Dispensary Decorum

“When I step up in the place, a-yo I step correct. Woo hah! Got you all in check.” – Busta Rhymes

EVERYWHERE YOU GO; there is a certain way to conduct yourself appropriately. Loud cheering, berating the opposition and pounding back brews are perfectly acceptable behaviors at a sporting event like hockey or football. However, this same performance at the ballet or opera would certainly be frowned upon and result in removal from the venue. There is a time and a place for everything.

People are social beings and love to chat about this and that. Barber shops and beauty salons, the office water cooler, or even your local neighbourhood pub are great places to converse and connect. From workplace gossip, oh my gawd those shoes are cute, to banter with a bartender – it seems everyone has something to say. Offering an opinion to a stranger struggling to decide on a sweater is one thing, but remember Newton’s third law states that: For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction.

A recent visit to a local cannabis club resulted in a rather substantial transaction that caught the eye of another customer in line. Without thinking, the waiting weed worshiper roared “wow are you ever buying a lot of weed!” loud enough to alert the entire store… and half the block. It’s understandably impressive seeing a pound purchased when you’re used to copping twenty sacks, but calling out other people’s business is a serious ‘dispensary don’t’. You wouldn’t want strangers knowing your medical history, the bank announcing your balance, your passwords exposed – or any of your private affairs publicized. What’s worse? Some conniving customer deciding to follow the big bag of buds down the street, and relieving the carrier of their wares! Endo etiquette and marijuana manners extend from the session to the store, so we decided a dope dissertation distinguishing dank dispensary ‘do’s and don’ts’ was due.

Do – Discuss what strain/attributes you’re looking for or results you are trying to achieve with the staff. The person requiring a heavy indica for pain management is looking for a vastly different variety than someone wanting an uplifting cerebral sativa experience. Ask questions about types, effects, usage and dosages; as well as recommendations. Chances are that person is behind the counter for a reason; they very likely know a lot about weed, or at least a fair bit about the items on hand. The staff will have favourites they choose to take home at night or blaze on break (it’s called product research), and should know which strains are winners to best suit your needs. Be honest with medical professionals and counter staff about your canna consumption and reefer reasoning. They can’t help you to the best of their ability without a proper understanding of how to do so. A big bag of the even the best of buds will begin to lose its effects over time, so grabbing a variety of types helps keep your system from developing a tolerance to too much of the same old thing. Be open to new strains and delivery methods; the scene is forever evolving. If you’ve never eaten, dabbed or vaped, maybe it’s time; you never know if you’ll like it ‘til you try it.