For some, the hundreds of products on a dispensary menu can signal the start of a great adventure. For others, the vibe might be more like, “Help! Where do I start?” If that’s you, we’ll show you the way. Start by choosing your ideal cannabis strain — that’s the focus of this guide on how to pick weed at a dispensary.
Which Cannabis Products Are Available at Midnight Greens?
At Midnight Greens, we offer cannabis flower, pre-rolls, vapes, edibles (including beverages!), concentrates, tinctures, topicals, and accessories. With every product type, well-crafted fun is in store — learn more via our guide on how to buy from a dispensary.
The Art of Strain Selection
Each cannabis strain, a.k.a. cultivar, boasts signature traits that signal whether it’s right for you. Keep reading to learn how cannabis strains differ, how to choose one, how much tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) potency matters, and how to know flower is fresh.
What Makes Strains Different from One Another?
There are thousands of cannabis strains, and each one has its own genetic makeup that determines your product’s aroma, flavor, and potential effects. Super Lemon Haze products will probably shape your day (or night!) differently than Black Cherry Gelato goodies.
Any cultivar will likely differ from another in at least one of the following traits:
- Aroma
- Flavor
- Likely effects
- Average cannabinoid and terpene content
- Classification, if it’s a sativa, indica, or hybrid
- Lineage — if a hybrid, which strains the plant descends from
For example, Lemon Cherry Gelato (different from Black Cherry Gelato!) is derived from the White Cherry and Gelato strains, and Lemon Cherry Gelato may lead to joyful, euphoric relaxation. Apple Fritter, by comparison, comes from Sour Apple and Animal Cookies flower and may lean giggly and tingly.
Busting The Sativa, Indica, and Hybrid Myth
You may have heard that sativa cultivars are uplifting, indicas are sedating, and hybrids are somewhere in between. That’s old lore from before the legal cannabis market opened up, and it’s time to look past that labeling.
The terms sativa, indica, and hybrid describe the physical characteristics of the plant. Sativas are taller and skinnier, indicas are shorter and bushier, and hybrids — which are the result of combining two or more strains — can show the physical traits of any of its “parents.” This is called a phenotype. How the plant looks is not how the plant makes you feel. The chemical makeup that shapes your experience is called a genotype.
To fully understand your cannabis experience, pay attention to its genotype. Know what compounds it contains and in which percentages, and you’ll have a much better sense of the experience you may have with the flower you want to buy.
What to Look for When Selecting a Strain
If you’re a big-time connoisseur, you might be on the hunt for unusual flavors or legendary lineage. But for most folks, a cultivar’s cannabinoids, terpenes, and potential effects are most important. Consider:
- Likely effects. Choose a cultivar that people say helps with sleep if you’ve been restless at night. Choose a different cultivar if you’re seeking energizing effects. You’ll also find cultivars associated with boosting mood, sharpening focus, inspiring creativity, relaxing the body, clearing the mind, and making you all chatty and social. Most cultivars bring on several of these effects!
- THC content. Often expressed as a percentage, a cultivar’s average THC content tells you how much of this cannabinoid is present by weight. For strains at cannabis dispensaries, the average THC percentage is 15% to 30%, but you’ll also see lower and higher percentages.
- The presence of other cannabinoids. Some cultivars contain significant enough amounts of minor cannabinoids like cannabidiol (CBD), cannabigerol (CBG), and/or cannabinol (CBN) to potentially shape your experience. These cannabinoids influence your experience. For example, CBN may contribute to drowsy effects, and CBD is believed to soften THC’s most intense edges. Keep in mind that minor cannabinoids appear in much smaller amounts than THC. In fact, if your flower contains 0.5% or 1% of these minor cannabinoids, that’s considered significant.
- Terpene profile. Like cannabinoids, terpenes occur naturally in the cannabis plant. Their percentage rarely exceeds 1% by weight, but even at small amounts, they may shape your experience. For example, linalool may have relaxing effects. Importantly, they also determine a cultivar’s flavor and aroma.
- Flavor and aroma. Some strains smell and taste like classic cannabis: skunky, diesel-like, pungent. Others sparkle with fruity or tart notes, hints of earth and pine, or floral softness. Occasionally, a cultivar will have especially rare flavors and aromas, attracting devoted cannabis aficionados in particular.
