Dispensary vs LPs (Canadian Licensed Producers)

At risk of derailing the dispensary thread and the other thread about licensed providers I thought I would start another thread about what people think about the cannabis from their licensed providers (LPs) vs dispensaries. Also, who do you use more of and why (quality, price, convenience, consistency)?

I have been thinking about this for a while as I am currently with Tweed and just renewed for another year and use them probably for 95% of my cannabis, though I was mighty tempted by broken coast though they just have such a limited selection of strains available. Anyway, I have dispensary memberships, but find myself rarely if ever using them. I sometimes miss getting that rare fire strain you can get from the dispensaries. I do find that the better quality dispensary strains are cured far better which is evident in the flavour and taste. I know this is a vaporization thread but I can barely smoke LP weed it is usually pretty harsh and not very tasty. Whereas I have had some lip smacking tasty joints before. This is something LP cannabis has a way to go.

My reasons for mainly using my Licensed Provider is price and likely convenience more than anything because under the MMPR your LP ships the cannabis straight to your door. So I don't have to hop on the subway and rattle my intense anxiety tying to get down there. The price is a substation part of the equation because I pay as little as $5.40 gram tax in for whole quality bud and for quality you need to spend least $10/gram at the dispensary. Even with the quantity discounts it doesn't compare. Secondly, quality and consistency are next on my list. I find the dispensary strains to not always be consistent vs LPs. I don't always know if am going to get a strain that is going to help my symptoms and when I find one and go back for more it is most often gone. I rarely buy an oz or more without first buying at least a gram or a few to try it out. I have been let down too many times in the past.

I'll add more later.

My med plan only covers LPs, so I use dispensaries for treats I don't feel like making myself

Cannimed experience, I just don't find their stuff that good. It is milled, I prefer buds

Does Cannimed only offer milled? Cause that would kinda suck...

killick said:

Does Cannimed only offer milled? Cause that would kinda suck...

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Yes. They say it is to the users benefit - easy to make sure batch is the right strength and also it takes out all seeds and stems so you are not paying for that. One nice thing is you don't have to grind. I found some really low-cost green house bud from the dispensary ($5 a gram) better than any of the Cannimed strains.

@mikek9 have you tried Tilray? I just switched to them from RedeCan (no interest in their irradiated products, no aroma, greenhouse buds, although effective). I'm having health issues associated with thc and thus need to keep away from the higher thc strains and Tilray has a big variety of CBD strains which is what i'm transitioning to. Prices are reasonable and they don't irradiate. You must be pretty happy with Tweed to renew? I agree broken coast looks awesome, but variety severely lacking, like the very expensive whistler organic.

I'm tempted to visit some new dispensaries just for the novelty, but I really now need specific meds so I know exactly what the lab specs are, and sadly dispensaries just cannot offer this. I need the consistency, and tested genetics, and reliability of being able to get the strains I need. If Tilray is a letdown, then that will be my 2nd disappointing LP, and perhaps i'll give Tweed a shot before I may have to throw in the towel and just use dispensaries. Don't think it will come to this based on reviews from Tilray.

@mikek9 have you tried Natural Order Health Services via mail order? I don't think they can be beat for dispensary value for your dollar for serious quality top shelf meds.

biohacker said:

@mikek9 have you tried Tilray? I just switched to them from RedeCan (no interest in their irradiated products, no aroma, greenhouse buds, although effective). I'm having health issues associated with thc and thus need to keep away from the higher thc strains and Tilray has a big variety of CBD strains which is what i'm transitioning to. Prices are reasonable and they don't irradiate. You must be pretty happy with Tweed to renew? I agree broken coast looks awesome, but variety severely lacking, like the very expensive whistler organic.

