Dispensaries
There are two different types of dispensaries. Medicinal and recreational. Some dispensaries have both medicinal and recreational available. Each dispensary is set up a little different. There are usually budtenders at the dispensaries that are very knowledgeable and can assist you in choosing a strain or product that would work for your individual needs. To get the medicinal cannabis, you must have a medicinal card.
Medicinal Cards
In Minnesota veterans can get a medicinal card by going online and applying for one. The link is Veteran Self-Certification - MCR. This site is for veterans only.
What to look for in a dispensary
You want to make sure that the dispensary you choose is a reputable one. The dispensary should be licensed. When they are licensed, they need to follow certain regulations and must get all their products tested for a Certificate of Analysis (COA). This COA has info such as cannabinoid levels, terpene profile, heavy metal levels, pesticides, and microbial contaminants to name a few. This is to ensure you are getting a safe and reliable product. You can ask to see the COA of any product in a dispensary if you would like, and they should be able to provide one to you. If they do not or cannot….I would try to find a different dispensary. There are websites out there that you can use to search for licensed dispensaries near you or even a particular dispensary you may have in mind in Minnesota. An example is https://mncannabishub.com. They have a list of legal dispensaries in Minnesota, along with type of dispensary it is and where it is located.
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There are other things to look for when in a dispensary. It should have a wide variety of different types of products available to choose from. It should also have knowledgeable budtenders to talk to, that is very important. The budtender should take time to talk to you and listen to you to understand what you are looking for, what your needs/wants are. They should be knowledgeable about the different products available and how they work and make suggestions to help you find something that will work best for your situation. They should be able to tell you the different methods of consumption for the products and suggest dosing instructions on the product(s) you decide to buy, if needed. They are there to answer ALL and ANY questions you have. If a budtender looks bothered or does know the answers to a lot of the questions you have, may be a time to find a different dispensary. Some dispensaries list the cannabinoid levels on the products. Some have kiosks that show all the products and can include this information if applicable. This is very helpful if you are looking for flower that has certain terpenes and the level of other certain cannabinoids in it like CBD, CBG or CBN. It also shows the percentage of THC. If you want/need this information and it is not listed, you can ask the budtender. If the budtender does not have this information, you can ask for the COA on the product.
Good Questions to Ask the Budtender
When speaking with a budtender, they will be the first ones to tell you - there are no stupid questions. Ask any question you may have, and they will be happy to answer it. It is also good to tell them a little bit about your experience with cannabis, if any. It is helpful for them to know if you have any experience with cannabis and if there have ever been any negative effects like anxiety, paranoia or uncomfortable intensity for example. This will help the budtender to guide you toward gentler options or more balanced THC to CBD ratios. Below are some example questions to ask a budtender:
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Where do I start? What do you recommend? This would open the conversation for a tailored experience.
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What do you recommend for pain? (sleep, relaxation, creativity, anxiety). A different question would be, How will this make me feel? Both questions will help to focus on your desired outcome.
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You can ask about product details.
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What is the THC and CBD content? What other cannabinoids does it have?
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What is the terpene profile?
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What is the harvest date? (For flower)
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What is the difference between “this product and that product”? Will help you to compare items to help find what will work the best for your situation.
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Can I smell this before buying? This can help assess aroma and quality.​
4. Ask questions about the consumption or how to use the product.
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How should I dose this?
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Can you tell me how this product is consumed? Or, What is the most common way people use this? You can be more specific - How do you use a vaporizer?
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What is the onset time and duration? (how long does it take to feel the effects and how long will it last)
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How should the product be stored?
Types of Products in Dispensaries
There are many different types of cannabis products available. Every person is different and may be affected differently by different products. Not everybody’s experience is the same. Knowing the basics can help in your journey to find what works best for you.
Flower/Prerolls – Flower is dried cannabis flower. Also known as buds. This is the popular choice for consuming cannabis. Flower can be put into three different categories which are Sativa, Indica and Hybrid. Sativa flower is known for its uplifting, stimulating and energizing effects. Indica is known for its physical relaxation, stress relief and sedating effects. Hybrids have both Sativa and Indica in them. Hybrids can “lean” either way depending on the strain. This is also known as Sativa Dominant or Indica dominant. Terpenes can tell you a lot about how that a particular strain will lean and the effects it will have. The budtender should also know this information.
