Choosing the right cannabis product depends on your desired experience, such as relaxation, pain relief, or creativity. It’s also important to keep in mind the price differences between products.
When shopping at a 24-hour dispensary, set a budget before browsing. This way, you can avoid overspending.
CBD Products
Maine dispensary is typically a pharmacy or a similar facility where patients can pick up prescriptions that a doctor has written. Dispensaries can be located in hospitals, clinics, or even standalone buildings. Whether you’re interested in buying CBD to try out as an add-on therapy for social anxiety disorders, schizophrenia, or non-motor symptoms of Parkinson’s disease, there is no shortage of products to choose from. It can be overwhelming when making your selections, and it’s important to remember that not all CBD is created equal.
The most common way to purchase CBD is through an oil-based capsule, tincture, or extract. However, CBD is also sold in the form of gummies, chocolates, and bath bombs. It’s also available in drinks, including tea, coffee, and even infused waters.
CBD is a chemical found in marijuana, but it doesn’t contain tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), which is what gives cannabis users its psychoactive effects. It’s currently only approved by the Food and Drug Administration for use in treating some rare, severe forms of epilepsy.
The most popular use of CBD has been as a dietary supplement, although research is still limited on its effectiveness. It’s also recommended to avoid illegally made synthetic CBD, which can cause a psychotic reaction in some people.
Infused Drinks
As the cannabis industry continues to grow, new trends are emerging. One of the latest is infused beverages. Unlike vaping or smoking, these drinks offer a lower-potency way to consume THC. Cannabis-infused drinks come in the form of sodas, coffees, nonalcoholic wines, seltzers, and powdered beverage enhancers that can be mixed into a regular drink. The products are available in a variety of flavors and can vary in THC dosages depending on the experience the consumer is looking for.
Infused drinks are an excellent option for millennials and younger adults who prefer not to smoke or vape. These alcoholic alternatives also have less of an impact on a person’s lungs. For these reasons, infused drinks can be an effective treatment for chronic pain, anxiety, or depression.
Infused drink promotions can be an excellent marketing strategy for your dispensary. Promote these promotions through social media, website, email newsletters, and local community events. Consider running a themed promotion that bundles your products together. For example, “The Summer Relaxation Pack” could include calming strains, topical CBD products for post-hike recovery, and refreshing infused drinks. This type of cross-promotion can drive customer loyalty, increase average order value, and encourage customers to return more often.
Edibles
As the popularity of edibles has risen, so has the variety of options available to consumers. In addition to a range of sweet and savory treats, there are drinks and tinctures (herbal solutions made by steeping a substance such as cannabis in alcohol).
Many people make their edibles at home using recipes they find online. This can be a great way to save money, but it can be tricky regarding accurate dosing. Homemade edibles can vary widely in potency, with some products containing more or less of the specified D9-THC content than advertised.
Edibles also take a while to kick in, so starting low and going slow is important. If you’re used to consuming cannabis via smoking, the wait can be frustrating or even tedious and may lead you to consume more than you intended. In addition, eating food while taking an edible can slow digestion and increase the length of time it takes for the THC to reach your system. To help mitigate these concerns, many edibles are formulated by licensed producers and dispensed in pre-measured serving sizes.
Topicals
Topicals are an expansive category of cannabis products that come in a variety of forms, including lotions, salves, oils, sprays, and transdermal patches. They are designed to be applied to the skin where they interact with the cannabinoid receptors in the skin and can offer targeted relief from pain, stiffness, and inflammation. While most topicals feature THC or CBD, they can also have a host of other ingredients and formulas that are designed to achieve specific goals, including a range of essential oils, like the citrus-scented limonene, which increases the absorption of the cannabinoids in the skin.
When it comes to the effects of a topical, they are typically non-intoxicating, which can be an advantage for consumers who want pain relief without a mental alteration. They deliver phytocannabinoids and terpenes to the body’s endocannabinoid system (ECS), a highly developed regulatory network influencing various bodily functions. Specifically, the topical binds to the ECS receptors in the skin and muscles to relieve pain, tension, and soreness. It’s recommended to use topicals as directed on the packaging and to reapply them frequently as needed.
Concentrates
Concentrates are extracts that contain higher proportions of cannabinoids and terpenes than cannabis flowers. They have more psychoactive effects and can be more intense than smoking or ingesting cannabis flowers.
A wholesaler is a business that sells bulk amounts of cannabis products to dispensaries for resale. The products may be the wholesaler’s brands or a mix of different brands from other producers. Wholesalers often purchase larger quantities of a product to receive discounts that are then passed on to the dispensary. Wholesalers typically have agreements with specific dispensaries that are called “dealers.” Dispensary dealers must follow specific inventory compliance rules, such as FIFO (First In, First Out), to prevent running out of products and losing revenue.
A POS system is a dispensary’s point-of-sale software to calculate taxes, manage inventory, and offer specials or discounts. Many dispensaries use a software platform built specifically for the cannabis industry.