I'm tempted to visit some new dispensaries just for the novelty, but I really now need specific meds so I know exactly what the lab specs are, and sadly dispensaries just cannot offer this. I need the consistency, and tested genetics, and reliability of being able to get the strains I need. If Tilray is a letdown, then that will be my 2nd disappointing LP, and perhaps i'll give Tweed a shot before I may have to throw in the towel and just use dispensaries. Don't think it will come to this based on reviews from Tilray.

@mikek9 have you tried Natural Order Health Services via mail order? I don't think they can be beat for dispensary value for your dollar for serious quality top shelf meds.

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I have never had a chance to try any product from Tilray, but have always read pretty positive reviews, although they seem quite pricey! Have you been over to lift.ca for LP/LP Cannabis reviews? That is my main source for information on LPs at the moment unless you have another resource. There is another one called canvasrx.com , but I don't find they have as much information as Lift, plus Lift gives you points for each review you leave so you can get discounts on cannabis products.

I have been pretty happy with Tweed, but to be honest, I might try another LP soon, I was thinking of adding Broken Coast as a 2nd LP because they have very little selection, but what they do have is apparently close to top-shelf product. Tweed has so far been good IMO, but not all their bud is great, some strains are duds IMHO and I would avoid, but others are exceptional and really help me with my symptoms.

I have never heard of Natural Order Health Services, but have tried mail-order dispensary bud before. I only ever used one and was not overly happy with what I received. At least I know with my LP, Tweed, that what I ordered before is usually what I'll get again if I place another order so that really helps me make the decision.

+1 for Natural Order Health Services!

They only sell a few strains at a time and they sell out pretty quickly.
I switched to another mail order p;lace but they were very inconsistent and are no longer around...

Back with NO and i am always happy with what i get. Most are covered in crystals and smell amazing!
Usually around $90 for 15g

Yes, but that place that was inconsistent and no longer around....... could NOHS become "no longer around" as well?

Looks like Tilray has received my documents and i'll be good to go next week! I plan on exclusively buying all of their CBD strains including Girl Scout Cookies!

No mention of MedReleaf? Some very good strains and the quality I found nothing short of excellent, their pricing however did tend to be a bit high on some which is why I moved over to Tweed.

kUsHkInG said:

No mention of MedReleaf? Some very good strains and the quality I found nothing short of excellent, their pricing however did tend to be a bit high on some which is why I moved over to Tweed.

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OK. I know I've posted my position on dispensaries and LPs in the other related threads already, but I guess I'll throw in my post now.

Dispensaries fill a gap that the legal system isnt providing. Until the gap is filled dispensaries will continue their civil disobedience of providing quality access. IMO the ones who close down after police advise them or RCMP raid are just in it for profit and not for access.
A lot of the LPs continue to produce sub-par cannabis, extremely expensive top shelf, or limited selection of strains. Additionally until edibles, extracts and topicals are produced by LPs, patients who feel these products help them best have no where else to turn.

I know I must be nice here. ok. I'll try to put this as nice as possible.
I dont like Medreleaf because they dont cure their cannabis, so I dont find that "excellent".
In fact I think $15/g for uncured cannabis is downright wrong, the price does not reflect the market value at all. Uncured cannabis would not even come close to that price at dispensaries, in fact it would be hard for them to sell because patients would smell it and pass on it/pick something else.

As for Tweed I tried them when they did not know how to produce high quality cannabis consistently and since then have purchased/partnered with several companies (Bedrocan, DNA Genetics, MedCannAccess) to try and figure it out.
I think DNA really can help them produce top shelf stuff, but its going to take time to transition over to their techniques. Whatever Tweed is doing it would be nice if the reps could actually tell you if the bud is top shelf or not. I got some really scraggly dry buds of East Coast Sour Diesel that broke down into shake in the mail and didn't smell sour or diesel like at all for $12/g from them. Then I got pretty much top shelf, sticky buds of Headband for $9/g that needed a bit more curing (tweed does 2 weeks) but was pretty darn good. Then I asked if the chemdog was like the sour diesel or headband in quality and they said its the highest quality and what came was scraggly sad looking buds, not flushed and completely unusable, so I got a refund.
All I want is for the reps to be honest or else I cant really order from them.

