Retail states: how's the weed?

[panasonic]

How do you feel about price for quality? Consistency between and within growers?

Right now, I would rate the weed market in my state at a 6/10.

It's amazing that I can choose between millions of things.

It's terrible that most of them won't be even close to the quality of blackmarket mids.

Right now the sweet spot seems to be good shit on sale for $45/eighth. I have found some growers that are consistently great at $40/eighth but they usually are sold out at most stores within a 20 min drive within a few days of being in stock.

Back when it was medical the quality was much, much more consistent, and although it wasn't regulated some dispensaries would do pesticide+potency testing

 

[MinnBobber]

Right now, I would rate the weed market in my state at a 6/10.

So what state are you in?

 

[Krazy]

NM is still medical only. I only purchase 1-2g samples a few times a year of strains I have not tried before.

 

[tx93budsmane]

I'd love to know what an Oz goes for?

 

[CarolKing]

WA state basically went from having medical cannabis and legal cannabis to now just legal. There is really no distinction from medical or legal it's all the same now. Good or bad that is the way it is. Forget edibles they are sky high. Make your own using shatter and coconut oil.

I'm troubled by the packaging, which adds to the cost. Some producers use glass or plastic jars and some use a thick plastic smell proof bags. Sometimes you can only buy a strain that only comes in 1 gram packaging bags. I've noticed sometimes the buds get flattened out a bit the way they are packaged and boxed up for shipping. The legal cannabis is dryer than the medical that I was buying.

I see on the package or jar when the cannabis was harvested. I've been seeing June and July which seems like a long time ago. It's almost December. I worry about degregation over time. Are they stored away from sunlight? I guess I should ask.

What I do like is the data regarding THC and THCA plus CBD lab percentages.

Grams aren't as expensive as I had been worried about but I pay more now than before. There are no more cannabis farmers markets any longer which helped the patient and the home farmer, some amazing people.

There seems to be a wide array of different strains available by where I live. Also a lot of waxes, shatter and such too.

I just realized a cannabis store is right by the Safeway that I shop at. Originally they sold ecigs and accessaries. I see now the blinds are pulled and it says you need to be over 21. A creepy storefront. It's made to look like they are selling something bad. Why should it be any different than alcohol? I did check them out but probably won't go there again, even though it's convenient. Not a good feel to the store. I bought some Sunset Sherbet at $35 for 3.5 grams, The White at $40 for 3.5 grams and a strain called Mendo Blue Dream. It was $10 a gram, I just bought 2 grams.

Most legal cannabis that I have bought so far have good vapor taste and does the job other than being somewhat dry most of the time.

I'm a registered cannabis patient so I pay the price for the bud and I don't have to pay the approx sales tax of 9%. It's a new era here since last July 1st whether we like it or not. My feelings are mixed. My fav cannabis shops are gone and there's no getting them back.

 

[BR Ron]

Here in the Portland area there are a wealth of places to purchase. I think I heard more cannabis outlets than McDonald's and Starbucks combined. Anyway I am a light user, less than a gram a week. That said I think the selection, and pricing is great! I started using again once it became legal. Everyone should come visit and enjoy the change in laws.

 

[VaporChase]

SoCal checking in here.

I'm relatively new to the dispensary "scene" so my perspective wouldn't be as informed as someone who's been medicating and going through dispensaries for the last 5+ years.

In simple terms, the weed is effective. Lots of competition, so dispensaries have to find ways to get people to return. Sticky buds are a must. They also do first time patient deals, daily deals, sales and promotions.

I spent a ton of time researching storefront dispensaries and their deals, but now I'm kind of leaning towards delivery services. It is incredibly convenient to have them deliver to you, and when you combine that with the quality of the flower and the pricing, it is very tough to beat. My last order a few days ago, I got 7 grams of pungent, sticky Jack Herer and Kush delivered for $50 (I threw in a $5 tip on top). In my area, that's a great deal and you can order everything from home.

The downside is there isn't much info. about sourcing. Maybe because the weed proposition passed, dispensaries can start growing on site. I know a place that rents a huge space and I think they were banking on the proposition passing so they can grow on site and show customers where their meds come from. That would go a long way with a lot of people. I haven't asked any of my spots where they get the buds from, so I'm curious to see what they would say. You just don't really KNOW where they're coming from and the growing conditions, seed quality, pesticides used, etc.

