Westword
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Dear Stoner: I’ve recently retired after 45 years as a government employee. It’s been fun smoking weed again, but these dispensary products and methods are total gibberish. How can I have fun without getting in over my head?
Michael
Dear Michael: Do you have a younger relative who’s of age? Going to the pot shop with someone trustworthy and well versed in cannabis lingo is always the best route. Budtenders can be helpful in those situations, too, but there’s always a risk of being steered toward overly potent or expensive products.
Having someone who knows the language of retail cannabis is invaluable for first-timers and inexperienced shoppers.
Jacqueline Collins
No matter what, you need to go into a dispensary with a game plan. Don’t let them pull out a dozen jars or products after asking if it’s your first time in, and be direct. If it’s regular ol’ weed you need, then tell them that, and don’t fall for THC potency percentages or indica/sativa bullshit. Use your eyes and nose to judge strains, and pay a little extra for the good stuff. Edibles are a little easier to parse, but make sure to nibble and dose yourself slowly, whatever you buy. Stay away from pre-rolls; they’re largely full of crap. Avoid wax, vapes, rosin or any sort of extraction for now, too. As a born-again toker, you’re still years away from needing anything that concentrated.
Send questions to marijuana@westword.com.