In fact, most LPs the reps do not know the quality of the bud whatsoever. They cant tell you if its top shelf or anything like that. They just always claim they have the "highest quality" without any description of what that means.
Most (like Maricann) are under the illusion they are selling topshelf when really they are selling mids.

theCerberus said:

. IMO the ones who close down after police advise them or RCMP raid are just in it for profit and not for access.

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Or they just don't want criminal records? I know i'd be fucking shitting my pants after a raid if I was any part of the business or employee. It's just not worth it. I respect your opinion, but if you think people are risking their futures to help others, I think I live in a different world than you do.

theCerberus said:

Additionally until edibles, extracts and topicals are produced by LPs, patients who feel these products help them best have no where else to turn.

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Do you have any idea when LP's will actually start selling these?

theCerberus said:

OK. I know I've posted my position on dispensaries and LPs in the other related threads already, but I guess I'll throw in my post now.

Dispensaries fill a gap that the legal system isnt providing. Until the gap is filled dispensaries will continue their civil disobedience of providing quality access. IMO the ones who close down after police advise them or RCMP raid are just in it for profit and not for access.
A lot of the LPs continue to produce sub-par cannabis, extremely expensive top shelf, or limited selection of strains. Additionally until edibles, extracts and topicals are produced by LPs, patients who feel these products help them best have no where else to turn.

I know I must be nice here. ok. I'll try to put this as nice as possible.
I dont like Medreleaf because they dont cure their cannabis, so I dont find that "excellent".
In fact I think $15/g for uncured cannabis is downright wrong, the price does not reflect the market value at all. Uncured cannabis would not even come close to that price at dispensaries, in fact it would be hard for them to sell because patients would smell it and pass on it/pick something else.

As for Tweed I tried them when they did not know how to produce high quality cannabis consistently and since then have purchased/partnered with several companies (Bedrocan, DNA Genetics, MedCannAccess) to try and figure it out.
I think DNA really can help them produce top shelf stuff, but its going to take time to transition over to their techniques. Whatever Tweed is doing it would be nice if the reps could actually tell you if the bud is top shelf or not. I got some really scraggly dry buds of East Coast Sour Diesel that broke down into shake in the mail and didn't smell sour or diesel like at all for $12/g from them. Then I got pretty much top shelf, sticky buds of Headband for $9/g that needed a bit more curing (tweed does 2 weeks) but was pretty darn good. Then I asked if the chemdog was like the sour diesel or headband in quality and they said its the highest quality and what came was scraggly sad looking buds, not flushed and completely unusable, so I got a refund.
All I want is for the reps to be honest or else I cant really order from them.

In fact, most LPs the reps do not know the quality of the bud whatsoever. They cant tell you if its top shelf or anything like that. They just always claim they have the "highest quality" without any description of what that means.
Most (like Maricann) are under the illusion they are selling topshelf when really they are selling mids.

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You are free to share your opinion with me of what you like/don't like in a dispensary and LP as far as I'm concerned, it's the beauty of being able to have one and in most cases, is of some benefit to the members an online community. No need to tell me you will be "nice" as I've not had any negative interactions with you, unless you've been told otherwise in previous postings that I'm not aware of. I will, however, respectfully disagree that MedReleaf does not provide quality product. I had a few orders shipped to me that I felt were not properly trimmed, nor did they taste as if they had been cured properly and when contacted, MedReleaf stepped up right away and took care of my concerns. So far so good with Tweed, my experiences with them thus far have been positive as I've only been using them since September (knock wood). I don't disagree that MedReleaf's pricing is out of whack and have stopped using them because of that, but from the very start when I signed on my choices of LP's was limited so I went with a good recommendation from my clinic, based on other patient feedback they had received. As you have done I'm sure, it was all trial and error and gave them a fair shot by trying as many strains as I could before passing judgement. While I've tried both cured and relatively un-cured bud in my time, I will say that to physically look at one and to be able to tell was difficult, but the proof for me was in the experience as a properly cured bud just smelled and tasted that much better. The vaping experience was also smooth and my ability to actually "taste" flavors was in-line with my ability to dissect wines, which is another passion of mine. I've also found in my personal experiences that bud that isn't properly cured gave me symptoms similar to what I have during allergy season, which isn't pleasant and found it quite annoying--especially in the evenings.

