Cannabis Product Guide
Comprehensive guide to using different cannabis products, understanding terpenes, choosing the right consumption methods, and proper dosing guidelines.
Understanding Terpenes
Terpenes are aromatic compounds that give each strain its distinctive smell and taste, and play a significant role in shaping the overall effects of cannabis.
What Are Terpenes and Why Do They Matter?
Terpenes are aromatic compounds naturally found in cannabis and many other plants that give each strain its distinctive smell and taste. Beyond aroma and flavor, terpenes play a significant role in shaping the overall effects and therapeutic benefits of cannabis through what's known as the "entourage effect" - the interaction between cannabinoids and terpenes that creates unique experiences.
Myrcene
Aroma: Earthy, musky, herbal
Effects: Tends to produce relaxing, sedating effects. Often found in Indica strains.
Limonene
Aroma: Citrus, lemon, orange
Effects: Associated with uplifting and mood-enhancing properties. Often found in Sativa strains.
Caryophyllene
Aroma: Spicy, pepper, cherry
Effects: Often the #2 or #3 most dominant terpene in flower tests. Associated with pain relief properties.
Pinene
Aroma: Pine, fresh, herbal
Effects: May promote alertness and focus. Often found in both Sativa and Indica strains.
Why Terpenes Matter: Different terpene profiles create different experiences, which is why two strains with similar THC levels can feel quite different. The entourage effect suggests that cannabinoids and terpenes work together synergistically, potentially enhancing therapeutic benefits and creating unique experiences. Our staff can help you understand which terpenes align with your desired effects and guide you toward products with the right terpene profile for your needs.
Choosing the Right Consumption Method
The best way to use cannabis depends on your goals, experience level, and personal preferences.
Fast-Acting Relief
For fast-acting relief within minutes, smoking or vaping are excellent choices. Dabbing (concentrates) is also ideal for potency and fast relief, with Rosin offering an even cleaner solvent-free experience.
- Smoking flower: Effects within minutes
- Vaping: Similar speed with less respiratory irritation
- Concentrates/Dabs: Highest potency, fastest onset
Long-Lasting Effects
If you need effects that last several hours, edibles or tinctures work best. Perfect for sustained relief and medical users who need consistent therapeutic benefits.
- Edibles: 4-8 hours duration
- Tinctures: 4-6 hours when used sublingually
- Gradual onset and longer-lasting relief
Precise Dosing
For precise dosing control, tinctures allow you to measure exact milligrams. Ideal for beginners and medical users who need consistent, measurable dosing.
- Tinctures: Dropper-based precise dosing
- Easy to measure and adjust
- Sublingual absorption for fast onset
Targeted Relief
Topicals are perfect when you want localized relief without any psychoactive effects. Ideal for muscle soreness, joint pain, and skin conditions.
- No psychoactive effects
- Localized relief
- Perfect for pain and inflammation
Consider Your Needs: Your experience level matters - beginners should start with low-dose edibles, tinctures, or low-THC flower. Your lifestyle matters too - vaping offers discretion, edibles are portable and smoke-free, while topicals won't affect your mental state. For medical needs, tinctures and edibles often provide longer-lasting therapeutic benefits, and concentrates like Rosin offer clean, solvent-free options for medical users. If you prefer to avoid inhaling, edibles, tinctures, and topicals are smoke-free alternatives. Our knowledgeable staff can help you evaluate all these factors and select the consumption method that best fits your unique situation and goals.
How to Use Different Cannabis Products
Detailed guides for using flower, edibles, concentrates, tinctures, topicals, and vape cartridges.
How to Use Cannabis Flower and Pre-rolls
For smoking flower, break it into small pieces or utilize an herb grinder and pack it into a pipe or bong, or roll it into a joint using a rolling paper - or even a blunt with a wrap or a cigarillo! Take slow, gentle puffs rather than deep inhales, and hold the smoke for just a few seconds.
Important Pre-roll Tip:
Light the FLOWER end of the preroll, not the cardboard filter end! Light the smaller end on cones, and use the cardboard tip as your mouthpiece to keep your mouth and fingers from burning. This "filter/tip/crutch" also blocks the weed from going into your mouth when you smoke it, and makes it much easier to roll and pass.
