Are you eager to grab hold of some cannabis to relieve your chronic pain? If it’s of any consolation to you, you’re not alone.
Research shows that more than 25 million adults in the United States suffer from chronic pain.
Fortunately, quality cannabis can help you to live a more pain-free life. Unfortunately, making a single mistake when buying cannabis online may prevent you from obtaining the right cannabis for your needs. You also need to know how to manage your cannabis once you receive it.
Here’s a rundown on 11 common cannabis buyer mistakes and how to avoid them.
Let’s dig in!
1. Top Cannabis Buyer Mistakes Include Not Buying from a Legitimate Retailer
One of the most common mistakes people make when buying cannabis is not purchasing their products from a verified retailer.
Before you order from a cannabis dispensary website, make certain that the company you’re ordering from is an authorized and licensed retailer. An example of one of these retailers is Zen Leaf Cannabis Dispensary.
If you purchase cannabis from an unauthorized or unlicensed retailer, you may end up buying low-quality or counterfeit products. You might also be inadvertently violating the law.
So, to avoid getting into legal trouble or wasting your money on subpar products, always check your desired retailer’s authenticity.
2. Not Looking at Details About the Cannabis Products
Another common cannabis buyer mistake is to overlook details about various cannabis products.
Before buying cannabis, carefully read the description of the product. In addition, closely examine the photos listed with the product.
This will help to ensure that you’re getting the strain of cannabis, or variety of cannabis, you want. This is important because various strains can affect the mind and body in different ways. That’s because each strain has its own concentration of CBD, THC, and other compounds (more on strains later).
THC and CBD are both chemicals called cannanbinoids. However, they interact with different brain receptors. As a result, CBD doesn’t produce a high, whereas THC does produce one.
By checking the cannabis product details, you can also make certain that you’re getting the right type of cannabis (e.g., edibles, oil, flower). This is critical because different product types have different dosages and strengths.
Studying the details about a certain cannabis product can also help you to determine its quality. For instance, you might learn how the cannabis was packaged, processed, and grown. If you can’t tell that attention and care went into the cannabis’s production, you may want to find another product or retailer.
3. Not Checking the Reviews of Other Customers
Yet another commonly made cannabis purchasing mistake is not reading online customer reviews about the product you wish to buy.
Customer reviews will paint you a picture of how high quality the products you’re eyeing are. The reviews will also give you insights into the retailer’s customer service quality.
Through reviews, you can identify possible retailer or product issues.
For instance, several customers may report that a certain product isn’t as potent as advertised. Others might complain about a retailer’s slow shipping. If you notice these red flags, you might want to choose another retailer with a more positive customer satisfaction rating overall.
Keep in mind, though, that not every customer review is reliable. After all, some might be biased or fake. For this reason, you should read reviews on several sites including third-party sites, forums, and the retailer’s site.
Also, pay close attention to how many reviews a product has received. Products with high ratings and several reviews will likely be more reliable compared with those with small numbers of reviews.
4. Not Doing Cannabis Retailer Price Comparisons
Comparing cannabis prices is also a must as you look into purchasing cannabis online.
Don’t make the mistake of picking a retailer without first determining if they have the best deals. You may end up paying more for your cannabis than you should.
At the same time, note that a lower price on a cannabis product might indicate a lower-quality product. So, as we mentioned earlier, be sure to check the customer reviews and product details before buying a discounted product.
As a general rule of thumb, it’s best to stick with a more expensive product that has great customer reviews versus a cheaper product with no or few reviews.
Also, be sure to calculate your total order cost, not just the cost of the cannabis. For instance, factor in handling and shipping fees.
This is important because some retailers might offer complementary shipping but charge higher cannabis prices. Meanwhile, other retailers’ products might be cheaper, but the shipping fees might be higher.
5. Not Providing Verification of Your Age
Another common cannabis buyer mistake is not providing verification of your age when you visit an online retailer’s website.
Every online cannabis retailer is legally obligated to verify their customers’ ages. This is necessary to ensure that their customers are legally old enough to buy cannabis before going shopping. After all, cannabis may negatively impact the growing brains of minors.
Some online cannabis retailers might require you to submit your driver’s license or ID to prove your age. Meanwhile, others might use software to verify your age. Still others may request that you input your birthdate.
Never provide fake age-related information or use somebody else’s ID when purchasing cannabis, as this is illegal. If you illegally buy cannabis online, this may result in a fine or time behind bars.
6. Not Understanding Shipping and Payment Options
Not paying attention to a cannabis product’s shipping and payment options before you decide to buy it is another common cannabis purchasing faux pas.
Various retailers offer different delivery, shipping, and payment methods. For this reason, you should become familiar with each prospective retailer’s policies. Then, choose the retailer whose policies best align with your preferences.
For example, when it comes to payments, some retailers will allow you to buy cannabis with a credit card or e-transfer. However, on some sites, you might be limited when it comes to how much you can purchase or spend.
