How to Buy Recreational Marijuana

While the use of marijuana might have been made legal in some states already, actually buying some for yourself is not something like going for groceries. You should be aware of some things before going to a local recreational marijuana dispensary to buy it.

If you're interested in buying some of this product, you may have some questions in mind. Lucky for you, we have the answers right here.

First, Know the States with Recreational Marijuana

Before you get your hopes up about trying this drug for fun, you should know if it's even legal to be used for non-medical purposes in your state. Many states allow the use of the drug for medical reasons, such as the alleviation of pain and treatment of some illnesses, but that doesn't allow people to use it just for the experience. That is why you must know whether such recreational use of the drug is legal in your state or not.

As of 2021, a total of 18 states in the US have legalized the use of this drug for recreational purposes. This is quite a significant number, especially when only a handful of states had legalized the drug until recently. An important thing to know is that each of these states has its own process to license a recreational marijuana dispensary. Such a license is required for anyone to sell the drug. In all the states where the drug is legal, retailers have already received licenses or will soon receive them. The only state with a delay in this process is Vermont. It is expected that retailers in this state will start to get their licenses in October 2022.

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Read Also: How to Buy Medical Marijuana?

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Second, Know the Limits

You can't go into a store and buy ten ounces of the drug right away. There are marijuana laws that dictate how much you can buy at a time or give away to someone else. These laws have to be followed very strictly if you don't want to get into serious trouble.

In most states, including Colorado, Alaska, and California, any adult who is over 21 years of age can possess or give away up to 1 ounce of cannabis. In other states, like Maine, this number increases to 2.5 ounces. These numbers vary as per the marijuana laws of individual states, so it is crucial to be sure of what your state laws allow. Addresses of current California dispensaries.

Once you do the research and make sure that you are in one of the states with recreational marijuana retailers, you can move on to the next step and see the different ways you can make your purchase.

There Are Multiple Options for Purchasing

Unlike those states in which only medical cannabis is legal, and you can buy it only at a limited number of dispensaries, find of dispensaries near you, in states with recreational marijuana legalization, you will see ads for the drug everywhere. Because of this reason, it will not be very difficult to find a place where you can buy it. You will be able to find reviews online for the different stores in your area, and it will be pretty easy to decide which one suits you best.

The great thing about the whole process is that you don't need to necessary visit a recreational marijuana dispensary. You have other options at your disposal as well. Let's take a look at how you can buy some legal cannabis for yourself.

• By Visiting a Store in Person

For new consumers, the best option is to take a trip to a store. This is a great way to get started with consuming the drug without feeling overwhelmed by the sheer number of options available. When you visit a store, you will be able to see the different products, smell them, and ask questions about them. There are specialist consultants in such stores, called budtenders, who have the experience and knowledge to guide you about the different strains and their effects.

When you visit such a store, you will first have to prove your age and identity before being able to buy anything. Always remember to take the necessary documents with you so that your trip doesn't go to waste.

• Getting a Takeaway

For people who already know what strain they want, the option of getting takeaway is more convenient. You will not have to wait in line and can just quickly order and buy what you like. This option is ideal for you if:

• You are familiar with the strains and know what you want.
• You have no questions about the product.
• You know that the dispensary you're visiting is reputable and has quality products.

If you fit this description, then getting a takeaway might be the best option for you, especially if you have a recreational marijuana dispensary on your way.

• Ordering a Delivery

You can also order for recreational marijuana delivery. Such services are provided by physical stores as well as online ones. You can browse through various options and choose which one you'd like to try. And just like any other delivery, it'll show up at your doorstep.

But like getting a takeaway, it is important that you are already familiar with the products you're ordering. Delivery from online or physical stores is not recommended for beginners who are not yet experienced with consuming different strains. Such people should make the most of the consultation that they can only get when they visit a store themselves.

Before placing a recreational marijuana delivery, it is also important to note that the store you are ordering from is a good one. If you already know the store, then that is great. If you don't, then a simple search online will tell you a lot about it. These days, there are plenty of online stores and even apps too, that can help you buy some cannabis for yourself. So, go online and search for all the possible options in your area before deciding anything.

Some Pre-Requisites for Making Purchases

Like we mentioned before, buying some cannabis is not like buying any regular groceries. There are some requirements you need to fulfill.

• Age Limit

You need to be at least 21 years of age to buy any such product. This is one of the strictest of all marijuana laws, so make sure not to try and trick the system.

• Resident Status

This is a tricky one, so you should always do your own research of state laws. You can buy recreational marijuana in some states even if you are not a resident of that state, but in others, you cannot. So, before you travel to another state just to get some product for yourself, make sure to read the laws of that state.

• Cash

It is important to take cash with you whenever you go cannabis shopping. This is because US banks cannot work with a recreational marijuana dispensary because while the drug may be legal in some states, it is still illegal on a federal level.

So, if you use your card to make a payment, your bank cannot allow such a payment to be made. That is why most dispensaries accept only cash.

The Range of Products Available

When you visit a store to buy cannabis, you will see just how many products there are to choose from. It is not just limited to flowering buds of the plant anymore. A range of cannabis-infused products can help you use the drug for fun or medical treatment without the need to smoke it.

Some of the products available in good dispensaries are:

Extracts

Extracts from the cannabis plant are some of the most versatile products you can get at these stores. These include oils, shatters, and waxes, among others. These can be used in a myriad of ways, from being used as ingredients in food items to being vaporized or simply dabbed. Cannabis extracts are also known to absorb quickly and give moderate effects, which is a good thing for people who are new to this.

Food and Drinks

There is so much choice in this category that anyone can be easily spoiled. You can have chocolate bars, muffins, brownies, coffee, and even tea infused with marijuana. Edible products have a stronger concentration of THC, so they provide much more significant effects compared to extracts. They are easy to consume, and you don't have to prepare anything special. Just grab a muffin and eat it to get the desired experience.

Topicals

Topicals include creams, lotions, and other such products that you can apply to your skin. The purpose of these products is to allow consumers to apply them to parts of their body where they feel pain or inflammation. These products do not enter your bloodstream, so they are great for treating localized pain.

And of course, you can also buy good old buds at these stores if you want to smoke the cannabis directly. The point is that there are many different options to choose from so that everyone can have something they really enjoy.

Conclusions

While buying cannabis is not the same as buying milk at your local grocery store, it is not that difficult once you know the rules and follow some basic recommendations. The most important thing about this whole process is to know the recreational marijuana laws in your state to make sure that you are not doing anything illegal. Once that is cleared up, just do some research about the stores in your area, visit one, ask for a consultation, and see which products you'd like to try. It's a pretty simple process as long as you are careful about it.