What The Heck Is A Budtender?
Think cannabis. Now think bartender. Put them together and you get… a budtender.
Or maybe a better description would be a personal shopper for all things weed-related. Whatever your preferred metaphor – you get the gist.
Budtenders are the trained rank and file of any dispensary or pot shop worth its salt – armed with a thorough knowledge of both their inventory and all things cannabis. This includes strains, edibles, equipment and just about everything in between.
With this, they can work with customers to provide the cannabis advice and support possible, based on their individual needs and preferences. So, if you’re looking for a curated experience, then a budtender may be the person to speak to.
What does it take to become a Budtender?
To put it simply – a lot of knowledge!
The world of cannabis is huge and ever expanding, with new aspects revealing themselves constantly. Maybe knowing about edibles would’ve been enough expertise 30 years ago, but with the emergence of magical butter machines, concentrates, dab rigs, moonrocks and much more there’s a lot to know these days.
Depending on your location, being a budtender can actually require certain qualifications or certifications due to the knowledge required. So, you can rest assured you’re getting top-quality recommendations from budtenders. Our budtenders at Grand Cannabis do require a CannSell Certificate to work for us and are properly trained to offer you quality customer service.
Many dispensaries will offer training for new hires, so you might even learn something if you’re looking to land a budtender role.
How can a Budtender help you?
Many assume that budtenders are only around for those new to weed, but that actually couldn’t be further from the truth!
Though they’re certainly indispensable to those first timers, budtenders have wealth of knowledge. This means they can show even the most seasoned veteran a new strain or flavour!
The easiest way to fully utilize your local budtenders is simply to ask. Even the simple question “What do you recommend?” allows them to curate a selection of experiences for you.
For the best advice however, we recommend knowing at least these three general things about what you’re looking for: What type of cannabis you’re interested in, your price range and your tolerance levels.
Let’s take a look at those in a bit more depth…
Types of cannabis
As mentioned, the varieties of cannabis are staggering… But don’t worry, we’re not asking you to know that you want Mango Haze Balanced Vape Cartridge (but in case you’re now wondering – it’s great). Even a very basic idea of what you’re looking for will be a huge help to any budtender.
For example: Do you want to smoke, dab or eat your cannabis? Do you have any favourite strains, such as indica, sativa or a hybrid? Do you want a particular strong flavour like a berry or sour or do you prefer more of an earthy taste?
Knowing some or all of these will enable the budtender to hone in on what you may be looking for and they can then provide options that fit these requirements.
Price range
This comes with buying anything, but it’s always good to know how much you ideally want to spend before entering a store.
Certain cannabis types, such as concentrates, can tend to be a little more expensive than simple pre-rolled buds. So, if you’re looking for something more adventurous, you should expect to pay more.
Similarly, knowing rough how much weed you want is also helpful. Do you want 2 grams of bud or a few infused drinks? This will help give you an idea of what you’ll be spending.
Any good dispensary is just as happy helping you with your $5 order as your $500 dollar order. But, it’s better that they know before recommending something beyond your price range.
Tolerance levels
Tolerance levels might imply that your budtender is going to put you through the ropes, but that really isn’t the case. Everyone has a different cannabis routine and preferences, and knowing this will be crucial to getting the products that suit you best.
The main thing to keep in mind is what THC levels you’re aiming for. Cannabis flower can range between 20% – 50%, and concentrates can rocket up to 90%!
With this range, it’s very important to know what you’re buying, so getting THC estimates and recommendations from your local budtender is a good idea.
As you might have guessed, those new to cannabis will likely have less of a tolerance, so this should definitely be mentioned when looking.
Budtenders are not medical professionals
Despite their knowledge of cannabis, it’s important to note that budtenders are not medical professionals.
Ultimately, budtenders are ultimately retail employees and they do not have the medical credentials necessary to provide advice on any medical issues you may be seeking treatment for.
Questions about pain management, appetite boosters, anxiety, other mental health disorders or any other medical-related subject should be asked of your doctor, not a budtender.