Welcome to Colorado, where the Green Revolution is real. For those of us who have been here for a while, the frustrating, time-sapping and often shady chore of finding weed is a distant memory. But for those of us who are new to recreational marijuana, emerging from the shadows and entering a state sanctioned dispensary can be intimidating, to say the least.
As a budtender we see the full spectrum of dispensary customers; the newbies with visibly trembling hands to the highly experienced smoker, gently schooling their budtender with inexhaustible knowledge. The thing to remember is that we are here to help. Our team is small, tightly knit and committed to the physical and mental benefits of the products we sell.
The first thing you’ll notice once you make it to the counter is that the weed in labeled jars is now called ‘flower’ and organized according to Indica and Sativa. Have no fear, you have just found perhaps the most revolutionary aspect of legal pot: you can now work with different strains to engineer the type of high you want, and all you really need to remember is that Sativas are stimulating and Indicas make you relaxed. Amazing, really.
On the engineering side of things it gets more complicated than that, but marijuana is meant to be enjoyed first and foremost, so stress not. That knowledge will come in time. Using your newly found understanding of Indica and Sativa as a guide, let your eyes and nose do the rest when looking for flower. Take your time to smell all of the strains your budtender recommends based on your objectives, and look to see if the buds look crystally, richly colorful and energetic.
One of those corny truisms about pot is that ‘ the nose knows’. Later on in your marijuana journey you’ll begin to discover the mysteries of terpenes and you just might find that the smells you are most attracted to in your flower are related to the medical benefits found in the terpenes that create those smells.
But we are getting ahead of ourselves. For now, sniff away – your job is to experiment! Our strains do rotate, but after a short while you will become familiar with common strains and that gives you a feel for the new strains they are cross-bred into. Discuss your experiences with your budtender and let them help guide you towards the best strains for you.
You will notice a plethora of products on display at the counter. This is especially relevant for any newbie who wants to avoid having to smoke, or for customers who want a smell-free smoke. If this is the case, Indica and Sativa are still important terms to know. Your budtender will take you through all of the rules and regulations regarding each type of consumption method – smoking, ingesting, and topical applications.
If your mental mathematical database for marijuana is limited to the break-down of an ounce, you will be faced with new multiples regarding dosage and purchase limitations. Listen to your budtender, trust your budtender, and you will not be led astray.
Marijuana is many things to many people, and at The Greenery we want to help you explore what marijuana can mean for you. Therefore purchasing it must be done in an environment that is safe, friendly and fun. We strive to provide this for all of our customers. Being a newbie can be a wonderful experience if you’re not afraid to take that first step and come in and say hello!
