Dispensary Deets

Eddy Keegan and Joe Pakuris, COO
and CEO of Mother Earth Wellness, at their Pawtucket dispensary. Photography by Angel Tucker

If the last time you bought weed was from a guy named Buddha in the eighties (sorry Mom!), the thought of going to an adult-use dispensary might be a little daunting: What’s inside? Will people laugh at me because I’m a newbie? What in the world is a dab rig?

But the reality is quite the opposite: The ones I visited for researching this article were bright, airy and welcoming, with friendly budtenders and staff members ready to answer questions. (And they won’t laugh when you call it pot, although anyone else under the age of thirty might.) 

Greenleaf Compassion above and inset, was one of the state’s first medical marijuana dispensaries, opening in Portsmouth in 2009. Photography by Angel Tucker

Here are five things to know about visiting an adult-use dispensary. 

1. Bring an ID.

Most places will have you sign in and check your ID at the door to make sure you’re twenty-one or older. 

2. Ask questions!

You’ll see friendly faces walking around the store and behind the counters (in hybrid dispensaries, there are usually separate counters for adult-use and medical consumers). Those are “budtenders,” employees with a wealth of information about the store’s offerings, different cannabis strains, THC levels, accessories and other products. Whether you want to chill, laugh, unwind or sleep better, these folks will know what to recommend.  

Greenleaf Compassion Center. Photography by Angel Tucker

3. Take your time.

Most dispensaries have beautiful displays of local, handcrafted edibles, flower and pre-rolls, concentrates, tinctures, topicals and accessories. You can often inspect and smell the flower before you buy: Mother Earth Wellness in Pawtucket has a standalone “Flower Bar” where you can check out dozens of creatively named varieties like “Animal Gas,” “Wedding Pie,” “Super Orange Soda” and “Gorilla Breath.” Many also have high-tech menus and iPads where you can read more about the products before you buy. 

4. Bring cash. 

Because cannabis is still illegal at the federal level, many big banks and credit unions are wary of getting involved with the cannabis industry. Most dispensaries have an ATM or two on-site for this reason. 

5. Be courteous. 

Just like any other retail outlet, dispensaries can have times that are busier than others. A lot of folks tend to stop by Mother Earth Wellness after work and on the weekends. “If you stick around for a few hours, we’ll have a line out the door,” says Liam Bolger, Mother Earth Wellness’ administrative and compliance director. “It’s definitely a nighttime and weekend thing.”