- Genetic lineage. A cultivar’s genetic lineage tells you what cultivars were cross-bred to yield that strain. This information may offer a clue into the effects of the strain you’re buying.
Does THC Potency Matter?
Yes, THC potency matters, but flower with higher THC percentages does not mean that you will feel “higher.” That’s a common misconception — and you may miss out on your new favorite products if you solely focus on high THC. Flower at 25% THC will have similar heady effects as flower containing 33% THC, so be sure to read the full label instead of beelining for just one factor.
Elevated THC content jumps when you go from flower and prerolls to vapes or concentrates, which may contain anywhere from 60% to 90% THC. If you have high tolerance or need higher THC to achieve your cannabis goals, concentrates and vapes may be the best option.
How Do I Know My Flower Is Fresh?
To confirm that your flower is fresh, look at its harvest date, packaging date, and expiration date, all of which are on its packaging.
On the harvest date, the cannabis plant’s cannabinoid and terpene levels were at their maximum. These compounds slowly begin to degrade after harvest. Generally, the older your flower, the less fragrant, flavorful, and potentially potent it may be.
As for the expiration date, that’s exactly what you think it is. Check the packages in your stash for an expiration date. If you’re getting close to it, it’s worth closely inspecting the flower inside them. Check to see if the flower is overly dry, if the smell is duller than usual, or if you see any outright signs of spoilage, like mold, mildew, or discoloration. That’s a sign that it’s time to get more cannabis from Midnight Greens.
Selecting Your Strain: Let Your Mood Be the Guide
To choose the perfect strain for your needs, define your needs, think about your previous cannabis experience (or lack thereof), and use a few handy additional resources.
Know How You Want to Feel
If you’re drawn to cannabis for potential stress relief, you may want to consider only cultivars associated with relaxation. If you’re seeking daytime stress relief in particular, too-relaxing strains may go against your needs.
Consider the following:
- Relaxing, sleep-friendly cultivars are often high in myrcene, caryophyllene, or linalool (or two or three of these terpenes).
- Energizing, inspiring cultivars may lean lower in THC content, and they often contain the terpenes limonene and pinene.
- To help manage discomfort, you may fare well with strains rich in caryophyllene or with elevated levels of CBD.
- If you’re trying to be the life of the party, choose a cultivar with lower THC content and plenty of limonene.
- You may break down the barrier between a fuzzy brain and a sharper mind with a cultivar high in pinene. If you get easily distracted or stressed when trying to focus, consider cultivars with low THC content.
Remember: Everyone’s experience with cannabis is different. These guidelines are simply that; they are a place to start as you find the cultivar that works best for you. It’s completely normal if your experience goes against the grain. This is why exploration is so important in finding your perfect match.
Consider Your Tolerance and Familiarity with Cannabis
For newcomers, the golden rule of “start low and go slow” reigns paramount. Consume a very small amount at first, then only consume more after your product’s onset time has passed. That’s at least 15 minutes for inhaled cannabis.
Finalize Your Decision
Read through the product description on the Midnight Greens menu. Get a sense of cannabinoid and terpene content, as well as information about the strain itself.
If you still need help deciding, ask a Midnight Greens budtender which strains might suit your needs. We welcome you no matter where you’re at with cannabis, affirming your goals and experience (including if you don’t yet have any!) while guiding you in the right direction.
Flower vs. Pre-Rolls: Which Is Best for You?
Whole flower is the dried and cured buds of a harvested cannabis plant. You’ll grind it before adding it to a pipe or joint. Pre-rolls, by comparison, comprise already-ground flower inside an already-rolled joint.
The cultivar matters big-time for flower and pre-rolls alike. But where flower requires you to keep cannabis accessories on hand, pre-rolls are ready to smoke right out of the packaging. Where pre-rolls are exceptionally convenient, you may prefer flower if you want to buy large amounts of cannabis. Plus, if you’re buying a strain for the first time, a pre-roll is a great way to try something new without committing to a large amount of product.
Find Your New Favorite Strain at Midnight Greens
Shop cannabis at Midnight Greens (go Birds!) for help from affirming, friendly budtenders as you compare strains. We want you to fully experience this powerful plant’s vibe-enhancing, confidence-boosting power. Visit us in Washington Township (just off the Atlantic City Expressway), whether you’re newly venturing into cannabis, a passionate connoisseur, or somewhere in between!
