The Top Things To Discuss With Your Budtender


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Contributor: Connor McMannis

For me, the first time I entered a cannabis club, I was a bit overwhelmed. I felt like everybody already knew what to do, where to go, what to ask, etc. Even though I had spent years buying cannabis from less-than-stellar folks off the street, I was intimidated by this new system of regulated, government-approved weed. Excuse me, “cannabis.”

I knew that I loved smoking, but I had no clue what it was that I really was looking for. In short, I was basically as clueless as one could be. Yes, I was eager to enter the cannabis community as a newly legalized member, but I had no idea what I was doing. While I was able to figure things out for myself through trial and error, I had wished someone compiled a short list of things to know before entering a dispensary – more specifically, how to interact with a budtender.


Now, as I’m sure you’re already aware of, budtenders are different every place you go. There is no industry standard handbook that these folks need to study (although, there should be). Instead, each location has their own vetting procedure that they utilize during the hiring process of their budtenders. The best places (aka best reviewed spots) often have the most knowledgeable staff members working behind the counters.

It takes a lot more than being educated in cannabis to be considered a top-notch budtender. Patience and people-skills go hand-in-hand with this sort of occupation. For the most part, these employees are ready to help you find whatever it is that you are looking for – even if you were completely clueless about…well, everything, like I was.

Things To Discuss With Your Budtender

You just need to know what to ask them about. If you come equipped with the proper questions and guidelines, the interaction with your budtender will not only be smooth and quick, but it will likely result in you walking out of there with something that is damn near tailor-made to suit your needs. However specific those needs may be. To be fair, it takes “two to tango” so to speak.

The best thing a customer can do when approaching a budtender is to know a few things about their personal wants and needs – starting with how they like to partake in marijuana, in general.

For example, if you are what many refer to as a “purist” – you will likely only want to see a dispensary’s flower selection. Or, let’s say you live in a crowded apartment complex, and being inconspicuous (with sight and smell) is key, then perhaps you will need to inquire about their current vape options. Better yet, you could discuss your admiration (or hatred) for edibles. It is really all about personal preference – especially when kicking off a conversation with a budtender. Once they know what type of marijuana medium you are looking for, it helps expedite the entire process – mainly because they no longer feel obligated to run through their entire smorgasbord of cannabis just to find what you’re looking for.


Another thing you’ll definitely want to mention to your budtender is how you plan on utilizing cannabis in your life. Are you there to simply grab an eighth for a party you plan on attending later? Or, are you looking for a calm way to ease into sleep after a long day at work? Obviously, there are a multitude of realistic scenarios other than these two simplistic examples, but they do serve as a solid presentation of certain details that budtenders need to know, in order to point you in the right direction. With all the various strains and mediums hitting the market, there is literally a product to fit even the most specific person’s intricate needs. And a good budtender knows all about them.

Essentially, you need to help them, in order for them to help you.

So, in the above scenario, if you are looking to become the “coolest dude at the party” with some dank, chances are the budtender will point you towards some potent sativa that will liven everyone’s mood with only a couple tokes. But, if you are a solo smoker looking for a reliable sleep aid, they may present a plethora of indicas or CBD options for you to look over. Don’t worry about asking too many questions. The more answers you and your budtender unearth, the better off you will be – trust me.

The -Top Things To Discuss With Your Budtender

Also, speaking of CBDs, don’t be shy about your relationship with the psychoactivity of cannabis. Many newcomers fear a high potency level, causing them to panic even before they fire anything up. Others rely on cannabis to enlighten and inspire them during times of creative droughts. Again, everybody is different – and, subsequently, everybody’s body (and mind) react differently to cannabis. But have no fear, with the ever-growing selection of products being as extensive as it is these days, the chances of not finding something that you fancy is slim to none. It’s basically impossible, let’s be honest.

One final thing to consider while conversing with your budtender is length of high. Sure, it is easy to discern which products will get you higher than others, but the staying power of products vary greatly – and just as varied, are people’s desire to feel it for a certain amount of time.

Some folks are still new to the world of cannabis, and prefer to take little tokes of THC throughout the day to help them cope with the minutiae of life. These folks should be sure to mention such a preference to their budtender, who will be mindful to uncover a handful of products that show up, but don’t “stick around.” While the majority of us are always looking for some long lasting potency, there’s just as many folks out there who like to “remain in control” of their high with less powerful products.

The main thing you will want to remember is to be open and honest with your likes and dislikes. For the most part, cannabis clubs and dispensaries are judgement-free zones. We are all there because we like the same thing: marijuana. It doesn’t matter if you are looking for the most mundane strain on the market – there is nothing to be ashamed of.

Again, we are all aware that everybody’s different. Someone’s ideal product might be another stoner’s nightmare. That is why it is vital to share things with your budtender without any fear of shame or embarrassment. Because, to be honest, I would rather take that route and find something that truly works for me and my preferences, than waste money on a product that may only make my problems worse. That just doesn’t seem smart to me.

So, just be open, be honest, and for crying out loud, be curious!

Ask your budtender questions – it doesn’t matter how many – just ask them. The more you know about what you like, and what really helps you, the better off you will be. No doubt about it. Then, the next time you hit up a dispensary, you will have to ask even fewer inquires because you will have already learned that much more about yourself (and your smoking preferences) from the last visit. It is a slippery slope of self-knowledge that results in money wisely being spent on products that ultimately improve your way of life in a number of different ways.



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