On the topic of dispensaries, I have yet to hear anyone talk about Herbal Dispatch. I've been using them now for 4 months and started on the recommendation of some Cannabis users I know who are very active in the community for regulation here in Toronto. I have nothing but good things to say about Sam and the quality of bud he sources, give them a try if you haven't already and would be interested to hear your thoughts, and others after trying them.

Either way, thanks for sharing your experiences with the LP's you've outlined.

biohacker said:

Or they just don't want criminal records? I know i'd be fucking shitting my pants after a raid if I was any part of the business or employee. It's just not worth it. I respect your opinion, but if you think people are risking their futures to help others, I think I live in a different world than you do.

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Ah you've missed the point though. If you operate or work in a dispensary you should know its illegal and the police could arrest you at any moment.
That is exactly what they are doing from the day they open.
Risking their futures to help others.

You should know you are operating in civil disobedience. If you are just in it for the money and get out as soon as the police start asking questions or raid your business then you are not really in it for access, you are in it to make a quick buck and disappear.

You should know the risks before opening. Its not like this is a new industry, the oldest dispensaries in Toronto have been around since 1996.

You are risking the same things before and after a raid. Dispensaries are not legal, and if you are going to open one, you should know the consequences. If you are not operating in civil disobedience then you are just in it for cash and are operating illegally for no reason other than profit.
Compassion centres justify their own existence by providing sick and dying people access in defiance of the law.
If you dont want to risk a criminal record, then dont work at a dispensary right now, the only legal job in the industry is to work for an LP.

kUsHkInG said:

You are free to share your opinion with me of what you like/don't like in a dispensary and LP as far as I'm concerned, it's the beauty of being able to have one and in most cases, is of some benefit to the members an online community. No need to tell me you will be "nice" as I've not had any negative interactions with you, unless you've been told otherwise in previous postings that I'm not aware of.

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Yea it was either the LP thread or dispensary thread that I got a warning point on for not being nice enough. This forum has a "be nice" rule, and I didnt want to be too hostile in disagreement with you.

The thing is, I cant trust the CSRs at the majority of LPs to tell me the quality of the cannabis. They always say "highest quality" blindly without even seeing it.
You can ask them objective questions like cure time, flushing, irradiation use, growing medium, and they can usually answer, but attributes of the final product like "is it fluffy, dense, sticky, big bud size, top shelf?" go unanswered. Things dispensaries can easily tell you, these guys cant. LPs often insist medication is top shelf when its mids (maricann, canntrust, tweed), even after you receive it and tell them its mids.

When I spoke to MedReleaf on the phone the rep told me the product wasnt cured and they were not planning on changing that. They said they have the perfect production technique and were not interested in my suggestion of curing.
That's why I never signed up for them. I guess its possible if their business was suffering they would actually decide to listen. I wasnt even patronized and I didnt appreciate that in the slightest. All they had to say was "we appreciate your feedback".

LPs want to sell everything they grow. That's why some want to save batches by any means necessary to the point of gamma irradiation.
But dispensaries can pick and choose what bud they want to stock, and can ensure everything is top shelf if they want to (Amy is very picky and only selects the best buds to sell at Canndo).

MedReleaf's production technique is what it is. Others find them fine. I find them fine. Plus they have a decent selection (when they aren't short of stock, which is beginning to bug me a bit).