I'm sure if I really wanted to find organic and clean buds I could find some places, but they would be few and far between. For someone who wants to medicate and find some solid meds at good prices, there are a ton of options here, but again, one issue is the sourcing. It isn't regulated like food for example, where organizations can verify the origins and methods of production (even though that can even be suspect at times).

It will be interesting to see where things go. The proposition for legalization passed, but in terms of the effect it will have on dispensaries it won't kick in until 2018.

 

[panasonic]

Here in the Portland area there are a wealth of places to purchase. I think I heard more cannabis outlets than McDonald's and Starbucks combined. Anyway I am a light user, less than a gram a week. That said I think the selection, and pricing is great! I started using again once it became legal. Everyone should come visit and enjoy the change in laws.

Do you have any shops you would recommend in particular? Where they encourage people to take their time. I was thinking of making a trip to portland

 

[BR Ron]

Do you have any shops you would recommend in particular? Where they encourage people to take their time. I was thinking of making a trip to portland

I have only been to 7 or 8 different shops, so this is by no means a definitive best of reccomendation. My favorite is Canna Daddy's. Large selection, let you look and smell before buying, and a large selection of concentrates too. You can look up retailers on Leafly and look at their menu/pricing.

 

[turk]

...hmmm..paying roughly same prices as carolking in wash...there were "sales" at some dispensaries this weekend where $25 eighths of selected primo could be had...u had to look for it though..reg price 35-60 an eighth..you really have to look for 35...

 

[darbarikanada]

Back when it was medical the quality was much, much more consistent, and although it wasn't regulated some dispensaries would do pesticide+potency testing

I'm also curious which state you're in. medical dispensaries in wa. rarely (if ever) tested for pesticides; they'd say that they had growers they trusted wouldn't use them. hopefully all the legal states will cooperate, come up with lists of banned pesticides, then standardize the testing - and enforce the regulations. assuming there's enough pressure from consumers, I think it'll happen. from what I understand, it's tricky and expensive: you have to have a list of the stuff you're looking for - the banned pesticides - then design the tests to look for those. last I heard, or. and col. are ahead of wa. in this.

It's terrible that most of them won't be even close to the quality of blackmarket mids.

not my experience in wa.; assuming you're talking about potency (?), I don't see any decline.

 

[panasonic]

not in potency but in grow quality. lots of stuff out there for $35-55/eighth that smells like hay. The dispensaries I bought from didn't test everything, but they did indicate which strains they had sent out for testing and had the reports available to review

 

[CarolKing]

The WA state legal system is set up where all the cannabis is sealed up and we cannot smell it beforehand. I will have to say that some of the cannabis has set so long you don't smell that pungent smell like with the medical set up we hand before July 1st at the medical dispensaries.

The potency hasn't suffered IMO as what I've noticed. I stocked up before July 1st and had enough to last me for 3 months. I've just started shopping since the last of Sept.

I miss being able to buy in different quantities and be able to smell the different scents of what I'm buying. Also you could get an oz of several different strains and just pay the oz price at the medical dispensaries from the before July 2016. At the state cannabis shops you don't get that good deal. You buy 7 grams of 4 different strain you pay the 1/4 oz price for each. I have seen 10% off for military and senior citizens.

If I hadn't been able to enjoy the medical cannabis for 2 years I would be really excited for legal. I wouldn't have known what I was missing. I bought in the black market for many years and would buy whatever the guy had. Usually good quality too for the most part but expensive.

Legal is not a bad thing there are little glitches in the system. The medical patients weren't really thought about in the equation. The state hasn't allowed for clones and seeds for the patients yet. We are still waiting, I haven't seen any at the cannbais shops. It was an afterthought by people that really didn't know what they were doing. I'm drifting from the original statement but I won't say any more about it.

Edit
A good medical cannabis system is better than legal for the user. I like that folks will be let out of jail. I think that is the great thing about legal. I need to think beyond what works for me.

@turk be careful when you see child proof packaging in the legislature.

