Has the Economy Changed Your Cannabis Budget?

Dear Stoner: Has your weed budget changed much over the past year? As my tolerance grows and the economy changes, I’m interested in how others adjust.
Nervous Budtender

Dear Nervous Budtender: I’ve never sat down to balance my cannabis checkbook, but maybe I should. As Colorado’s weed market continues trying to climb out of a pit, though, most dispensaries are still in a race to the bottom. This downward trend includes quality, so smoking anything good still costs a pretty penny – but it’s no pricier than years past.

I, like about 70 percent of cannabis users, plan to spend around the same amount of money on weed as I have for the last five or six years. As long as cannabis is a commodity (and a poorly performing one, at that) I’m not worrying about its impact on my finances, but I can see how other life expenses might impact one’s cannabis habits. However, if dispensary prices jumped anything like grocery items have, I’d be telling a different story.

If you’re trying to save money at the dispensary right now, then you should consider where you’re shopping – and I’m not just talking about the store. The city or region you’re in while shopping for cannabis in also makes a difference, as outlined in this breakdown of cheapest pot in Colorado.

Send questions to marijuana@westword.com.