MICHIGAN—I’ve been buying weed in Michigan since the first day it was legal. In the years since, I’ve shopped at more than 100 dispensaries and spent several thousand dollars doing it.
Some of that was research; I’ve been a journalist in Michigan for more than 15 years. But the rest was just me feeding my favorite hobby and hoping someone pays me to write about it.
Along the way, I’ve learned a few things—most of them the hard way. I’m sharing those lessons now to help other Michigan stoners get the most weed (and the best weed) for their money.
1. Terpenes matter more than THC percentages.
If you take one thing away from this list, take this one:
That big THC number on the label is the most overrated statistic in cannabis.
What actually shapes your experience—the flavor, the aroma, and the character of the high—is the terpene profile. Two strains at the same THC percentage can feel like completely different drugs depending on their terpenes. Once you start shopping with your nose instead of chasing the highest number on the shelf, your whole relationship with weed will improve. Learn a few terpene names, seek them out, figure out which ones you like, and let them be your guide.
It’s worth noting: Not only is THC percentage overrated, the number itself is often juiced. The market rewards high numbers and there’s a well-documented incentive for labs to inflate them.
2. Always check the harvest date.
Dispensaries are filled with old weed. Don’t let them sell it to you.
Anything more than six or seven months off the harvest date on the package is going to be much drier, harsher, and flatter than it was in its prime. Always check the date on the label. And when you’re browsing an online menu, sort by “recently added” to find the freshest drops.
3. Ask about the first-timer discount.
Every time you walk into a new dispensary, ask if they’ve got a deal for first-time customers. A lot of them do. And they’re often steep discounts—sometimes half off your whole order.
And here’s the part nobody tells you: Even when the store doesn’t have a formal deal for first-timers, budtenders will usually toss you a free pre-roll or a little something just for asking.
4. Cheap weed is usually bad weed.
Michigan has the lowest cannabis prices in the country, and the race to the bottom has created some truly disgusting weed. If your local dispensary is advertising the cheapest cannabis in town, you can bet it’s also the worst cannabis in town. Always skip the $30 ounces.
But it’s worth noting: pricey weed isn’t always good weed, either.
In my experience, the sweet spot is usually somewhere on the middle shelf, where Michigan brands like Glacier and Society C tend to outperform stuff that sells for twice the price.
5. Browse the online menu before you go.
Do your shopping from the couch. Nearly every Michigan dispensary posts a menu online. And if you just walk in, you’ll probably be directed to a kiosk that shows the same menu anyway.
That said, don’t be too committed to your online cart. Stay flexible once you’re inside the store. Ask the budtender for recommendations. Check out the harvest dates in person. And be willing to blow up your whole order if you find a better deal or a fresher, more highly reviewed product.
6. Branding isn’t everything.
I’ll admit: I’m a sucker for good packaging.
It’s talked me into more forgettable weed than I’d like to remember.
But a fancy glass jar and a slick logo tell you exactly nothing about the weed inside. Some of the best cannabis I’ve ever bought came in a plain plastic bag; some of the worst came dressed up like a luxury good. Gimmicks can be fun. Just don’t let them do your thinking for you.
7. Sign up for the loyalty program.
Almost every dispensary runs some kind of rewards program. Most of the time they just want your email address. And when you don’t sign up, you’re leaving free weed on the table.
If you shop anywhere with any regularity, join the program. You’ll often get points that stack into free products or discounts, as well as recurring emails about fresh deals and new strains. Even if you send them straight to your spam folder, the savings are usually worth it.
8. Tip your budtender.
Just do it.
These folks are on their feet all day, they know the menu better than you do, and a good one will help steer you toward the best products. A tip is just good manners. And the karma tends to come back around in the form of honest recommendations and the occasional freebie.
9. The best shop isn’t always the convenient one.
Some of my favorite dispensaries in the state are small, family-run operations an hour from anywhere—the kind of places that put real care into a tiny harvest and sell out fast.
The nearest shop is obviously the most convenient. But convenience and quality aren’t the same thing. If you find a dispensary doing things right, it’s usually worth the extra drive.
10. Find your brands and build a roster.
After enough trial and error, the real payoff is a reliable lineup—a handful of brands you can trust across a few different price points. Find a top-shelf splurge for special occasions, a dependable mid-shelf for the weekend, and an everyday driver for the work week.
Once you’ve built that roster, shopping stops being a gamble and starts being a routine. Plus, consistently supporting your favorite companies is the best way to ensure they stay in business.
READ MORE: 6 quick hits of cannabis news from across Michigan
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