A trip to your local cannabis store can be a bit of a daunting task when there are multiple locations, different brands, product ranges and strains to choose from. Let’s not forget the myriad of new CBD products that are now hitting stores.

Don’t worry if you’re feeling a little overwhelmed, we’re going to help you prepare for your next visit to a cannabis store and ensure that your trip is a fun, enjoyable one.

It’s important to do a little research before flying into a cannabis store, so, first thing’s first.

Research Your Local Cannabis Store

A little bit of research can go a long way. Whether you’re knee-deep in Google at 2 am or you’re on a company’s website. It’s important to purchase from a cannabis store that has an online presence, whether it’s a strong social media setting, a company website or both.

If your local weed shop doesn’t have a website, it’s likely foretelling that they’re not going to be able to cater to your every cannabis need.

Finding a local cannabis store near you can be as easy as going onto the company’s website and looking at their locations across Canada. It’s important to find a store that’s local but will also stock any of the products you need. Whether you’re new to consuming cannabis products or a seasoned connoisseur, in an established cannabis store, they’ll be a helpful budtender to guide you every step of the way. Once you’re comfortable about the store of your choice and you are sure what you order you can buy weed online.

THC vs CBD

Before we dive right into what you can purchase. It’s important to know the difference between THC and CBD, the two main cannabinoids that are contained in most of the cannabis products that dispensaries will sell.

If you’re fairly new to consuming cannabis products, you may have heard the buzzwords CBD and THC floating around, without knowing exactly what they are. Marijuana and hemp leaf both contain cannabinoids, the chemical components that are assimilated into the body’s endocannabinoid system.

THC or tetrahydrocannabinol is the most abundant cannabinoid that’s found in marijuana leaves with CBD or cannabidiol coming in at a close second.

The effects of THC are different from those of CBD. For example, THC is what produces the cerebral “high” that many users often experience. The psychoactive cannabinoid can cause a happy, euphoric feeling that can also help with stress reduction and anxiety.

CBD has become increasingly popular, the cannabinoid helps to provide a therapeutic effect on the mind and body, causing deep relaxation and stress reduction. CBD has been known to help with the symptoms of anxiety, stress, muscle soreness and physical pain. CBD has been identified as an anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory, which is why so many people are turning to it to combat their ailments.

Reviewing Your Dispensaries Products Before Purchasing

Upon arrival at your chosen cannabis store, you’ll be welcomed into a world full of cannabis products from different marijuana strains to smoking equipment to edibles. Don’t be worried if you don’t know what’s what when you walk into the store, there’s often a helpful budtender available with detailed knowledge of cannabis.

Cannabis products are often separated into categories by the way that they can be administered into the body.

Cannabis Flower

The cannabis plant material is dried out to produce a yield that’s a high concentration of cannabinoids. Each of the cannabis strains is grown and bred to produce different results; for example, certain types are grown to produce high quantities of THC, while others produce a high amount of CBD. The majority of popular cannabis strains are bred to contain high amounts of THC but there’s a wide variety to choose from and it comes down to the user’s preference.

The cannabis flower is the most convenient and common way of ingesting cannabis into the body. Dried cannabis flowers can be smoked, vaporized or made into edible products.

Tinctures

CBD tinctures can be purchased from your local cannabis store in different strengths to suit your needs. Ranging from 200mg to 1500mg, CBD tinctures are administered by placing a drop of two under the tongue, to allow the body to absorb the cannabidiol through the sublingual membranes.

Tinctures can often be purchased in a variety of flavours, ranging from mint to mixed berries. It’s important to speak to your local cannabis store’s budtenders to understand which strength would be the most suitable for you. But, as a rule of thumb, it’s always a good idea to start low and gradually increase the dosage.

Concentrates

Extracts from the cannabis plant are known as concentrates. The extracts contain little to no plant matter, providing a much more potent hit to the user because the cannabinoid content is far greater.

Concentrates come in all shapes and sizes, in a variety of flavours and textures, allowing users to smoke, vaporize or even dab them. Similarly to cannabis flowers, concentrates can be bought with your preferred cannabinoid at high strength, for example, some concentrates contain high amounts of THC and others are entirely CBD.

Infusing concentrates with edibles is a lot easier, in comparison to using cannabis flowers. The use of concentrates allows for even distribution within the edible, providing a much more enjoyable experience.

Important Note: Concentrates will be available to purchase legally in Canadian dispensaries in December 2019.

Edibles

Edibles are products that are eaten, they’re infused with cannabis and get digested through your body how food does. This is the most unpredictable way to consume cannabis because the cannabinoids are absorbed through the gastrointestinal tract. This means that it could longer for the “high” to emerge, as the effects are going at the pace of your body’s digestion.

You can take edibles in many forms such as gummies, cakes, butter and other ingestible products.

Important Note: Edibles will be available to purchase legally in Canadian dispensaries in December 2019.

Topicals

Cannabis products that are designed for topical use are available for many dispensaries. Topical cannabis products include sprays, lotions, balms and patches that are all designed to help alleviate the symptoms of pain and provide an indirect high. Topicals that are rich in CBD are the most common as they may provide pain relief and contain no psychoactive components.

Speak to the Staff

A well-established cannabis store will be able to answer all of your cannabis-related questions. Whether you need help on the various strains available or you need to purchase smoking equipment, a qualified budtender will be able to guide you every step of the way.

Make sure you ask the right questions to the budtenders in the cannabis store. If you want to know the effects of a particular product or need help to soothe a particular ailment, a budtender will you choose the best product for you.

When visiting your local cannabis store, remember to bring ID with you, as you need to be at least 19 years of age in certain provinces and territories. Furthermore, not all dispensaries are able to accept card payments, so make sure you take cash with you just in case.