How to Consume/Use
Flower is consumed by inhaling it. You can smoke it using a bowls/pipes, water pipes, vaporizers or in pre-rolls (joints). The effects are near immediate to pace. A general suggestion is to start with 1-2 small pulls (puffs or drags) and wait 10-15 minutes for full effect. It is always good to start small – you can always take more….but you can’t take less.
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Note: When trying anything new, it is always good to check with budtender and ask what they suggest for dosing instructions. They would know their product best.
Vape Cartridges – Vape cartridges have cannabis oils in them. The oil is heated up into a vapor which is then inhaled.
How to Consume/Use
Vape cartridges are consumed by inhaling it. There is a button that is pushed to heat up the coils. The cannabis oil is then vaporized, and you take the pull (puff or drag). Like flower, the effects are almost immediate. General suggested use is 1 small pull and wait for 15 minutes to feel the full effect. Start small and increase if needed.
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Note: When trying anything new, it is always good to check with budtender and ask what they suggest for dosing instructions. They would know their product best.
Concentrates – Concentrates are an extremely concentrated form of cannabis extract where the active compounds have been condensed for raw plant material. The percentages of THC are typically very high. There are a few different forms of concentrates. Some examples are oils, hash, resin, wax, shatter, badder/budder, crumble, sugar, sauce and sand.
How to Consume/Use
Concentrates are also consumed by inhaling – called dabbing. You can use dab rigs or vaporizers to heat up the concentrates. This product is normally not a good starting place for new users due to potency. It is suggested you already know your tolerance level before trying a concentrate. Effects are almost immediate. The general suggested use is 1 small inhale and wait 15 minutes to feel the full effect. Start small and increase if needed.
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Note: When trying anything new, it is always good to check with budtender and ask what they suggest for dosing instructions. They would know their product best.
Edibles/Beverages/Capsules – Edibles are consumed by eating or drinking them. There is a wide range of edibles like baked goods, chocolates/candies, jellies, gummies, and capsules to name a few. These items are infused with THC.
How to Consume/Use
Edibles work a little differently than inhaling cannabis does. First, it can take 30 minutes to 2 hours, sometime 3 hours to feel the full effect of the product. Everybody is different because it also depends on things like metabolism, whether your stomach is empty or full, weight, and your tolerance level. Also, edibles often have a stronger effect due to it being processed in your stomach and the effects last longer. Patience is key when coming to edibles, make sure to take it slow and wait the appropriate time needed to feel full effect. Even people who are experienced with inhaling cannabis products can have low tolerances for edibles. General suggestion is to start with 2.5-5mg THC and wait at least 2 hours to feel effects before taking more.
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Note: When trying anything new, it is always good to check with budtender and ask what they suggest for dosing instructions. They would know their product best.
Tinctures – Tinctures are liquid extracts that come with a dropper.
How to Consume/Use
Tinctures are consumed orally or sublingually. The oral or sublingual way is more common. The drops are usually put under the tongue and held there for 30-60 seconds. Even though you are “eating” them, they work a little differently than edibles. This is because some of the cannabinoids absorb directly into your bloodstream. This causes you to feel the effects on-set faster than an edible. Whatever amount you may swallow will then go through your digestive system like a regular edible. Tinctures are good for precise dosing for consistent controlled experiences, also very easy to take.
Topicals – Topicals are products you put on your skin. Usually used for localized relief for things like sore muscles or joint discomfort. There are a variety of different types of topicals, a couple examples are creams, balms, lotions, bath bombs, massage oils, and salves. Topicals do not generally enter the bloodstream, so they do not normally give you the high feeling.
How to Consume/Use
You use topicals by putting them on your skin or putting the product in water to soak in it depending on the type of product you’re using. Always refer to instructions on package or speak with budtender if you have any questions on usage and/or dosing