Cannabis in the Garden State: Picking the NJ Dispensary for Your Needs

New Jersey is home to only a few dispensaries. Read more here on finding the one that best fits your cannabis needs.

The recreational marijuana industry is looking to be worth $66.3 billion by 2025. As a society, we’re starting to see the shift where marijuana use is more socially normal. Instead of being invited to a beer, you might be invited to smoke a bowl.

Not to mention the medical benefits of marijuana. In New Jersey, recreational marijuana is still yet to happen, but tens of thousands of people now benefit from medical use.

So if you’re ready to join this cultural shift, you need to find a dispensary you love. Here’s how to pick the best NJ dispensary for you.

1. Shop Around

Marijuana is notably safer than tobacco or alcohol. 50,000 people die every year from alcohol poisoning, and 400,000 annual deaths are attributed to tobacco use.

But for marijuana? None. It’s impossible to die from a marijuana overdose.

So when you want to try marijuana, you need to find a dispensary that makes you comfortable. Just like each bar has a different vibe to it, so will each dispensary. So try out several!

Notice the environment, the budtenders, and the products. Do they have new products that you’re excited to try, or are you more interested in a bare-bones just the bud experience?

These things will all factor in to which dispensary you end up picking.

2. Consider the Location

Most likely, you’ll end up falling in love with a dispensary along your usual commute. It’s convenient! It’s right along the path! Especially in the ever-so traffic ridden roads of New Jersey

That may be exactly what you want, so you don’t have to go too far out of your way to get your weed. But you may also want to pick a spot a bit out of the way, to create less of a habit loop.

This call is entirely up to you, and there is no right answer. You may like the convenience of a dispensary on your route, or it may be more important to you to go a bit out of the way to avoid making a habit.

3. What Are the Budtenders Like?

The budtenders are the people who sell you your weed. They should be helpful, friendly, and informative. They should be comfortable explaining the different strains and effects you can expect from an indica or sativa strain.

They should also be well informed about the different products the dispensary sells, like edibles, pipes, or other accessories. They should be able to tell you how each works, and how to best keep your smoking devices clean.

Just like you want a friendly bartender, you want a friendly budtender too. So ask lots of questions. Are they helpful and informative? Or does it feel like they’re ready to get their shift over with and move on?

4. Ask About Deals

A lot of dispensaries have punch cards, points, or other deals for regulars. They may also have particular specials on particular days of the week.

Each dispensary will likely have their own happy hours, regular deals, and other promos. It’s worth shopping around to see which one has the best offers.

Depending on the rest of the dispensary, it may be financially worthwhile to choose your dispensary based on this alone.

5. Shop the Prices

Different dispensaries will have different prices. While they may be similar, they might vary too. Take note of any discrepancies, and try to find out why they’re like that. Is the difference in price worth it to you?

If you’re a savvy shopper and the price matters to you, you might pick a couple of dispensaries you like and shop on their best-priced products.

6. The Environment Matters

The more you go to dispensaries, the more you’ll note that each one is different. Some feel strict, some feel like a high luxury lounge. Some are homely, and some get way into the general pot vibe.

There’s a lot that goes into getting a dispensary license, so the owners try to fine-tune the environment as much as possible.

This will speak to you, and you might find that some places make you more comfortable (or uncomfortable) than others. You want your regular dispensary to be in a place you enjoy being in. This will let you be more curious about different products, and explore your tastes a bit more.

Check out these Massachusetts dispensaries to get an idea of how dispensaries can vary.

7. Recreational is Still Illegal in New Jersey

When you come across a dispensary in New Jersey, keep in mind that it’s for medical use only. On top of that, marijuana possession is still considered a crime, and you can face jail time – though most first time offenders won’t.

8. The Industry is Growing

Even still, since Canada legalized recreational pot, America isn’t far behind. New Jersey doesn’t have many dispensaries yet, but when the state and eventually the federal government legalize recreational use, dispensaries will start to pop up, and you’ll have a lot more options.

9. You Can Support Legalization

If you want to see more options for medical and recreational marijuana in New Jersey, you can do something about it. Support organizations like NORML and contact your representatives.

Picking an NJ Dispensary Should Be a Fun Experience

Finding the right dispensary is like finding the best bar for you. It should be in an environment you enjoy, probably along your usual commute. The environment should feel helpful and relaxing.

Use the tips above to help you pick the best NJ dispensary for you.

Keep checking back to stay up to date on all the nug news in the region.