As far as delivery goes, some retailers offer next-day or same-day delivery. Meanwhile, others might take longer to deliver their cannabis to you.
If you would like your cannabis order to be sent to you discreetly, ask if this is possible as well.
Also, note that retailers sometimes won’t ship cannabis to certain countries or areas. So, double-check your chosen retailer’s shipping policies to verify that they will, in fact, deliver to you. If so, you can confidently place an order with them.
7. Not Understanding Territorial Regulations
Cannabis regulations vary by region and country, so be sure to check the laws in your area before you buy.
Even though cannabis is legal in many nations today, the regulations and laws regarding its sale, possession, and use can vary drastically between territories and provinces.
As an example, some territories and provides might have strict possession limits. Meanwhile, others might be stricter with regard to the distribution and sale of cannabis.
Personal possession limits govern how much cannabis you can legally have with you at a given time.
Some regions and countries have stringent possession limits. For instance, you might be limited to carrying only a handful of grams of cannabis in these areas. However, other areas may allow you to carry much larger amounts.
Also, possession limits might vary based on your chosen cannabis product, like oil or flower.
If you exceed limits for personal cannabis possession, you may be fined or imprisoned. So, be sure to remain within your area’s limit by not over-purchasing cannabis from your chosen retailer.
Keep in mind that some territories or provinces might also have extra regulations governing the delivery of cannabis to customers’ homes. For instance, you might have to present your ID before receiving your package at home.
It’s paramount that you understand your area’s cannabis-related regulations before buying and using this product there.
8. Not Storing Your Cannabis Properly
After you receive your cannabis product, it’s vital that you store it properly. Not doing this — a common cannabis buyer mistake — will only ruin your product’s quality.
As soon as you receive your cannabis order, you’ll want to store the product in a dry, dark, and cool place. Keep the cannabis away from humidity, heat, and light.
Also, to prevent moldy or dried-out cannabis flowers, use bags that are vacuum sealed or Mason jars for storage.
Cannabis concentrates or oil should also be stored in airtight containers, preferably in cool places. This will keep the cannabis from degrading and losing its strength.
Make sure that your cannabis products also remain out of your pets’ or children’s reach when looking for a place to store them.
9. Not Doing Research on Cannabis Strains
We mentioned earlier that different cannabis strains have different quantities of CBD, THC, and other compounds. You need to know which strains’ compounds will affect your mind and body in a desirable way for you.
For instance, some strains might relax your body, whereas others will energize you. In addition, some are ideal for treating specific health conditions, like chronic pain and anxiety. This information should ideally be spelled out on the website of the retailer you plan to order from.
Also, the more you learn about specific strains, the easier it will be for you to choose the right cannabis consumption method for your needs. These methods range from smoking to eating and vaporizing. You’ll also be able to choose the proper dosage.
10. Not Holding on to Proof of Your Purchase
Yet another common mistake made when purchasing cannabis is deleting or throwing away the proof of the purchase.
Always keep a copy (or two) of your cannabis order confirmation and shipping details. If you’re given other documents concerning your purchase, hold on to these as well. All of this can come in handy should issues crop up later.
Let’s say the cannabis you ordered ends up being damaged or lost during shipping. You can use your receipt to file an order claim so that you can get your money back. You might need to file this claim with the cannabis shipping company or the retailer.
Also, perhaps you have an issue with your cannabis product’s quality. Your receipt will likely be needed to ask for a replacement or refund from the seller.
Proofs of purchase can also be helpful if you ever have concerns or questions about the products you purchase. For instance, these receipts may provide critical details about the products and even their expiration dates.
11. Not Reading the Refund or Return Policy
Finally, don’t make the mistake of not reading a retailer’s refund or return policy before you order from them.
When you order cannabis, you expect to receive a quality product. Unfortunately, if you order from the wrong retailer, you may end up being dissatisfied.
Retailers have their own policies for refunds or returns. These include time limits for returns, restocking fees, and specific conditions for returns. In addition, some retailers won’t take back opened or perishable items.
Retailers sometimes won’t issue refunds or accept returns for edibles or cannabis flowers. That’s because doing this may violate safety and health regulations.
Make sure that you comb through your desired retailer’s return policy before ordering from them so that you understand your options and rights in the event you’re not happy with your order.
Again, you should triple-check customer reviews regarding various cannabis products to increase your chances of choosing products that will meet your expectations.
Purchase Cannabis Products with Confidence Today
The top cannabis buyer mistakes made today include not doing price comparisons of different cannabis products. Other mistakes include not checking customer reviews for certain products, as well as not reading the return policy.
Consider all of the above-listed cannabis purchasing mistakes before deciding on the perfect product for your needs. With the right purchase, you can be well on your way to living a healthier, happier life.
Also, if you enjoyed reading this article, check out the rest of our website for more great content.
