What to Expect From a Marijuana Store

A marijuana store is a place where everyday people can walk in to purchase cannabis products. Also known as dispensaries, these locations make it surprisingly easy for medical and recreational marijuana users to buy all kinds of exciting products. But walking into one for the first time can be a bit intimidating, especially for someone who has never purchased anything like it before.

In Colorado, for example, recreational customers can choose from a dizzying menu of pre-rolled joints, edibles, lotions and vapes. A friendly budtender can help guide you through the options, matching a product to your intended mood or symptom.

The selection can be overwhelming, and the jargon can be unfamiliar, but there are plenty of places to learn. A well-trained budtender should be helpful, cordial and patient with any questions or concerns you might have. If they’re rude or impatient, you may want to consider going somewhere else.

In New York, where Mayor Bill de Blasio campaigned on a tough-on-crime platform, the legal cannabis market is still maturing. Since March 2021, dispensaries have sprouted on city sidewalks and suburban strip malls alike. They’ve even appeared two blocks from a police precinct station house in Long Island City and across an intersection from a middle school in Harlem.

Some of these shops are trying to change the face of retail. Gotham, for instance, is a high-end boutique that partners with STRIVE, a nonprofit that provides career resources to people who’ve been involved in the criminal justice system. Meanwhile, Statis is a minority- and woman-owned shop that focuses on luxury products, offering a range of flower, edibles and concentrates. marijuana store