Preparing For Your First Dispensary Trip
Many states are now legalizing marijuana for both medicinal and recreational use, and if you are interested in purchasing marijuana, then you can visit a dispensary in your area. These businesses are unique establishments that require you to be a little bit prepared before entering. If you want to know a little bit about some of the things that you should be prepared for, then keep reading.
Arrange To Pay In Cash
While many states are working to ensure that their citizens can purchase and utilize marijuana safely without repercussions, marijuana is still considered an illegal drug on the federal level. Due to this, companies that process credit card payments will not work with dispensaries. This means that cash is required to make a dispensary purchase, so you should have your money ready when you arrive. You also may be able to withdraw funds from an onsite ATM machine. Contact your local dispensary to see if this is an option.
If you do intend on bringing cash with you, then you may want to figure out how much you will need. This will often depend on the strain of the marijuana that your desire, how much you intend on buying, and whether or not you need to purchase any accessories while you are there. For example, if you are interested in buying a vape pen, then you probably want to bring a few hundred dollars with you in addition to the 50 or more that you need for marijuana.
If you want a more precise figure, then you can look at the menu located on the dispensary's website, but keep in mind that prices will often vary based on availability and strain.
Bring Your Identification
Dispensaries are constantly under surveillance, and since the legal marijuana market is a relatively new one, most businesses follow all laws and regulations as closely as possible. Many of these laws require that everyone is identified when they approach the counter to purchase their marijuana, so you want to make sure that you have your government issues state ID with you. This can either be your license or your non-license identification card or your passport.
Also, if you are buying for medical purposes you will often need to bring your medical card with you. Some dispensaries will require your paperwork from your physician as well, and they will often verify the information with your doctor as well as with the state medical marijuana database. If you are unsure about what you need, then you should contact your local dispensary.
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