If you have ever visited a recreational marijuana dispensary, then you know that they are usually quite different from a medical dispensary visit. The atmosphere of a retail recreational marijuana dispensary is focused on adult use, not addressing health symptoms for patients.
Now that you have your medical marijuana card, there are many dispensaries to choose from. Medical marijuana dispensaries are focused on products that can provide symptom relief, and their staff are trained to assist patients with that wellness goal.
Here are some tips for your first visit to purchase cannabis at a licensed medical dispensary to make sure your dispensary experience is a positive one.
1. Think About Your Symptom Management Goals
When you were certified by a cannabis healthcare provider, you discussed the symptoms that you hope may be helped with medical cannabis. The consultation with a healthcare provider is part of the process for getting a medical card because it gives patients the opportunity to discuss their wellness needs and determine whether cannabis may help improve symptom management
When adding cannabis to your treatment plan, it is important to pause and think about the symptoms that you would like to manage better before you start to visit marijuana dispensaries. Most dispensaries suggest that you schedule an appointment with them if it is your first time. That way, you can have time to set up your patient records and get expert advice and guidance about products, intake methods, and more.
Some important questions to ask yourself before you head to one or more medical marijuana dispensaries include:
What Kind of Cannabis Intake Methods Do I Prefer?
When it comes to using medical cannabis, there are many different types of intake methods to consider. Some people may think that smokable cannabis or vaping are the best options because inhalation can provide psychoactive and physiological effects quickly.
However, there are other methods that are better, depending on health conditions. For example, patients who have respiratory diseases such as asthma, emphysema, or COPD should avoid using smokable cannabis, as it can increase inflammation in the lungs.
Did you know that tinctures are also rapidly absorbed when used correctly? Flavored or unflavored cannabis oil can be dispensed and held (pooled) under the tongue for one minute, and you may start to feel the effects after fifteen minutes.
For relief that lasts for a longer period of time, edibles may be a cannabis intake method to try. Because edibles must pass through the digestive tract, it may be up to ninety (90) minutes before you begin to feel the effects. However, unlike other intake methods, edibles can provide relief for up to seven hours and are easy to store and use.
Should I Purchase Different Strains for Multiple Types of Symptoms?
One of the misconceptions that patients have when they begin to use medical cannabis is that they have to use only one strain. When, in fact, using multiple strains of cannabis can provide better relief if you suffer from a variety of different symptoms.
For example, using cannabis during the workday may not be advised or safe; however, a high-quality broad-spectrum cannabidiol (CBD) supplement may help moderate pain symptoms, stress, or anxiety for daytime use.
When you are at home (and not going anywhere), you may choose an Indica dominant strain if you are experiencing moderate to severe pain. For stress and anxiety, a Sativa dominant hybrid strain may provide the relief you need to relax and unwind. If you are suffering from sleep disruption due to pain, anxiety, or depression, an Indica strain can provide light to moderate sedation to help you get a restful night of sleep.
What Potency Is Appropriate for My Wellness Needs?
If you have never used cannabis products before, physicians recommend that you start with a lower potency. The reason is that you need to familiarize yourself with the impact of THC on your body. People who have regularly used cannabis may develop a tolerance level that requires higher potency cannabis to provide symptom relief.
Ask your cannabis healthcare provider for suggestions on potencies that may help. When purchasing cannabis for the first time, choose small quantities so that you can explore what products and strains work best for you. Dispensaries do not exchange or refund purchases, and this can help avoid wasting money on new products that may not meet your needs.
What Strains May Work Best for My Symptoms?
Today, there are many online resources that are available to help patients research strains of cannabis. From Leafly to Weedmaps and other websites, you can search by strain attributes. For example, if you are using cannabis for symptoms of depression or anxiety, you can find out which strains are highly rated by other cannabis users for your specific symptoms.
Before your first trip to a dispensary, make a short list of strains that you think can help. If your local dispensary does not carry those specific strains, you can ask the budtender for advice on strains of cannabis that have similar qualities and psychoactive or physical effects.
