CANNABIS EXPLAINER
Reading a Dispensary Menu
Modern dispensary menus give you more product information than ever before.
CANNABIS EXPLAINER
Modern dispensary menus give you more product information than ever before.
Most dispensaries maintain online menus through platforms like Weedmaps, Leafly, or their own websites. Online menus allow you to browse inventory, compare prices, and often include terpene data and customer reviews before you visit. In-store menus may be displayed on digital boards or tablets. Prices and availability can change daily, so check menus close to your planned visit time. Many dispensaries offer online ordering with in-store or curbside pickup.
A typical dispensary listing shows: product name (strain + product type), brand, THC%, CBD%, price, and weight. Example: "Blue Dream | Flower | 22% THC | 0.1% CBD | $12/g." Some listings add terpene data, effect descriptors, flavor notes, and rating scores. "Lab tested" badges or COA links indicate third-party verification. Listings that lack COA information or show unusually high THC percentages without documentation should be approached cautiously.
When comparing similar products, look at: total cannabinoid content (not just THC), terpene profile if available, price per gram of THC (total mg THC divided by price = value per mg), brand reputation, and freshness (look for harvest or packaged-on dates). Two products with the same THC percentage may offer very different experiences due to their terpene profiles. Budget and effect goals should guide your selection over novelty or marketing.
Understanding a dispensary menu is essential for making informed cannabis choices. Dispensary menus organize products into key categories: flower (raw cannabis buds sold by the gram or eighth), pre-rolls (pre-packaged joints), concentrates (wax, shatter, live resin, rosin — high-potency extracts), vape cartridges (oil-filled cartridges for vape pens), edibles (infused foods and beverages), tinctures (liquid extracts taken sublingually), and topicals (creams and lotions for localized effect).
Each product listing typically shows: the strain name (or "house blend"), THC percentage (for potency), CBD percentage (for balance), terpene profile (for flavor and effect), price per unit, and sometimes a flavor or effect descriptor. Indica-dominant products typically appear on the menu with a "I" or purple color coding, sativa with "S" or yellow, and hybrids with "H" or green. When in doubt, ask your budtender — they are trained to guide your selection based on your goals and experience level.