Back in the old days, groceries were not so expensive, sure. But in the last two years, many essentials have increased in price, from food to fuel, clothing to cable internet, and everything in between. Not just for consumers but for businesses, too.
The increase in price for medical cannabis can be felt when you visit the dispensary. While other businesses get tax breaks, the cannabis industry faces increased costs, and they are reflected in the retail price of products.
If you are a patient who relies on medical cannabis use daily, finding ways to economize is crucial. Many people are not sure how to reduce their costs for medical marijuana, but there are some ways to maximize your spending without compromising the quality or quantity of the products you buy.
Shopping for the Best Prices Saves You Money
We are all creatures of habit, and sometimes, we like going to the same grocery store, mechanic, and medical cannabis dispensary. But shopping monthly for your bet prices can save money in the long run.
Don’t be afraid to look up other medical dispensaries in your area. You can choose more than one to order your cannabis products from. Sometimes, there are extra fees added to have products delivered, and those costs can add up.
Ordering online can also help you save money if you schedule your pick-up ahead of time and prepay for your order. Then, all you have to do is run in, take your products, and go home without waiting.
How Do You Find Out About Dispensary Discounts?
If you live in a city where there are multiple dispensaries, there will be plenty of incentives and special offers to take advantage of. With each dispensary trying to build a relationship with local patients, there are plenty of discounts and special offers to explore.
Patients who know how to “work the promotions” to their advantage subscribe to the dispensary email. Check your inbox for special discount days for seniors, veterans and seasonal offers around the holidays. Don’t forget to scope out the steep discounts around 420.
Are There Benefits to Using Only One Dispensary?
If your favorite dispensary has a loyalty program, it may save money to shop for your medical marijuana products exclusively with them. Depending on the points and rewards, loyalty programs can provide substantial discounts and bonus offers, like BOGO (buy one get one) and more.
Some dispensaries give loyalty reward members first dibs on a new product drop with an exclusive introductory discount. Visit the dispensary website to look for a loyalty rewards program for medical cannabis patients and review the incentives.
Creating a relationship with a budtender who is knowledgeable is valuable, as they can help you select the best products and strains for your unique needs. That is one reason why some people stick to a single dispensary, where they can get advice they can trust from someone who understands the symptoms they struggle with.
Six Easy Ways to Make Medical Cannabis Fit With Your Budget
Okay, let’s get down to the tips to help you save more money on your medical cannabis purchases. The little time you spend searching for deals and changing the way you use medical marijuana can make it much more affordable.
There are other factors to saving money on marijuana use as well, including making a corresponding change to the type of products you purchase without compromising on the potential health benefits that medical cannabis can provide.
1. Buy in Bulk
As you manage your personal budget, do you find that you are only purchasing small quantities of cannabis at your local dispensary? When you are trying to stretch every dollar, it may seem like the best approach to restrict your spending.
However, dispensaries may offer bulk discounts on cannabis flower. The more you buy, the better the cost you may get per ounce. While that may not seem to matter much, over the course of a year, that discount can really add up.
2. Shake It Up!
There are so many myths about cannabis shake that hint it may not be the best quality medical cannabis to buy. Shake is not the dregs of cannabis flower. It is created because buds that are a little less sticky drop crumbs of flower during processing (trimming) and also when moved to airtight bulk storage containers.
Shake is the same quality cannabis as whole bud. But because many people like the experience of separating and grinding their own flowers, shake doesn’t sell as well as intact cannabis buds.
If you love admiring the trichomes, you may not buy shake. To maximize your medical cannabis budget, however, shake is a great bargain because it is usually sold at a significant discount.
One of the detriments of shake is that the bud crumbs may have less kief. It falls away easily when the bud is separated. Cannabis flowers may have a slightly higher potency as well, but the average price of whole flower is $10 to $25 per gram, whereas shake averages $5 to $10 per gram. It’s a steal!
