Since many states within the USA have legalized cannabis for medical or recreational use, many people who were otherwise deterred by legal consequences are now purchasing cannabis for personal use.
But, just like any other product on the market, it’s essential to know what’s in cannabis before purchasing to ensure that it will be safe to consume.
The following is a guide on what to ask your local budtender to ensure a high-quality cannabis purchase.
Safety
Protocols When Growing Cannabis
Safety protocols are the most critical and overlooked method of ensuring that your cannabis is safe to consume. Ask your local budtender the following to verify what type of precautions are taken to ensure a healthy and safe crop of cannabis:
· Are the fertilizers and soils GMO-free?
· Is it grown in natural light or under a full spectrum lamp?
· What nutrients are used for growth – organic, salts, liquid, or powder?
· Is there water quality testing done before being shipped to your dispensary?
· Do they use pesticides at all in the growing process?
Cannabis
Testing Protocols
Testing cannabis is necessary to determine its potency, strain makeup, and lifespan. These tests are usually done on flowers, but some dispensaries offer testing on their concentrates.
The following are the tests you should request from your local budtender:
· mold/pesticide screening
· potency analysis
· terpene testing
Do
Your Research
Finally, you should check with your local dispensary to see if they are members of a cannabinoid database that tracks consumer reviews of the quality of cannabis products they may offer.
If they aren’t part of a database, you should visit Leafly.com to see how previous consumers rated their experiences with their cannabis products.
By asking your budtender these questions and doing some research on the dispensary or grower before making a purchase, you can be assured that you are consuming a quality and safe product that will meet your needs.