Say it’s your first time setting foot in a dispensary (or perhaps your second or third), among the wide variety of cannabis brands and products, how do you know where to start? First, start by taking a deep breath. The world of cannabis can seem overwhelming from an outside perspective, but there are numerous convenient resources to help you find the perfect item – especially at Fire & Flower.
At the dispensary, a budtender or cannista will help with any questions you may have about products. When shopping for cannabis products online, you can check ratings and reviews.
You can also start right here, with our helpful guide below.
Weed Brands & Differences in Cannabis Products
Pre-Rolls
Pre-rolls are one of the best options for those new to cannabis as they do not take much preparation or complex instruction to use. You simply light the end without a tip and gently inhale on the other. Hold the smoke in your lungs for a moment then exhale. There are typically a lot of options for pre-rolls across different strains and potency levels. However, for those new to smoking, it can be a little more intense than other consumption methods.
- Ease of use, immediate effects, wide variety
- Smoked, less smooth than other methods
Flower
Dried cannabis flower is the most traditional cannabis preparation. It can be smoked in a pipe, rolled up in a joint or blunt, or vaporized in a flower vaporizer. Dried flower will need some preparation before it can be enjoyed, in that it is best when ground up to allow for even burning. It will also require one of the delivery methods mentioned above. If you’re going with flower your first time around, ensure that you have access to a grinder. Many cannabis brands offer milled flower as an option as well, which has been pre-ground for you. When it comes to cannabis flower, you can’t beat a classic, but if you don’t have a way to consume it, there’s no real point. However, you could also use it to make edibles, so this one really is a jack of all trades.
- Classic, versatile, wide variety
- Requires additional tools, smoked or vaped
Vapes
Vapes are the easiest “modern” cannabis preparation you can try, and the easiest method to try cannabis concentrates. Many don’t even require you to push a button. To use a vape, simply put the vape tip in your mouth and inhale, similar to sucking from a straw. If there is a button, you push the button first, then do the same. However, vapes contain cannabis concentrate, which is much more potent than cannabis flower. The ease of delivery can sometimes make you not realise how much you’ve had. If you opt for vapes, just be extra conscientious to not overconsume. Vapes have a very different taste and feel compared to flower and edibles, and some consider it a different experience altogether.
- Easiest inhaled consumption method, immediate effects, potent, variety
- Different feel than flower and edibles, difficult to dose for new consumers
Edibles
Edibles let you enjoy cannabis without the hassle of inhaling harsh smoke or vapour. Edibles are the preferred favourite of many newer cannabis consumers, simply because they find smoking unappealing or unenjoyable. You may have never smoked anything in your life, but everyone is familiar with eating food.
Edibles last much longer than inhaled cannabis, and the edible experience is overall more potent. Whether this is a pro or con to you will depend on what you’re looking for. However, some people report that edibles simply don’t work for them at all (but this is the rare exception). Finally, though edibles last longer, they also take longer to start working. If you want to increase the potency, you’ll have to wait and see how things are going, and in doing so, it can be difficult to accurately dose. For most, 5mg to 10mg is a standard serving. Regardless of your consumption level, always follow the advice, “start low, and go slow.” Give edibles 45 minutes to 1.5 hours to fully let the effect come on before considering consuming more.
Thankfully edibles come in a wide range of potency and preparations that can allow you to find your perfect portion. They are also the most discreet.
- Long-lasting, easy to consume, convenient, discreet
- Difficult to dose, long onset
Beverages
Cannabis beverages are a newer entry into the world of cannabis preparations, and contain some of the most modern infusion methods possible. THC does not naturally dissolve in liquid, and must undergo special preparation methods to work in this unique way. Much like edibles, cannabis beverages tend to last longer than inhaled methods (3-4 hours), though they have the benefit of a shorter onset time (20-45 minutes). Some folks don’t find them as effective as other cannabis preparations, but they are one of the fastest growing popular items for a reason. They are generally convenient, effective, and balance the properties of other cannabis preparations.
- Convenient, effective, faster than edibles
- Slower than inhaled cannabis, shorter duration than edibles
Topicals
Topicals do not create a high experience, and are instead enjoyed for their effects on your skin and muscles. Cannabis needs to make it into your bloodstream to get you high, and is not able to do that through topicals. Though they will absorb into your skin, the cannabinoids inside do not make it into the bloodstream. Instead, they stay localized to where they were applied, thus making topicals ideal for targeting a specific area of the body. Consider these more akin to a beauty or skin care product. Topicals come in both CBD and THC varieties, and often a combination of both.
- Non-psychoactive (won’t get you high), intended for skin and muscles
- Long-lasting, site-specific applications
Concentrates
Concentrates are perhaps not the ideal product for new consumers, but still have their own unique attractive attributes. No plant matter is combusted, thus the flavours and aromas of the cannabis can be more prominently experienced, and when vaped at lower temperatures, are much smoother than any other inhaled cannabis products.
True to their name, concentrates are concentrated, so their potency is much higher than other cannabis products. A very little amount can go a long way. This extreme efficiency is appealing to a lot of consumers, as you can get the effects of a whole joint in a single dab. However, consuming concentrates will take more equipment than other cannabis products, such as a wax pen, dab rig or e-rig. Using a traditional dab rig is one of the most involved methods of consuming cannabis; it’s recommended you take some time walking before you try to run.
Despite their slightly higher complexity, sometimes you just want a potent product, and cannabis concentrates provide exactly that. Regardless of your familiarity with cannabis, slow and low is still the way to go.
