New to weed?
Start here.
The plain-English basics our budtenders wish everyone knew before their first visit — no jargon, no gatekeeping.
THC vs CBD — the two you need to know
THC is the cannabinoid that gets you high. CBD doesn’t — it’s used for calm, recovery and taking the edge off THC. Most products list both; a high-CBD, low-THC product is the gentlest place to start, and a balanced 1:1 ratio is a popular middle ground.
The five ways to consume
- Flower — the classic. Smoked in a joint, pipe or bong. Fast onset (minutes), wears off in 1–2 hours.
- Pre-rolls — flower pre-packed into a cone. Same effect, zero rolling skill required.
- Vapes — carts and disposables. Discreet, fast, and dose-controllable puff by puff.
- Edibles — gummies, chocolate, drinks. Slow onset (30–120 min) but stronger and longer (4–8 hours). Easy to overdo — start low.
- Concentrates — rosin, resin, badder. Very potent, for experienced users with the right gear.
How to dose (the only rule that matters)
Start low, go slow. For edibles, that means 2.5–5 mg of THC and waiting a full two hours before more. For flower or vapes, one or two puffs and wait fifteen minutes. You can always take more; you can’t take less. Read our full edibles dosing guide.
Indica, sativa, hybrid — does it matter?
Less than the labels suggest. The shorthand (indica = relaxing, sativa = energizing) is a decent starting point, but terpenes and dose matter more. Tell your budtender how you want to feel, not which label to grab.
Reading a label
Look for Total THC % (potency), the strain or product type, the packaged-on date (freshness), and the license number (proof it’s legal and lab-tested). Everything on a California dispensary shelf is tested for potency, pesticides and mold — that’s the whole point of buying licensed.
Your first dispensary visit
Bring a valid 21+ photo ID — everyone gets carded. We’re cash only with an ATM on site. Mention it’s your first visit for 28% off, and don’t be shy with the budtender; matching beginners to the right product is literally the job. Walk through it step by step in our first-visit guide.
Questions a guide can’t answer? Come ask a real person — 14903 Sherman Way, Van Nuys, CA 91405, open 8 AM–10 PM daily. First visit 28% off.