with others to guide you . If you are purchasing a product that you ’ ve never used before , make sure to ask the budtender about the following : 1 . The proper use / consumption method for the product . 2 . What the suggested dosing is for the product . 3 . Regardless of what product you are purchasing , you should inquire about the cannabis testing lab results . Per Missouri law , some test results should be printed on the packaging for you to review . However , cannabis testing labs often give more information about the products than what is required on the package . Typically , the dispensary will have access to that information and be able to reference it if the customer asks about it .
4 . If you are purchasing cannabis flower ( in the raw ) or prerolls , you should ask if there was a terpene profile done in the testing process and if you can access that information . This will help you determine the terpenes most helpful for your endocannabinoid system . ( I also encourage you to keep track of this info in a journal or some note-taking format ; it is one of the best ways to help you be a mindful and effective cannabis consumer .) This could also be helpful if you are purchasing cannabis concentrates , either as cartridges or in a shatter / oil form for dabbing .
However , with cannabis flower or prerolls , there may not be much of a label printed other than the strain , cultivation company , and basic testing information with THC / CBD percentage , etc . You may need to go back to a internet search or the company website and start looking for information about the cultivation company and / or brand you purchased . If its website does not include additional information about the product or strain you purchased , you can internet search the strain name outright and find some general information about it online . But remember , everyone ’ s endocannabinoid system is very different , so a strain that makes most people feel relaxed may actually make you feel energized or heightened . It is not just about whether the cannabis flower is Indica , Sativa , or Hybrid ; it is also about the terpene profile and other parts of the cultivation and curing process .
Photo by , Mitch Alexander , the Director at Releaf Resources Dispensary in Grandview , MO . See his article about reading labels in the December 2022 issue at www . TheEvolutionMag . com .
Now you ’ ve made it through the shopping process and are ready to make your purchase — hooray ! At the checkout or point of sale , ask the budtender if there is any printed information or marketing material they can give you for any of the brands you are purchasing . If you had a good experience , make sure to tip your budtender ( because we tip good bartenders , right ?), and ask them if they have a rewards program for returning customers or offer daily specials that might be helpful for you to know about on your next visit .
● If you had a REALLY good experience at the dispensary , consider leaving a review for the dispensary online — they matter far more than you ’ ll ever know , especially to the smaller companies operating in the ever-expanding Missouri cannabis industry .
Once you get home ( or get your friend / family member home ) with the new purchases , you can dive into the product information even more . I suggest looking through every corner of the product packaging and reading all the label information printed on it . This should be simple with prepackaged products like edibles , tinctures , and some concentrates .
To find the best product fit for you , getting as much information as possible about the product and keeping track of your consumption and the effect each product has on you is essential ( as mentioned above ). Unfortunately , since cannabis is still a Schedule 1 substance by federal regulation , we cannot access consumer data that would help with this process , so each consumer must go through their own trialand-error process to find the best fit .
Remember , EVERY time you step into a dispensary and make a purchase , you are essentially voting with your dollars exactly as you would with your choice of grocery or retail store . As the Missouri cannabis industry and market continue to take shape , it is YOU ( the cannabis consumer ) who will have some of the biggest impacts on which companies make it and which ones don ’ t , so choose wisely !
Happy shopping !
Have a cannabis education related question for Leah ? She ’ s a St . Louis native and a cannabis activist since 2010 ! Leah is excited to help answer all your medical marijuana questions . Please send questions to leah @ theweedblog . com . Your question may be featured in a future issue of The EVOLUTION Magazine .
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