Vaping Flower:
Vaping flower is gentler on your lungs. Use a dry herb vaporizer set to 350-400°F for optimal flavor and effects. When vaping, take slow, steady draws and hold the vapor briefly.
Safety Tips: Start with 1-2 small puffs and wait 10-15 minutes to assess effects before consuming more. Always start with small amounts, especially if you're new to cannabis or trying a new strain. Keep a glass of water nearby to stay hydrated. Store unused flower in an airtight container away from light and heat. Remember that effects from smoking or vaping typically appear within minutes and last 2-4 hours. Our budtenders can discuss proper technique and help you choose the right accessories.
How to Use Cannabis Edibles Correctly
Start with a low dose of 5-10mg THC for beginners, waiting at least 2 full hours before considering consuming more. Edibles take 30-90 minutes to take effect because they're processed through your digestive system and liver, differently than how the body processes and metabolizes inhaled THC.
⚠️ Common Mistake:
Never consume more edibles if you don't feel effects immediately - this is the most common mistake. The delayed onset requires patience.
✓ Best Practices:
- Eat edibles with food and water to help with absorption
- Always read packaging labels for accurate THC content
- Store securely away from children and pets
- Track your dose and timing in a journal
Remember: Edibles produce longer-lasting effects (4-8 hours) that can be very different and more intense than smoking. If you've consumed too much, stay calm, find a quiet space, hydrate, and rest - the effects will pass. Our staff provides detailed guidance on edible dosing based on your experience level and tolerance.
How to Use Cannabis Concentrates and Dabs
Using cannabis concentrates requires specific equipment and careful technique due to their high potency (60-90% THC). Dabs are typically consumed using a dab rig, which includes a nail or banger heated with a torch or e-nail, or an e-rig, a similar device that uses electricity to heat a chamber producing a concentrated cannabis vapor to be inhaled.
Equipment Needed:
- Dab rig with nail/banger
- Torch or e-nail
- Dab tool
- Carb cap
- E-rigs offer all-in-one solution
Safety Tips:
- Start with very small amounts (grain-of-rice size)
- Keep water nearby
- Work in a well-ventilated area
- Effects are immediate and intense
- Best suited for experienced users
Alternative Options: For safer, easier use, consider prefilled cartridges for vaping concentrates or All In One Disposable Vaporizer Devices which include a battery already attached. Due to their extreme potency, concentrates are best suited for experienced users with established tolerance. Our knowledgeable staff can demonstrate proper techniques, recommend appropriate equipment, and help you select concentrates that match your experience level.
How to Use Cannabis Tinctures and Oils
Cannabis tinctures and oils offer precise dosing and fast absorption when used correctly. For sublingual use (under the tongue), place the recommended dose under your tongue and hold it there for 30-90 seconds before swallowing.
Important Dosing Note:
There is a key difference between a DROP and a DROPPER worth of tincture - a single drop is much smaller than a full dropper. Always follow the product's dosing instructions to understand if the dose refers to drops or droppers.
Sublingual Method:
To make this easier, you can measure incrementally down to the number of drops directly onto a spoon, and then place all the material in the spoon underneath your tongue. Others opt to squeeze the desired dose from the dropper into their mouth while in the mirror for visibility.
Effects: Typically appear within 15-45 minutes and last 4-6 hours.
Dosing Guidelines:
- Start with 2.5-5mg THC
- Wait 30-60 minutes to assess effects
- Increase gradually in small increments
- Can be added to food or beverages (longer onset)
- Store in a cool, dark place away from sunlight
Tinctures are excellent for medical users who need consistent, measurable dosing. Our staff can help you calculate the right starting dose and teach you proper tincture administration techniques.
How to Use Cannabis Topicals and Creams
Cannabis topicals most often include salves, balms, lotions, lubricants, and roll-on sticks. Typically, topicals are either completely unscented and free of things like fragrance, camphor, and menthol, OR they can have either fragrances like calming lavender - or effects like heating and cooling using ingredients like camphor, menthol, and even chili pepper.
