Purchasing Quality Cannabis
Written By Andrew Freedman
When looking for quality cannabis at your local dispensary it can sometimes feel daunting, a massive amount of information, bud tenders with limitless recommendations and products you can’t see or smell. It is easy to feel intimidated inside a cannabis dispensary. This does not need to be in the case. Using a few key quality markers you can make your cannabis purchasing experience a breeze.
Knowing what to look for and how to identify quality cannabis is hard, especially when you can’t see it. Luckily cannabis licensed producers in Canada have realized this and have started giving consumers much more information on product package label. We will explore some main points to look for on a cannabis label and some questions that you can ask your budtender to assure you get the best possible product to enjoy after your shopping experience.
Much like purchasing wine we often go by the label or store recommendation. Understanding the information presented on the label can help you accurately decide if you will enjoy the flavour and intoxicating effect of your cannabis. That being said here are some tips to get you going!
- Forget about shopping for the highest THC! Sure, we all understand getting the best value for your dollar. But you don’t drink everclear or other high proof spirits from the liquor store. So why has this become the go to purchasing strategy for consumers? Because it is easy. Licensed producers do not have to list anything else but THC and CBD. New consumers can easily assume a higher number is better. Agin, this just isn’t the case. The reality is is that all cannabis will be intoxicating, so shouldn’t we look for what tastes the best?
- Look for quality jars on the shelf. You won’t be able to see the cannabis, but you can be confident that more expensive, opaque, glass jars are most likely holding quality cannabis. When answering to board rooms and share holders making money is usually a first priority. The type of packaging I have described is not cheap. Meaning the producer cares about the storage, shelf life and end user experience of the product they have released to the public.
- The more information on the label, the better! Licensed producers should be proud to show off stuff like package date, total terpenes, actual cannabis producer (it may seem odd but many producers are purchasing from other producers and just stuffing bags, clarity is key), a real strain name and if they really care they may have even added a break down of top terpenes in the cannabis!
- Look for the terps! I mentioned that quality cannabis may list total terpenes % found in cannabis. Great cannabis labels will be proud to show off the top terpenes found in the cannabis. Understanding terpenes and the entourage effect they create will be a much more concise way of guiding the intoxicating feeling of cannabis. Long gone are the days of sativa = energy and indica = in the couch. Its all about the terps! To learn more about terpenes check out Terpenes For Well-Being by Andrew Freedman
When purchasing cannabis its always best to ask the budtender for the best and the freshest! If they can’t give you a recommendation that blows your socks off try using these 4 tips the next time you have a shopping experience at a local dispensary.