- Efficient, potent, flavourful
- Most complicated, highest potency
What Should I Try First?
In order to determine what to try, think about what sort of experience you’re looking to have. Cannabis products can produce a wide range of effects, some of which don’t get you “high” at all. If you’re unsure what to try, start by thinking about what kind of experience you’re looking to have. Once you have an idea, you can move on to some details.
The many cannabis preparations can be divided among a few key factors:
- Potency – Cannabis produces its many effects from a group of compounds on the plant known as cannabinoids. The most famous among these cannabinoids is THC, the compound that is primarily responsible for the “high” feeling. The potency of a cannabis product is measured by the amount of THC it contains. Modern cannabis products are available in a wide range of potency levels, from less than a percent all the way up to 99% potency.
*A Note About CBD: THC isn’t the only cannabinoid that imparts effects, there are other cannabinoids, such as CBD, which do not create a high, but still impart different properties. Products with a significant amount of CBD typically do not contain high levels of THC, and most are considered low potency. Many cannabis products contain almost no THC, and are mainly CBD. Those looking to have the lightest effects from their cannabis often select CBD-rich products with low THC levels. Those looking for a more potent experience generally aim for higher THC levels. As with anything, there are subtleties beyond these factors, but this is a good place to start. There are other cannabinoids in cannabis, such as CBN, THCV, and CBG, but start by focusing on CBD and THC first before getting into these more minor and rare cannabinoids. - Onset and Duration – How quickly do you want the effects to come on, and how long do you want them to last? Flower, vapes, edibles and beverages will all have different amounts of these two factors.
Consuming cannabis via flower or vape cartridge will have immediate effects and last around 2 hours. Edibles tend to take 45 minutes to 1.5 hours to take effect, but tend to last longer, about 4-5 hours. Beverages tend to fall somewhere between the two, taking effect between 20 minutes to an 1 hour, and last between 3-4 hours, similar to a traditional edible, but slightly shorter. Beyond these general guidelines, there are some specialty products designed to have a unique onset or duration period, such as fast-acting edibles made with special infusion methods.
When selecting a product, ask yourself, how long you would like the experience to last, and how quickly you are looking for it to begin. - Consumption Method – How would you feel most comfortable consuming the cannabis product? As mentioned above, the type of cannabis product is often tied to the duration that the product lasts, but give some consideration to your experience eating or smoking the product. Maybe smoking sounds too harsh and vaping sounds better, or neither is your vibe and you’d prefer a beverage or edible. You’ll have a more enjoyable time if you’re comfortable.
Sativa, Indica and Hybrids
Cannabis has traditionally fallen into two categories, known as sativa and indica, each with its own distinct characteristics. They even look different when they are grown. Sativas are characterised as providing a more stimulating, cerebral high, whereas indicas are associated with a more mellow, body-focused relaxed sensation.
Beyond these two basic types are cannabis plants with hybrid genetics from each strain. The vast majority of modern cannabis strains are some amount of hybrid, but it still helps to know the general difference. Many hybrids are not a 50/50 split, but lean in one direction or the other. Knowing this distinction can help you select what products you’re looking for.
Choosing the Right Strain
There are thousands of different strains and cultivars of cannabis, and typically more than a dozen or so to choose from at a time. How do you know which one to get?
Ask your budtender (or cannista) about the strains on the menu, and a little bit about what to expect from each one you’re interested in. It can help to know a little about your own tastes, such as a preference for more fruit-forward aromas or tasting notes versus piney, or gas-like. A sampling of different strains can help you refine what you enjoy, and what to look for in the future.
Ask for Help
Whenever you’re shopping at a Fire & Flower dispensary, remember that you can ask your helpful cannista for input. They will know more about the cannabis brands and their many offerings. We expect new consumers (and even seasoned ones) to have questions. We want you to have an enjoyable shopping experience, and that involves understanding the products. You’re not expected to know everything, so if you don’t know what to get, remember you can always ask for help selecting a product.
Check Reviews
You can also check customer reviews when shopping on Fire & Flower. Many others have already experienced the product, and have reported back on what it was like as a first-time customer, the quality, or how enjoyable it was. If you’re curious about a product, it can be helpful to look it up on our website to learn more about it, including what others thought about it.
Cheap Weed in Canada: Check Deals
Finding the perfect item for you may take a little trial and error, and if that’s the case, you don’t want to break the bank doing research. Finding cheap cannabis in Canada is a breeze when you know where to look. Fire & Flower offers Spark Perks member deals, and has low prices every day to maximize any budget. If you’re unsure what to get, use member prices and deals to sample a variety of products. You might enjoy them all!
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you choose the right cannabis?
Consider the experience you’re looking to have, then your personal tastes and preferences, and go from there. Is price a factor in your decision, or are you looking only for top quality? There are no right or wrong cannabis options, just the right ones for you. Working with your budtender or cannista is a good way to go about using your personal tastes to choose the right cannabis.
How do you choose what cannabis strain to smoke?
Everyone has different preferences when it comes to cannabis strains. Consider what you like, and look for strains with those attributes. If you’re unsure, ask whomever is helping you at the dispensary to point you in the right direction, check online reviews, and try a sampling of different strains.
Are Edibles Popular in Canada?
Yes, edibles are very popular across Canada – especially for beginner consumers. Offering longer high durations and often heightened effects, edibles are great for discreet consumption and a way to enjoy cannabis without combustion.