A Beginner’s Guide to Cannabis
If you’ve never purchased cannabis in a retail shop like The WellFlower, but have been thinking about it—great! We hope to welcome you soon.
Shopping for cannabis is a bit different than going out to buy some new shoes or hitting the party store for a six-pack, and we want to help you get ready for your first cannabis store visit.
You must be 21 years of age or older—and prove it!
Unless you’re an underage patient with a state-issued medical card, you’ll need a valid ID that proves you’re 21. Before leaving the lobby and entering the sales floor, you’ll need to present your ID. The receptionist will scan your ID and ask you for a phone number or email address. Most importantly, we want to occasionally text you about specials and put you on our email list. It’s also good to have in case of a product recall so that we can inform you. We’ll also ask if you want to join our loyalty program—your purchases will earn points, and points will bring you free stuff.
Cash or a card—both work for us.
In the early days of cannabis retail sales, it was cash only—but we take debit cards, too. In addition, we have ATMs in our stores, so if you want to pay with cash, we make that convenient.
Relax and let us do all the work.
At WellFlower, we’ve added a “bud bar” to our stores. It’s a space where you can sit, relax and let us do all of the work. We like nothing better than talking about cannabis, our products and helping you make an informed buying decision. We welcome your questions, and we always take the time to help you understand what you’re purchasing.
Let’s Start with Flower
WellFlower carries hundreds of cannabis products—things to smoke, vape, eat, swallow, drop in a drink or rub on your skin.
But it all begins with the cannabis flower. Flower is the cannabis bud grown, dried, cured and packaged for smoking. The flower we carry comes from our cultivation facility and select growers across Michigan. When you buy cannabis flower, it comes in ⅛-ounce jars or packages. An ⅛ is the perfect size for testing a product to determine if you like it or not—you’ll get several nice size joints from an ⅛, and depending on the specific grower and product, an ⅛ will cost between $25 and $40.
Also in the flower family and great for beginners are pre-rolls. A pre-roll is a ready smoke joint packaged in a convenient tube to keep it from crushing and has a crutch or little paper mouthpiece for smoking. Pre-rolls are often made from trim and shake—small parts of the cannabis bud. Some pre-rolls are made from bud, and others are enhanced with additional parts of the cannabis plant, like kief or a THC extract. A pre-roll will cost between $5 and $15. Most of them weigh a gram.
How to Choose Flower
The flavor, effect, and smell of every kind of cannabis reflect its genetics and a desired outcome or feeling. With dozens of flower options—how do you choose what to try. One thing about cannabis is that the strain's name often reflects the product's smell and taste. For instance, Gelatti Mints will be sweeter, like gelato with some mint flavor. Orange Kush Cake will have citrus notes with a sweet, cake-like scent. The effect, taste and smell of cannabis come from the terpenes in the plant. Terpenes are found in many botanical products and are chock full of essential oils.
While there are many terpenes, cannabis tends to have a few major ones:
Pinene is commonly found in the resin or sap of pine trees. It has woodsy, earthy smells like summer in Michigan! In addition, it has anti-inflammatory properties and anti-bacterial properties. OG Kush and Blue Dream strains often have pinene in them.
Humulene is also a woodsy, fresh outdoor scent—less piney than Pinene but similar. You might smell ginger or cloves in cannabis with a Humulene profile. One thing you might like about cannabis with Humulene is its appetite suppressant and anti-inflammatory properties. You can find it in Gelato and Sour Diesel strains.
Limonene sports a citrus scent; like all things citrus, it makes us feel uplifted and bright. Limonene is in most cannabis labeled “Sativa” due to its energizing properties. It’s known for reducing anxiety and providing a mental boost when you’re feeling blue. It’s also good for your digestion. You’ll find it in Wedding Cake and also Lemon Pound Cake.
Myrcene is a terpene that’s often labeled “Indica.” It’s earthy, peppery, and the most common terpene in cannabis. It provides a whole-body buzz and is known for its relaxing properties—so it might be good for you if you’re trying to improve your sleep. You’ll find it in OG Kush and Girl Scout Cookies. If you’re a beer drinker, Myrcene is found in hops, too.
All About Edibles
Almost as popular as flower are cannabis edibles. They’re easy to consume, discreet and taste great. In Michigan, edibles are dosed in milligrams; usually, a single piece of cannabis candy—a gummy, for instance, contains 5 or 10 milligrams of THC. If you’re new to cannabis, we HIGHLY recommend starting with a 5mg piece and giving yourself at least 45 minutes to an hour for the cannabis to take effect. If you’ve just eaten a heavy meal—you might wait a bit longer before you consume it as sometimes food interrupts the effect you’re seeking.
Candy bars and baked goods often are higher in THC—up to 100 mg—so you need to take care not to eat the entire thing or more than what you’re accustomed to consuming. Ask your budtender about THC and portions and read the labels carefully. There’s nothing quite as alarming or miserable as ingesting too much THC. If you make that mistake, don’t feel bad—we’ve all been there. Despite the discomfort, you just need to chill on the couch with binge-worthy TV shows or take a nap. Drink lots of water, and if you have some CBD around—a few drops of that will help bring you back to earth.
Also, keep your cannabis edibles out of reach of children and pets.
If you’re not fond of sweets or can’t eat them for health reasons, cannabis tinctures are a great edible option. You’ll get the same effect as an edible with a few drops under the tongue. Tinctures are like edibles, so take care not to overdo them. Most bottles have notes that tell you how much THC is in a half dropper.
Vapes
Another easy, discreet and popular way to consume cannabis is with a vape cartridge. A vape cart contains cannabis resin which is made from distilled cannabis. It can be pretty potent, so take a few puffs if you’re just starting. Carts come in a variety of flavors and THC percentages. Look for live resin or LR carts if you’re looking for specific health effects. Carts without live resin are just THC—not that there’s anything wrong with that!
If you buy a cart, you’ll need a battery, also known as a pen. You’ll charge it on a USB and screw the battery and the cart together, and you’re good to go. Make sure you buy carts that match your battery. A few different styles are available, and The WellFlower can help you put the right parts together.
Extras
If you’re buying cannabis for the first time, you’ll likely need a few accessories. Cannabis flower needs to be ground down, so you’ll need a grinder. Our budtender can show you how to use it. If you’re planning on rolling a joint, you’ll need papers. If you’re not into rolling, try paper cones which you can pack with ground cannabis flower—they’re super convenient and easy to use. Don’t forget a lighter, too!
Have Fun and Be Happy!
Cannabis is an amazing plant that provides many physical and mental health benefits. We’re happy that you’re here and looking into how to enjoy cannabis. Don’t hesitate to ask our budtenders about the products we carry. We’re up for any questions you may have.
PS: One Last Thing—Stay out of Trouble
While legal in Michigan, many rules come with cannabis—from how much you can have on your person (2.5 ounces), where you can smoke (not in public and not on a Michigan roadway) and never drive under the influence of cannabis as it’s much like driving and drinking and that can be a costly error. If you’re on a private boat, you can smoke in the cabin, but not up top!
