Adult-Use Visit
Chances are that you’ve been to a medical cannabis dispensary; you understand the process and experience. Now, imagine you’re in a state that allows recreational dispensaries. Picture yourself walking into Health for Life for an adult-use experience. How different could it be?

Entering the Dispensary
At first glance, it seems all the same. You walk in, there is a lobby and front desk where you check in, and then you are called back to the medicine room once it is your turn. The difference here is what the front desk may be checking for. With medical, there is a certification or patient card that must be verified. With recreational, they simply must ensure that you are of age – at least 21 with the appropriate proof of age. This is typically a state issued ID or US government issued passport.

Shopping
Choosing your products is not a world of difference. Dispensaries have online menus that you can browse ahead of time, and even place orders on. If you would rather shop in person, the budtenders can help answer any questions you may have about the variety of products offered. One of the biggest differences is the types of products that are available to medical and recreational customers. Certain products are reserved for medical patients only. Typically, these are products such as higher dose edibles, RSO and capsules, or even stronger flower. This allows somebody that NEEDS the products to have first access over somebody that WANTS the products.

Paying
Unfortunately, even with cannabis being recreationally legal on a state level, payment is still tricky if you’re looking to use anything other than cash. Across America, cannabis is still federally illegal, which leaves banks unable to partake in any capacity. Therefore, credit cards still cannot be accepted. There are many work-around methods, such as ATMs or CanPay. The largest difference in the two sides of a dispensary is the tax that is applied. In Arizona, recreational cannabis tax is 16% on top of the 5.5% sales tax of AZ. Medical cannabis only pays the 5.5% sales tax – making it a cheaper option, if you have a choice. At the end of the day, the simplest option is to just have cash – cash is always king!

Overall, the adult-use experience may not be the most different from medical – it only is a few fine details. Both sides of Health for Life offer excellent experiences, with one-on-one interactions with a budtender. Regardless, it is a day to celebrate any day that we have legal, safe access, to cannabis – medical or recreational!

Find a dispensary near you today!