Tips to Talking to the Budtender at Your Local Dispensary

Going to a marijuana dispensary is like a cross between going to a pharmacy and going to the bar. There's generally a few aisle or shelves of items to explore, but there is also a "bar" or counter, behind which an employee known as the budtender works. This budtender does more than just work the cash register. They tend to be very knowledgeable about cannabis and ready to offer their customers all sorts of sage advice. If you're new to the idea of going to a dispensary, though, you may not be quite sure how to talk to and interact with a budtender. Here are a few tips and guidelines to get you started.

1. For more in-depth conversations, visit when they're not busy.

Most budtenders are happy to spend 15 minutes with you discussing the genetics of a particular strain, the latest research in indica strains for headaches, and so forth. But if there's a line of 10 customers waiting to check out, they won't be able to take this time. So if there's an in-depth conversation you want to have with the budtender, visit when the shop is less likely to be busy. Mid-afternoon tends to be a good time. The customers visiting on their lunch break are gone, and the after-work crowd hasn't come in yet.

2. Share your experience.

In general, when you ask a question of the budtender, you want to give them a little background so their answer can help you. For instance, don't just ask which strains are good for headaches, explain how often you have headaches and what you've already done to address them. If you don't have this much background to offer, that's okay — just give the details you can without holding anything back. More precise questions earn more detailed, helpful answers.

3. If you don't understand something, ask.

Especially if you're new to cannabis, the budtender may rattle off something with a few words you don't understand. For instance, they might say that Durban poison has amazing terpenes and a strong body high and you might wonder what "terpenes" means. Don't hesitate to stop your budtender and ask them for clarification. They are happy to educate you; it's their job. But they can only teach you when they know what you need to learn.

Hopefully, this information has given you a better idea of how you can interact with your budtender and get more from the conversations. Most budtenders are friendly, knowledgeable, and happy to help once you properly tap into them as a resource