3. Use the Lowest Effective Dose
When you are coping with debilitating chronic pain, and prescription drug use isn’t helping you moderate your systems, you want relief fast. Recreational use can center around a culture of using the highest potency cannabis products. However, medical marijuana patients have different needs.
One cost-effective way to use cannabis for medical purposes is to choose the lowest effective dose. What that means is starting with a lower potency and increasing it until you reach a level where the amount of THC helps provide the relief you want.
High THC products should be your last choice, as concentrates can increase your risk of adverse effects, including withdrawal symptoms. Remember, the relief that medical cannabis use can provide is not based on potency alone.
Cannabis research suggests that concentrated psychoactive drugs may have side effects, and there are public health warnings about sustained daily use of high THC products. This is why state laws often limit the purchase quantity for patients and recreational users.
There is much more than THC potency to consider. Strains that have higher ratios of minor cannabinoids like cannabigerol (CBG), cannabinol (CBN), and cannabichromene (CBC) may also be more effective for specific symptoms.
Don’t forget medical cannabis strains that have high cannabidiol (CBD) ratios. That is the major cannabinoid that has powerful anti-inflammatory properties, which can help moderate pain, multiple sclerosis (MS), Alzheimer’s disease, edema, neuropathy, and other symptoms and conditions.
Ask your marijuana doctor for advice on different types of strains and intake methods that can enhance the results you get from cannabis medical use.
4. Timing Your Cannabis Doses
The time of day that you use cannabis matters. For example, did you know that while an edible can take up to 90 minutes to take effect, the physical and psychoactive results can last over seven hours? That can be a good thing if you are looking for all-day relief. It can also help you economize on medical cannabis; one gummy can go a long way.
Low-THC tinctures may be used in the time between consuming edible products, particularly as the analgesic effects of cannabis wear off and you begin to feel the pain or other symptoms returning.
One study found that layering different types of intake methods can help you utilize less expensive medical cannabis products and save you money. Ask your marijuana doctor for suggestions specific to your needs.
5. Consider Pairing Cannabis With Full-Spectrum Clinical-Grade CBD Daily
The best cannabis strains for medical use have high CBD ratios. That is because cannabidiol (CBD) has been clinically proven to help reduce inflammation. Chronic inflammation is related to a number of health conditions and symptoms.
If you have difficulty finding high CBD strains in your local area, there is another alternative. You can take a clinical-grade full-spectrum cannabidiol supplement. There are so many CBD products out there, and they are not all created equal.
Do some research to find the “real deal” and get healthy major and minor cannabinoids working together to provide relief.
6. Consume Dietary Terpenes and Healthy Fats
Did you know that certain snacks and ingredients can help medical marijuana work better? If you are using cannabis for medical reasons to treat a condition or symptom(s), eating a small meal or snack full of dietary fats and terpenes can boost your results.
More research is needed to understand how dietary foods and terpenes enhance the potential health benefits of cannabis. Some of the foods that may help include avocadoes, fresh peppercorns, dark chocolate, green or black tea, nuts, eggs, mangoes, and more.
Can You Return Cannabis Products You Purchased at a Dispensary?
If you have purchased cannabis products and found them to be defective, you may be able to return them to the dispensary for a refund or credit. The length of time that you have to process a refund request varies anywhere from a few days to a month, depending on the dispensary.
Some product issues that may qualify for a refund include:
- Defective devices (vaporizers, electric dry herb, etc.)
- Cracked or malfunctioning glassware (cracks, obstructed draw, faulty or poor fitting bowl).
- Mold found on sealed cannabis.
- A broken seal on a container.
If you have a defective product, you may need to provide evidence that you did not damage it in transit. One of the best ideas to save money on cannabis pipes, supplies, and products is to examine them in-store before you leave.
Whether it is a substance or device, most dispensaries will honor either a refund or issue a credit or exchange for patients. Make sure to keep your receipt and return the product as soon as possible.
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.