As far as dispensaries go, the first one I ever used was called Black Crow in Westbank Kelowna. I purchased 3 varieties of herb, my very first non-LP herb, and it tasted nasty. I found out from the good folk at FC that this tends to mean unpurged hydroponic herb. I wouldn't go back to them for a glass of water.

Having said that The Herbal Health Centre, www.thhc.ca, has been a great place. I've never set foot in the door, but they deliver. Everything I've received from there, predominantly concentrates, have been great. If I felt a bit more confident of my own technique I wouldn't be ordering any, but I'm not that confident yet...

killick,

You should give Herbal Dispatch a try, seeing as you are in BC. They deliver and I'd be surprised if you didn't find their selection to be consistent and the quality to be very good. Sam comes highly recommended and if you did a quick search on Twitter, could find equally pleasing reviews from many within the community over here in the GTA.

And for complete transparency I'm by no means affiliated in any way shape or form with HD, I just want to pass along information to others that may not know about them.

http://herbaldispatch.com

Thanks @kUsHkInG - just had a quick peek at their page and they aren't accepting new members until the new year, but thanks for the pointer and the review. I'm happy to add another good one to the list

@killick, would you like me to ask if I can "refer a friend?" Not something they advertise, but I certainly don't mind putting the question out there.

Thanks! A most kind, and appreciated offer, but not required. I have enough concentrates to last me through Christmas, even more if I flash up the Green Oil Machine and make some nice non-decarbed FECO to tide me through to the new year.

What I *do* need to find is a doc to renew my prescription. Since moving to BC I've not found a doc, so to get renewed I'm currently 'evaluating options'. Why my scrip expires on Dec 26 can only be someones idea of a joke...

@killick would your previous doctor not be able to refer you to someone out in BC? I'm surprised that being registered with Health Canada you aren't able to find a good doctor, especially in BC where the bud flows a-plenty. Either way I hope it all works out for ya!

Surprising, isn't it? My prescribing doc was in Calgary, and we moved here a few months ago. The rules changed for residency so my AB doc can't prescribe here, and docs are at such a shortage here that 40% of BC residents don't have a doc. I'm *this close* to billing BC Health for visiting my AB doc to get this resolved...

Theres a few cannabis clinics listed on lift for BC, they may charge money. i dont know. i've never tried them. i dont live in BC.

http://liftcannabis.ca/doctors

i do know doctors arent supposed to charge money for scripts, and its kind of illegitimate if they do. you should however be able to get your money back from the ministry of health if you are ever charged for one.

Have you guys tried the mail order services from any of the Vancouver brick and mortar dispensaries? I can't comment on any of them from the prospective of a mail order customer but as an in person member of about 10 Vancouver dispensaries I'm cringing reading about irradiated and pre-groud bud from some of these LPs. Most of the 100+ dispensaries here won't be any better than an LP but if you know where to look you can find some of the highest quality bud on the planet for reasonable prices.

The top 3 in terms of quality are probably Sunrise, MPN, and The Healing Centre. Sunrise has been my primary supplier for the last year or so and I couldn't be happier with the quality and customer service. Nearly all of their products are small batch, organic and grown by some of the top growers in BC. I have an in person membership so I can't comment on their mail order services but even if they give you the B grade buds it will blow away irradiated or pre-ground garbage. The employees also know their shit. They can intelligently answer just about any question about how their products are grown and processed. I have never shopped at MPN or THC as they are a PITA to get to from my house but from what I know of them they have a similar level of product and customer service.

I just got my first order from Tilray and am blown away! Everything is awesome! Especially the milled blends! For $4/g OMG! The grind is very fine and PERFECT for vaping! Effects! Taste!

Blows away RedeCan!

i was waiting to here how you liked tilray biohacker , im in the process of renewing myself gonna get a 150 dollar credit for signing with them again .

wait till you try some of those 30 % strains they just seem to keep vaping and vaping lol never seems to end . i always stop before its actually spent and the abv still feels oily