Massachusetts Dispensaries | Navigating a MA Dispensary Menu

Located off of 495 in Lowell, MA, Smyth Cannabis Co. is the has the best recreational dispensary menu around Andover, Ayer, Billerica, Burlington, Chelmsford, Nashua, Dracut, Groton, Haverhill, Lawrence, Littleton, Lowell, North Andover, North Reading, Reading, Stoneham, Tewksbury, Tyngsborough, Wakefield, Westford, Wilmington, Woburn and the surrounding towns.

Categories

The first thing to do when navigating an MA dispensary menu is to pick a category. Overall, most dispensaries in MA have roughly the same category breakdown:

• Flower — Whole marijuana nuggets that have been dried and cured, ready for you to grind up and smoke
• Pre-Rolls — Ready-to-smoke joints and blunts available as singles or in packs
• Vaporizers — Concentrated cannabis products to be heated up and inhaled through a vaporizer pen
• Concentrates — Extracted terpenes and cannabinoids that can be consumed in a number of ways
• Edibles — Cannabis products that you eat or drink
• Tinctures — Often beneath the “edibles” category, these cannabis products are absorbed under the tongue instead of eaten, allowing them to bypass the liver.
• Topicals — Cannabis products that are applied directly to the skin
• Accessories — Non-cannabis products including lighters, pipes and other smoking equipment

Choosing a category is very straightforward if you already have an idea of how you’re looking to consume your cannabis (smoking it, eating it, rubbing it on your skin, etc.). Additionally, categories are broken down further into more specific, sub-categories:

Flower

• Pre-Ground

Pre-Rolls

• Joints
• Blunts
• Singles
• Multi-Packs

Vaporizors

• Cartridges
• Disposables

Concentrates

• Wax
• Kief
• Crumble
• Sugar
• Hash
• Badder

Edibles

• Chocolates
• Gummies
• Baked Goods
• Drinks
• Capsules / Tablets
• Chews
• Lozenges

Tinctures

• Topicals
• Salves
• Creams & Lotions
• Oils & Serums
• Sprays
• Bath Bombs/Salts, Etc.
• Transdermal Patches

Accessories

• Rolling Trays
• Rolling Papers
• One Hitters
• Grinders
• Dab Accessories
• Lighters
• Vape Pens / Batteries
• Glass
  • Pipes
  • Bongs
  • Bowls

Strain Types | MA Dispensary

There are three (or sometimes four) main strain types listed on any given MA dispensary menu. In short, you can pick a strain type based on the desired effects you are looking for.

The first one is indica. Indicas are known for their calming and relaxing effects. Just think of “in da couch.” For example, they’re known to slow you down more than sativa strains and are often used to help consumers sleep.

Next, there is sativa. Are you looking for a head-rush high that will leave you feeling energized, focused and productive? Then we recommend choosing a sativa. Sativas are known for their uplifting and energizing effects. They are associated with more of a “head high” than indica strains.

A hybrid strain is one that has been bred from both an indica and a sativa. As a result, it gives you the best of both worlds. Hybrids are very rarely perfect 50/50 splits and generally produce effects that lean towards either indica or sativa.

Massachusetts MA dispensaries might also list High CBD as another strain type on their menus. High CBD strains are mostly used for medicinal purposes, although their bodily effects can be beneficial to recreational consumers, as well.

Further, you can better understand a strain’s effects by looking more in depth at the cannabinoids and terpenes its contains. But for beginners, the indica/sativa/hybrid model is a quick and easy way to get a basic idea of how a strain will affect you.

Potency & Percentages

Several different percentages are used to describe cannabis products. In general, these percentages give better insight as to how potent or “strong” the product is.

• TAC (Total Active Cannabinoids) — To put it simply, TAC represents the concentration, per gram, of all ingredients of the product that have the ability to produce drug-like effects. This even includes those that are not psychoactive.
• CBD (Cannabidiol) — This active cannabinoid does not get you “high” but instead yields a calming medicinal effect on the body. A higher concentration of CBD is associated with more of a relaxing “body high.”
• THC (Tetrahydrocannabinol) — This is the cannabinoid responsible for making you feel high. Usually, the higher in THC your product is, the faster and more intensely you will feel the “head high” and other effects. Inexperienced consumers should work their way up gradually before using products very high in THC, to avoid unpleasant side effects like nausea and anxiety.

In conclusion, the goal here is to find a good balance so you can feel good and enjoy the cannabis without getting too high for your comfort level.

Strains  Massachusetts Dispensaries

Certainly, most Massachusetts dispensaries boast a variety of strains on their menu. There are some universally well-known strains you might recognize, and oftentimes for good reasons.  In addition, there will be several other strains that you will be seeing for the first time. As listed above, strain type and potency are going to be the main factors in helping you choose one that’s right for you.

On the other hand, more experienced consumers may begin to take notice of a strain’s terpene profile. Terpenes are naturally occurring organic compounds found in plants, including cannabis. Unlike cannabinoids, terpenes do not directly contribute to making you feel “high.” However, some terpenes are still considered to be psychoactive because of how they affect your brain. The entourage effect is the theory that terpenes affect the experience of your high. To sum it up, it works like aromatherapy. Scents from different plant-based essential oils can impact a person’s mood. So while they may not directly be responsible for making you feel “high,” they still certainly play a role in the effects you feel from THC.

Pricing

While MA dispensary base prices are usually much lower than you would expect, you might still find yourself “sticker shocked” at the register. Usually, potency is the main factor that Massachusetts dispensaries take into consideration when determining their prices. For example, higher potency products tend to cost more money. However, sometimes you can luck out and find competitive pricing on products that are nearing their expiration date, or may have failed their first round of lab testing.

Next, it is important to note that special sales, deals and other promotions do not apply towards recreational cannabis products. This includes customer rewards and loyalty programs. It is illegal for all Massachusetts dispensaries to offer any happy hours, coupons, BOGO deals or coupons for marijuana sales. Any money off you are given may only be used towards merchandise and accessories.

Lastly, expect to pay about 20% of your recreational marijuana purchase price in taxes. In addition to the standard 6.25% Massachusetts sales tax, there is also a marijuana tax of 10.75%, plus a local tax of up to 3% that varies based on city. On the other hand, medical weed sales are tax exempt because taxes do not apply to medicines in MA.

Top Rated MA Dispensary | Smyth Cannabis Co.

Conveniently located right off of 495 in Lowell, Smyth Cannabis Co. offers the highest quality cannabis flower, pre-rolls, edibles, concentrates and more. Above all, our friendly budtenders go out of their way to help all customers find products they love at industry-leading prices. Additionally, we carry a rotating selection of our premium cannabis products, along with products from other local brands. Parking is available for free onsite. Visit Smyth Cannabis Co. in Lowell today!