The question I hear most at my job is something along the lines of, “I mean, do you really like your job?” And, it usually comes from a woman between 60 and 80 years old who is wearing bedazzled jeans and refuses to even smell the flower we have on display. After I was asked this several times, I took a moment to really think about my truthful answer. I work over 40 hours a week, with little to no breaks throughout my day. I deal with complaints about ridiculous things and at least once a weeks someone calls me a b*%$# for not accepting their drivers license with void punched into it.... Read More

This week I was criticized by a reader for not offering a true “confession” like the title of this blog suggests. Alright I have a reader! The thing is though, there is not much to expose about being a budtender. There are no secrets that need uncovering, no whistleblowing that needs doing, and no oppressive leader that needs toppling. I am not an investigative journalist up here to call out the weed industry for their abuses of power, I am just a dude who works in a weed shop. “Breaking News! Nobody likes strains that are low in THC, more on this story next week”. I like to make fun of... Read More

The art of being a budtender is making customers feel comfortable and excited about purchasing cannabis. There are many elements that dispensaries provide to make these emotions happen: flowering house plants, relaxing music, local artwork, a shop dog, and much more. The one element that is out of the dispensary’s hands is how customers interact with their staff and the other patrons. With emotions flying, I can understand how you can get carried away or find yourself in your own world. Whether it’s your first time or you are a veteran shopper, consider the following elements that you bring... Read More

As the budtender, I get in a lot of conversations about why cannabis should be legal. One common argument made is that cannabis should be legal because alcohol is legal. To start with, marijuana should not be legal just because another thing is legal. Marijuana, oops I mean cannabis, should be legal because it is a benefit for humans. We all understand why this argument gets made though, alcohol and cannabis are both substances that get you a little impaired and can affect your judgment. In our society, they are two of our social norms for changing the mindset and relaxing, but they are very different... Read More

Senior citizens have become the fastest growing group of cannabis consumers since 2009. The federal government made cannabis illegal in 1937. For most their lives our parents have only known this unprocessed plant to be off limits. However, the times they-are-a-changing. Walk into any cannabis shop and many friendly faces in there will resemble your parents. Cannabis is practically made to accommodate and improve the quality of life for those advancing in age, so give it a try. Unfortunately, to start, I am going to have to see their identification. Colorado has an odd compliance law that makes... Read More

High five to you, Colorado! So many wonderful things have happened in our first year of recreational cannabis sales. By the time April 20th, 2014 rolled up, our state had collected over $10,000,000 in taxes from recreational cannabis sales. Crime rates have gone down and there is a whole new job market which has exceeded the number of law enforcement officers–statewide. Sorry, Nebraska and Oklahoma, I think we’re here to stay. I’m sure you’re all familiar with the dusty town of Lyons. With their 25 mile per hour speed zones and classically cow painted dairy bar, how could... Read More

I would like to start off my first assignment with a kind suggestion, be polite to your budtender. You never know, it might make that bag a little heavier. We are nice people, we have similar interests as you, we are stoked to live in Colorado, and we have a cool job so finding us in a good mood is common. We work in an industry where our customers bring in tons of positive energy and are happy to spend their money, where else do you find that? We enjoy talking to new people about the subtle differences in cannabis, the possibilities of cannabidiol (CBD), and we would love for you to ask every... Read More

Recently we had our new Attorney General tell us that “good people don’t smoke weed”. That was an ignorant statement made by the man put in charge of this country’s legal affairs and law enforcement. Are you one of these “people”? I am! But…I am a law-abiding citizen, I pay my taxes, I am friendly with my neighbors, and I do not cut people off in traffic, intentionally. I thought I was a pretty decent guy? Half of this country has already updated their laws to legalize marijuana for medicinal or recreational purposes. According to two Gallup polls from 2016, over sixty percent of... Read More

Do you want to be a better budtender? Then go to Amsterdam. Working in the industry in America with knowledge of the old world is priceless and it can be a good way to reconnect with cannabis if you are a long-time budtender. After a time, so much weed goes through your hands that it can start to become just another commodity. It is easy to get in a rut, and it is easy to forget how much you love this plant when you find yourself cranking it out daily at work. Visiting the city can provide a memorable and immersive learning experience that can provoke imagination, introduce unknown subject matter,... Read More

A few weeks ago, I wrote a blog regarding the differences between addiction and dependence. I published it on social media and received some negative comments. That is what people on social media like to do but it got me thinking. They were accusing me of talking the talk but not walking the walk. In the article, I mentioned how quitting weed was not very hard for me and I do it every now and then just to be able to continue to prove that to myself. I thought I had offered a pretty decent article and I was encouraging anyone who did not think they could quit to just try it, to breathe, to drink... Read More

Well, it is that time of year again. It has been on everyone’s minds for the last few weeks. Nobody is sure what to expect but they all know it will be good. Ski season has ended, summer is on the horizon, and our annual April event is about to kick off. Vin Diesel and his buddies are back at it with another installment in the Fast and the Furious film franchise. Hahaha just kidding. Happy 420 everyone! I must say though, the correlation between the rise in April 20th celebrations and the comeback of Vin Diesel is an interesting connection that should not go unnoticed. If you work in the weed... Read More

It is quite overwhelming to visit a cannabis dispensary for the first time. Most cannabis enthusiasts have not seen fifteen different options for weed in one place before. There is a little sensory overload happening and more often than not they are stumped as to what to try, or even look at, first. I typically start with describing the main differences in the cannabis plant itself. Sativa, indica and hybrid are what we have. The classifications of indica and sativa have been around since the 18th century. The farther away a cannabis plant naturally grows from the equator the more indica it will... Read More

One question I get from customers on a daily basis is, “what has the highest THC?” That question bothers me because nobody buys other things based on the highest potency offered. People do not go to the liquor store every time and ask for Everclear. By only looking at the options for the highest in THC customers limit themselves to very few products, and just because something has the highest THC does not necessarily make it the best option. Cannabis has different levels of potency throughout its life. When a plant is harvested, it can have one level of potency. Then, it can have another potency... Read More

The best way to enjoy any weed shop experience is to have an open mind, ask questions, and bring cash. People are not all created equal when it comes to the effects of this stuff. Even the most experienced cannabis user should heed the advice of the budtender who is helping them. It is like those old heads say, this stuff is way stronger than it used to be. Listen to the recommendations of your friendly budtender, they are there to help. Speaking with a budtender can save you hours of research on the internet and can be valuable for someone who is new to cannabis. You probably know the feeling... Read More