to intoxication, would you prefer a stimulating or a calming experience?”
It’s also important to consider how you want to consume your cannabis. “What’s your preferred method of dosing?” Sparr-Jaswa inquired, pointing out options like “edibles, inhalants, topicals (which provide site-specific relief without causing intoxication), tinctures, drops, and transdermal patches (which avoid the intense effects of edibles while offering long-lasting, controlled hourly dosing).”
Start low. Go slow.
“Edibles take longer to take effect and can be unpredictable until you figure out your ideal dosage based on your metabolism and body chemistry,” she explained. “However, they tend to last longer and can be a great option for those who prefer to avoid inhalants or need extended relief, like for a full night’s sleep. Some people struggle with falling asleep, staying asleep, or both. It’s also possible that it’s not a sleep issue at all, but rather a pain or anxiety problem, and that insight could alter the final recommendation.”
Don’t place too much emphasis on specific strains
Depending on your age, the cannabis available today is likely quite different from what you remember from your younger years. “Weed has evolved significantly since the 60s and 70s, when THC levels rarely exceeded the mid-teens,” explained Sparr-Jaswa. In the 80s and 90s, cannabis “was pushed underground, and growers focused on producing high yields quickly, which generally led to short, bushy plants with Afghani genetics that often produced heavy, sedative effects. Now, we see much higher THC levels and more diverse chemical profiles.” This is a positive shift in many ways, but it’s important to avoid diving in too quickly. “With more options available, it’s tempting to go straight for the potent stuff, but that might not be the best approach for most people. Higher THC can lead to unpleasant side effects, such as increased heart rate and anxiety. Start low. Go slow.”
If you know the name of a strain you enjoy, that's great—it can guide your budtender, but don't get overly focused on it. If your cannabis experience is mostly limited to whatever poor-quality weed was available when it was illegal, Noecker advises customers to “forget any strain names you know and focus on communicating the effects you want to achieve.” It’s also essential to remember that cannabis is constantly evolving because it’s a plant. “Strain names might hint at a plant's lineage or flavor profile,” said Noecker, “but until there’s a universal naming system, choosing a strain by its name alone won’t always give you the best results. Moreover, two farmers might grow the same strain, but the flowers could have drastically different profiles due to their unique growing conditions.”
Sparr-Jaswa noted that “Strain names can indicate genetic lineage, but just as two people can have the same parents yet be completely different, two plants with the same parents can produce vastly different effects. A consistent seed line or stable growing environment may reduce these variations, but phytochemistry is the most reliable way to determine effects. As growers experiment with genetics through crossbreeding and selecting for unique chemical profiles, strain names are often chosen arbitrarily—sometimes based on a specific effect the grower experienced (which is subjective), or a particular scent profile. The name game can be fun, but it’s not always a reliable predictor of effects. It’s more often unpredictable. That said, knowing a person’s favorites can still be helpful when recommending a product.”
Just as the weed of today is far different from what you smoked in high school, your body has likely changed too, and understanding this personal shift can be useful. “Body chemistry varies more than fingerprints and can change over time,” said Sparr-Jaswa. “Your preferences and tolerances may shift as well. Keeping a personal journal can help track patterns and preferences over time. If you know what you’re looking for, a budtender can guide you to a good starting point.”
Stay relaxed
For many, one of the greatest benefits of legal cannabis is the ability to find a product that won’t overwhelm you, which can lead to an overemphasis on what Sparr-Jaswa refers to as “The Indica/Sativa divide.”
“Anxiety is a major concern for many,” she noted. “Certain combinations of compounds can help reduce existing anxiety or lessen the chances of feeling anxious, while others may actually increase those chances. Both outcomes can appear in either indica or sativa strains, which is why categorizing them in such a strict way is far too simplistic. Understanding whether anxiety is a factor can help the budtender find the best options, which are often more dependent on dosage than simply choosing between indica or sativa.”
You’re not in search of just high THC
“Avoid hunting for the highest THC percentage!” Noecker advised. “Many people come in looking for the strain with the highest THC content, missing the opportunity to try strains with richer terpene profiles, which can be incredibly rewarding. The most important thing a customer should express is how they want to feel and what they aim to achieve from consuming. From there, our knowledgeable staff can help match them with the best product based on its terpene profile and THC/CBD levels.”
While THC and CBD are both important terms to understand, don't get overly fixated on them. CBD, being non-psychoactive, won’t get you ‘high,’ but a bit of THC could actually help you reach your desired effect. “Often, people ask for CBD-only products for pain relief, but you'll find better results with a high CBD strain that also contains some THC due to the ‘entourage effect.’”
“Cannabinoids work better in combination and at lower doses than when isolated,” Sparr-Jaswa explained. “While CBD isolates are flooding the market, especially in CBD products, these aren’t always the most effective. For some people they may work, but the general recommendation is to opt for full-spectrum products. Cannabis-derived items are more likely to feature a broad-spectrum profile, but many hemp products are now available with full-spectrum profiles that include small amounts of other cannabinoids like THC.”
Intoxication isn’t something to compete for.
“What’s truly important is understanding the terpene profile of a strain,” Noecker said. “Terpenes are responsible for the plant's flavor and offer insights into the strain’s qualities and benefits. New users don’t need to grasp the science of terpenes, but they should know how they want to feel. From there, our highly skilled budtenders can interpret the terpene profile for them.”
Don’t be rude
If you're feeling overwhelmed, just embrace it and let the experts help you out. As Noecker advises, “The key is to not pretend to know more than you do and to trust the professionals; be open to a strain or product for reasons beyond just its name or THC content.”
Even if you know exactly what works for you, don't impose it on your friends. “Experienced users introducing less experienced ones should remember that what works for them may not be suitable for their friend,” Sparr-Jaswa noted. “Intoxication isn’t a contest, and your less experienced friends will have a much better experience if they are encouraged to take it slow. Also, never dose someone without their consent, even if you think Grandma would benefit from your favorite gummy. Let's all make sure trust is maintained.”
Lastly, remember there are no foolish questions. “If a dispensary makes you feel uncomfortable asking any questions, look for another one,” Sparr-Jaswa said. “This is a new field, and we’re all still figuring it out. Above all, acting like a know-it-all is worse than openly admitting what you don’t know. Ask away.”