 

[turk]

...you can still mix and match stuff here in SF..you can still smell product too...not that bad here....yet.

 

[panasonic]

The WA state legal system is set up where all the cannabis is sealed up and we cannot smell it beforehand. I will have to say that some of the cannabis has set so long you don't smell that pungent smell like with the medical set up we hand before July 1st at the medical dispensaries.

The potency hasn't suffered IMO as what I've noticed. I stocked up before July 1st and had enough to last me for 3 months. I've just started shopping since the last of Sept.

I miss being able to buy in different quantities and be able to smell the different scents of what I'm buying. Also you could get an oz of several different strains and just pay the oz price at the medical dispensaries from the before July 2016. At the state cannabis shops you don't get that good deal. You buy 7 grams of 4 different strain you pay the 1/4 oz price for each. I have seen 10% off for military and senior citizens.

If I hadn't been able to enjoy the medical cannabis for 2 years I would be really excited for legal. I wouldn't have known what I was missing. I bought in the black market for many years and would buy whatever the guy had. Usually good quality too for the most part but expensive.

Legal is not a bad thing there are little glitches in the system. The medical patients weren't really thought about in the equation. The state hasn't allowed for clones and seeds for the patients yet. We are still waiting, I haven't seen any at the cannbais shops. It was an afterthought by people that really didn't know what they were doing. I'm drifting from the original statement but I won't say any more about it.

Edit
A good medical cannabis system is better than legal for the user. I like that folks will be let out of jail. I think that is the great thing about legal. I need to think beyond what works for me.

@turk be careful when you see child proof packaging in the legislature.

I agree with most of these sentiments. I am hoping when clones and seeds are more available either legally or because neighboring states legalize them, the supply will shoot up so high that the quality will also increase.

I've already seen shops discounting 5 month old product for 30% off, so that's a good sign. 5 months ago they were still asking full price for year old shit

 

[TeeJay1952]

Variety...real and imagined.
Ideas, strains, labeling, competition increase.
The search for qualified, knowledgeable, customer oriented employees is difficult.
You are usually in the presence of someone on the cusp twixt caregiver and entrepreneur.

 

[Krazy]

Here in NM it runs about $10g at a dispensary. You can pay a bit more at a boutique dispensary. Shop sales and pay $7-8g. Most give a 10% discount to vets.

I just did a quick look and a few places have really stepped up their game on CBD strains. We actually have a decent selection now.




https://www.leafly.com/news/industry/leaflys-state-by-state-guide-to-cannabis-testing-regulations

 

[CarolKing]

I did see today that I could buy a 28 gram bag of shake of Blue Dream @ 19% THC. I've been looking for cannabis to make edibles hmmmm. I hadn't seen any so far until today. Maybe I wasn't looking close enough. This was hidden with the pre rolled joints. That's one of the things I've been missing. Hopefully that void will be filled. Medical patients need to be able to make edibles. It's too expensive if you are paying $250+ per oz.

Also I saw quite a few strains for $10 and $8 a gram. I think they need to start moving merchandise to get ready for more. Just my humble opinion. These strains had around 20% THC.

I'm going to buy some Granddaddy Purple at 28% THC, also I'm picking up some Gorilla Glue. There really are a lot of choices around here. I guess I should stop complaining and just be thankful. We've come along way since the 1980s and late 70s. I'm glad I was there to see it all - anyway in my area of America.

Edit
Sorry made a typo above I will change it 28grams of shake for $75. I wish 28oz!!

@panasonic good point it's probably not like shake from the good ole days.

 

[MinnBobber]

I did see today that I could buy a 28oz bag of shake of Blue Dream @ 19% THC. I've been looking for cannabis to make edibles hmmmm

........................................................................
Curious here--how much was bag of Blue Dream shake? Do you really mean 28 oz or 28 grams or what as 28 oz bag might not be hard to miss
What size and what price please? If it is really 19%, holy cow, that seems great for shake--especially if price is good.

On another note, have you had Blue Dream before as it is my favorite vape medicine for pain ?
I would think in medibles, it would be awesome/perfect.