How to Apply:
- Start by cleaning the area where you'll apply the topical
- Apply a small amount (about a dime-sized portion)
- Gently massage it into the skin until fully absorbed
- Apply 2-3 times daily or as needed for relief
Important Notes:
- Topicals work best on intact skin
- Avoid applying to broken or irritated skin unless directed by a healthcare provider
- Effects are typically felt within 15-60 minutes
- Effects can last several hours
- No psychoactive "high" - works through local cannabinoid receptors
Topicals are ideal for muscle soreness, joint pain, arthritis, and skin conditions. Store topicals at room temperature and always replace caps securely. Our staff can recommend the best topical products for your specific needs and demonstrate proper application techniques.
How to Use Cannabis Vape Cartridges and Pens
Using vape cartridges is straightforward and discreet. First, ensure your battery is charged and your cartridge is properly attached. Start with a low-temperature setting if your battery has variable voltage - lower temps preserve flavor while higher temps produce more vapor.
Proper Technique:
- Take gentle, slow draws (3-5 seconds)
- Wait 10-15 minutes between puffs
- Start with just 1-2 small puffs if new to vaping
- Effects appear within minutes
- Effects typically last 2-4 hours
⚠️ Storage Warnings:
It is NOT recommended to store vapes and carts in:
- Vehicles
- Direct sunlight
- Pockets or anywhere on the body
- Extreme heat sources
Heat from these sources mimics the device's internal heating element and can cause material to leak, clog, degrade, and discolor.
Best Practices: Store cartridges upright to prevent leaking and keep them at room temperature. Always use the battery that came with your cartridge or a compatible device - incompatible batteries can damage cartridges or cause safety issues. Keep cartridges away from extreme heat and direct sunlight. Clean the connection point regularly for optimal performance using isopropyl alcohol and q-tips or alcohol wipes. Our staff can help you choose compatible equipment, select the right cartridge for your needs, and demonstrate proper vaping technique.
Equipment Needed for Different Consumption Methods
Each consumption method requires different equipment for optimal use.
Smoking Flower
- Pipe, bong, rolling papers, or one-hitter
- Lighter
- Safe place to ash (ashtray, not outdoors)
- Herb grinder (optional but recommended)
Vaping Flower
- Dry herb vaporizer (desktop or portable)
- Charging cable/battery
Concentrates/Dabs
- Dab rig with nail/banger
- Torch or e-nail
- Dab tool
- Carb cap
- E-rigs offer all-in-one solution
Vape Cartridges
- Compatible battery (510-thread is standard)
- Or disposable pen (battery included)
- Charging cable if needed
Tinctures
Dropper included - no additional equipment needed
Topicals & Edibles
No special equipment needed - just your hands for topicals, careful dosing for edibles
Consider Your Lifestyle: Portable options for on-the-go use, discreet options for privacy, or desktop equipment for home use. Our staff can explain all equipment options, demonstrate proper use, and help you select products that match your consumption method of choice.
Proper Dosing Guidelines
Proper dosing varies significantly by product type and individual factors. Always start low and go slow.
Dosing Guidelines by Product Type
Flower
Start with: 1-2 small puffs
Effects appear: Within minutes
Wait time: 10-15 minutes between sessions
Edibles
Start with: 5-10mg THC for beginners
Wait time: 2 full hours before considering more
Patience: Required - delayed onset
Vape Cartridges
Start with: 1-2 small puffs (3-5 seconds)
Wait time: 10-15 minutes between sessions
Effects appear: Within minutes
Tinctures
Start with: 2.5-5mg THC sublingually
Wait time: 30-60 minutes to assess effects
Method: Hold under tongue 30-90 seconds
Concentrates
Start with: Grain-of-rice sized amount (experienced users only)
Effects: Immediate and intense
Wait time: 15-30 minutes between doses
Topicals
Start with: Dime-sized amount
Frequency: 2-3 times daily as needed
Effects: No psychoactive effects
Factors Affecting Dosing
- Tolerance Level: Regular users may need higher doses
- Body Weight: Heavier individuals may need more
- Metabolism: Faster metabolism processes effects more quickly
- Individual Body Chemistry: Personal genetics vary
- Product Potency: Higher THC products require smaller doses
- Consumption Method: Different methods have different absorption rates
Golden Rule: Always start low and go slow - you can always consume more, but you cannot undo consumption. Keep a dosing journal to track amounts, effects, and timing. Our budtenders provide personalized dosing recommendations based on your experience level, goals, and the specific products you choose.
Need Product Recommendations?
Our knowledgeable budtenders are here to help you choose the right products and consumption methods for your needs.