2. Make Sure Your Identification is Valid
Not everyone can enter a cannabis dispensary, but your medical marijuana card is your VIP entry pass. By law, dispensaries have to check for valid state-issued or federal identification to verify that you are age twenty-one (21) years or older for an adult use-dispensary and eighteen (18) years or older for a medical dispensary visit.
Valid proof of identification and age can include:
- A passport.
- Active military photo identification.
- Native American tribal card.
- Driver’s License (or temporary driver’s license form).
- Other state-issued photo identification.
When you arrive for a medical dispensary visit, you must present both your valid medical marijuana card and another form of government-issued ID. Make sure both your medical marijuana card and your photo identification are valid and not expired. Dispensaries cannot accept expired IDs.
Remember that dispensaries are required by law to age-verify patients before allowing them to enter the retail location. You will also be asked to present your medical marijuana card and photo identification when you pay for your products at checkout.
Most dispensaries provide discounts for American military veterans. To take advantage of the savings provided, make sure you have your active military photo identification or your veteran’s card. Like other forms of ID, they must be valid and not expired to be accepted at your dispensary visit.
3. Explore Dispensary Discounts for First Time Patients
If you live in an area where there are many medical cannabis dispensaries, you have the option to visit as many as you like. You are not tied to purchasing cannabis from only one dispensary. One important thing to know when you get your Massachusetts medical card is that there are special discounts for new patients.
Dispensaries want to create a long-term relationship with patients. Most people find one or two dispensaries that they like the most and frequent the medical cannabis dispensary. When visiting a dispensary for the first time, you want to ask whether they offer discounts or have a loyalty rewards program that can help reduce your costs for medical marijuana products.
Call Ahead Or Visit The Dispensary Website to Learn About Payment Methods
Cannabis may be legalized in Massachusetts and other states for medical or recreational use, but it is still a prohibited substance at the federal level. For this reason, dispensaries may be unable to offer the same types of payment methods that other businesses can due to legal financial restrictions.
In the earliest days of legalization, patients had to use cash to make purchases at a cannabis dispensary. However, some payment processors also allow debit cards or buy-now-pay-later (BNPL) financing, where patients can pay for their purchases over several months.
Some dispensaries may not be able to take credit or debit cards and may still be cash-only, and many provide ATMine on the premises to make this convenient for patients. Call ahead to find out what payment methods are accepted before you visit a cannabis dispensary for the first time or whether you need to bring cash to make your purchase.
4. Take Your Time and Talk to Budtenders
Budtenders are present to assist patients, and they dispense not only cannabis products but also valuable suggestions and advice. Every week, they may help hundreds of patients find the right products and strains, and budtenders are very knowledgeable about the wellness benefits that medical marijuana can provide.
Most dispensaries expect that first-time patients will have a lot of questions about cannabis products, so don’t be afraid to talk to the budtenders and ask for their advice. When you plan to consume cannabis for medicinal reasons, that advice can help you get the best results to help you reach your symptom management goals. It may also help save you money by avoiding strains that may not provide the effects you are looking for.
5. Transport Your Cannabis Products Safely
After your dispensary visit, make sure you are transporting your cannabis products safely. Do not open your cannabis products until you get home, and remember, you may be charged with a crime if you are pulled over with open cannabis products in your car.
If you have sealed products, place them in the backseat until you get home. If you have opened any containers of marijuana products, place them in your trunk to avoid any legal problems.
Aaron Bloom serves as the CEO, overseeing the mission and growth of DocMJ and Medwell Health and Wellness Centers. Aaron’s passion for improving patients’ lives comes from his background in health care. For more than 20 years, Aaron owned, operated, and represented traditional healthcare organizations. This experience created a passion for finding improved ways to relieve suffering. His goal as CEO is to work daily to relieve all patients who seek better health and wellness through the medicinal benefits of medical cannabis and evidence-based alternative medicines.