 

[panasonic]

I did see today that I could buy a 28oz bag of shake of Blue Dream @ 19% THC. I've been looking for cannabis to make edibles hmmmm. I hadn't seen any so far until today. Maybe I wasn't looking close enough. This was hidden with the pre rolled joints. That's one of the things I've been missing. Hopefully that void will be filled. Medical patients need to be able to make edibles. It's too expensive if you are paying $250+ per oz.

Also I saw quite a few strains for $10 and $8 a gram. I think they need to start moving merchandise to get ready for more. Just my humble opinion. These strains had around 20% THC.

I'm going to buy some Granddaddy Purple at 28% THC, also I'm picking up some Gorilla Glue. There really are a lot of choices around here. I guess I should stop complaining and just be thankful. We've come along way since the 1980s and late 70s. I'm glad I was there to see it all - anyway in my area of America.

If you are into edibles, you can get concentrates pretty cheap on sale, usually $20-25 per gram. That is easily enough to get it down to $3/dose

The shake will probably work too, but keep in mind most of the shake they're selling is basically machine-trim from flower, not shake like "it was the bottom of the med dispensary jar"

 

[MinnBobber]

Edit
Sorry made a typo above I will change it 28grams of shake for $75. I wish 28oz!!

.....................................................................

An oz of Blue Dream shake at 19% for $75 sounds like a steal to me OMG.

The concept of shake at 19% THC blows my mind as many good buds at that level or below.
If you ever get a chance, post a pic as I have no idea what this "new shake" looks like vs old time shake.

That just seems ideal for medibles, especially with Blue Dream.

EDIT: Had to load up some of my precious Blue Dream stash. It probably was around 19% too but 18 months ago paid about $140 for only 1/4 oz so......jealous of your deal

 

[Krazy]

The shake will probably work too, but keep in mind most of the shake they're selling is basically machine-trim from flower, not shake like "it was the bottom of the med dispensary jar"

Depends on the dispensary. Before I locked in free meds I purchased from what I felt to be the best dispensary in Albuquerque; High Desert Relief. (Best as in ass kicking high THC percentages that is. For CBD strains a few different boutique dispensaries are better here).

You have to time it right or cultivate some of the guys that worked their to give you a heads up.
But the end result is $7g for kief and small mini buds from the bottom of the 5 gallon bin on things like Skywalker Kush @ >25%. So you actually are getting a Higher % than if you bought the big buds that most shoppers like.

http://highdesertrelief.org/store.html

 

[panasonic]

Depends on the dispensary. Before I locked in free meds I purchased from what I felt to be the best dispensary in Albuquerque; High Desert Relief. (Best as in ass kicking high THC percentages that is. For CBD strains a few different boutique dispensaries are better here).

You have to time it right or cultivate some of the guys that worked their to give you a heads up.
But the end result is $7g for kief and small mini buds from the bottom of the 5 gallon bin on things like Skywalker Kush @ >25%. So you actually are getting a Higher % than if you bought the big buds that most shoppers like.

http://highdesertrelief.org/store.html

speaking specifically about retail WA weed

 

[Enchantre]

I'm finding better cured stuff. I've picked my preferred brands, and the product is consistently good.

Label reading has replaced "grower stories"... and I like it better. I'm getting a clearer idea of what strains I really do like, as in the "good old days" the weed was inconsistent.

A good dry/cure takes 6-8 weeks from harvest. I do prefer better handled stuff. Hate the packaging.

 

[Krazy]

speaking specifically about retail WA weed

i hear you. And sorry that is what you get in Washington. But credit on going legal! We do have dispensaries that routinely sell shake. I have never purchased for the reasons you point out.

The first few years in NM were horrible as far as dispensaries go. Now in Albuquerque at least we have top notch shops and %20THC isn't even the super strong stuff. And the last 2 years have seen constant availability of high CBD strains as well.

I'm following this thread with interest to see how states that go from medical to legal are effected.

EDIT:
The discounted bottom of the bin keif and crushed bud that I got wasn't listed for sale at all. I just asked about it. I would watch the web site and when it showed a strain I was interested in as being almost out I would give a call and ask if I could buy left overs at a discount. The boutique shops had no interest. But the warehouse based one I linked above was willing. Might not hurt to try at your end, especially if you have a relationship with any of the worker bees.