Walking into a cannabis dispensary for the first time can feel a little intimidating.
What do I need to bring? What am I supposed to ask for? What’s the difference between all of these products? Am I going to sound like an idiot if I don’t know what a terpene is?
First, relax. You’re not going to sound like an idiot.
At SPARK Minnesota, we built our dispensary with one pretty simple idea in mind: buying cannabis shouldn’t be uncomfortable, confusing or intimidating. Whether you’ve been around cannabis for years or you’ve never set foot inside a dispensary before, you should feel welcome asking questions and taking your time.
So, if you’re planning your first visit to a Minnesota cannabis dispensary, here’s what you can expect when you walk through the doors at SPARK.
First Things First: You Need to Be 21 or Older
Minnesota adult-use cannabis is for adults age 21 and older, and cannabis retailers are required to verify age.
That means you’ll need a valid form of identification when you visit us. Minnesota law permits several forms of ID, including a valid driver’s license or state identification card containing your photograph and date of birth, Tribal identification cards and valid passports.
And yes, we’re going to check it.
Every customer. Every visit.
It isn’t because we don’t remember you. It’s because it’s part of operating a responsible cannabis dispensary in Minnesota, and it’s something we take seriously.
What Happens When You Walk Into SPARK?
Hopefully, the first thing you’ll notice is that SPARK doesn’t feel intimidating.
If this is your first time visiting a Minnesota cannabis dispensary, there’s no expectation that you already know the terminology or exactly what you want. In fact, plenty of people don’t.
Maybe you’re curious about cannabis flower but don’t know the difference between strains. Maybe you’ve heard about pre-rolls and want something convenient. Maybe you’re more familiar with THC gummies or beverages and want to understand how dispensary products compare.
That’s exactly what our team is there for.
Tell us as much or as little as you know, and we’ll help you navigate the options.
You can say something as simple as:
“I’m new to this. Where should I start?”
Trust us, we’ve heard harder questions.
You Don’t Need to Know Cannabis Lingo
Cannabis has its own language, and sometimes it seems like somebody keeps adding new words to it just to keep things interesting.
Indica. Sativa. Hybrid. Terpenes. Cannabinoids. Live resin. Distillate. Concentrate. THC percentages.
You absolutely do not need to understand all of that before visiting a dispensary.
Our job isn’t to quiz you. Our job is to help explain the differences in normal English so you can make an informed decision about what you’re purchasing.
If you already know exactly what you’re looking for, great. If your entire cannabis vocabulary currently consists of “gummy” and “weed,” that’s also perfectly fine.
What Can You Buy at a Minnesota Cannabis Dispensary?
One of the biggest differences between Minnesota’s newer adult-use cannabis dispensaries and the lower-potency hemp products Minnesotans have become familiar with over the last several years is the variety of cannabis products available.
At SPARK Minnesota, shoppers can explore several different cannabis categories, including:
Cannabis flower: The traditional cannabis product. Flower is available in different strains, potencies and profiles.
Pre-rolls: Cannabis flower that has already been rolled and is ready to use. They’re convenient for anyone who doesn’t want to grind and roll flower themselves.
Vapes: Cannabis vape products offer another consumption format and can vary quite a bit depending on the product, extract and formulation.
Edibles: Cannabis-infused products that are consumed rather than smoked or vaped. Edibles can take longer to produce noticeable effects, so understanding serving size and giving them time to work is especially important.
Concentrates: More concentrated forms of cannabis intended for consumers familiar with the products and the ways they’re used.
If you aren’t sure which category makes sense for you, ask us. That’s one of the reasons we’re here.
Don’t Choose Cannabis Based Only on the Highest THC Number
This is one of the biggest misconceptions we see with cannabis.
A higher THC percentage doesn’t automatically mean a product is “better.”
Think of THC percentage as one piece of information, not the entire story.
Different cannabis cultivars can have different cannabinoid profiles, terpene profiles, aromas and characteristics. Individual experiences with cannabis can also vary significantly from person to person.
That’s why we encourage customers to look beyond the biggest number printed on the label.
Talk with one of our budtenders about what you’re looking for, what you’ve tried before and what type of product interests you. They can help explain the options available without pretending there’s one perfect product for everybody.
Because there isn’t.
What’s a Budtender?
You’ll hear this term quite a bit around cannabis dispensaries.
A budtender is essentially your guide to the store.
They’re the people who can help explain products, answer questions, talk through different strains and formats and help you better understand what’s on the shelf.
A good budtender shouldn’t tell you what you “need.” They should listen to what you’re looking for, give you useful information and help you make your own decision.
That’s what we want our team at SPARK to do.
There are no stupid questions. Seriously.
Cannabis is a new legal marketplace in Minnesota, and everybody is learning something.
Can I Browse Before I Come In?
Absolutely.
If you’d rather get a feel for what’s available before coming into the store, you can browse the SPARK Minnesota menu online.
This can be especially helpful for first-time dispensary shoppers because you can look through different product categories, brands, strains and prices without feeling rushed.
Browsing the menu before visiting a Minnesota cannabis dispensary can also make that first trip feel a little easier.
Then, when you arrive, you can ask us about anything that caught your attention.
Or you can completely ignore everything you looked at online, walk through the door and say, “OK, help me.”
We’re good with that too.
A Few Things We Want First-Time Cannabis Customers to Know
Probably the biggest one is this:
Start slow.
Cannabis affects everyone differently. That’s especially important to remember with edible cannabis products, which can take considerably longer to produce noticeable effects than inhaled cannabis.
Read the product label. Pay attention to serving sizes. Give a product time before deciding you need more.
Also, don’t drive after consuming cannabis. Minnesota’s Office of Cannabis Management specifically advises consumers not to drive or operate heavy machinery after using cannabis.
And if there are children in your home, keep cannabis products securely stored and out of their reach.
Common sense goes a long way.
Why We Opened SPARK Minnesota
For us, SPARK is about more than simply putting cannabis products on shelves.
We’ve spent years serving customers here in Central Minnesota, and we’ve learned that people appreciate being able to walk into a local business, ask an honest question and get an honest answer.
Our goal is to make your experience at a Minnesota cannabis dispensary simple, comfortable and welcoming from the minute you walk in. That’s the kind of cannabis dispensary we want SPARK to be.
Friendly. Clean. Local. Knowledgeable.
No pressure. No judgment. No pretending you should already know everything.
Minnesota’s adult-use cannabis industry is brand new, and there are going to be a lot of people walking into a recreational cannabis dispensary for the first time over the next few years.
We think that’s pretty exciting.
Visit SPARK Minnesota in Milaca
If you’re looking for a cannabis dispensary in Milaca or anywhere in Central Minnesota, we’d love to have you stop in and check us out.
SPARK Minnesota is located at:
205 Central Ave. N.
Milaca, MN 56353
Come in, look around, meet our team and ask questions.
Whether you know exactly what you want or you’re starting at square one, we’ll help you figure it out.
After all, your first trip to a dispensary really shouldn’t be that complicated.
Just don’t forget your ID.
