Recreational Cannabis Shopping Tips From Our Farmhands

The best recreational cannabis shopping tips come down to four habits: buy from a licensed dispensary, check the lab results, shop by terpenes and aroma instead of the THC number, and learn to spot flower that has been sprayed to smell better than it is. For our first Farmers Choice blog entry, we'll walk through each one the way Farmhands explain it at the counter.

With the recreational cannabis industry emerging in New York, consumers coming in from the traditional market often have questions as to how legal cannabis works, what's safe to consume, and how to best spend their money. These are the things Farmhands feel are important for all consumers to know.

Start at a licensed dispensary

New York licenses adult-use dispensaries through the Office of Cannabis Management, and licensed stores post a New York State Licensed Cannabis Dispensary decal on or near the main entrance. New York City's Health Department warns that unlicensed shops have no regulated quality control, and that products from them have been found with inaccurate labels.

Every tip below assumes you are shopping a licensed shelf, like ours in New Paltz and Fishkill, because that is where products come with lab results you can actually check.

Check the Certificate of Analysis (COA)

Products on a licensed New York shelf are lab tested, and the Certificate of Analysis is the report that shows what is in the product and whether it passed screening for contaminants like mold, pesticides and residual solvents. Most packaging prints a QR code or batch number that links to the COA, so scan it before you buy, or ask a Farmhand to pull it up. Our guide to reading a COA walks through every line of the report.

Does THC % matter?

For years consumers have been under the impression that THC percentage is the go-to number for what will get you the best high. But as the years have progressed, more studies have been done on the chemical compounds that derive from cannabis. It turns out THC percentage doesn't play as big of a role as people once thought.

Just because one eighth tests lower in THC than the jar next to it doesn't mean it will feel weaker. A strong terpene profile backing it up can carry the weight, and if anything, it'll be a more enjoyable experience.

How terpenes shape your experience

Terpenes are the aromatic compounds that give each strain its smell and taste, and together with flavonoids and cannabinoids they shape how a strain feels, an idea known as the entourage effect. That is why two jars with the same THC number can feel nothing alike, and why Farmhands tell people to prioritize the terpene profile when shopping for flower or concentrates. Our terpenes guide covers the common ones and what they smell like.

Shop by terpenes, not by hype

The major takeaway we'd like you to get from this entire blog is that shopping by THC percent is not an efficient way to choose, especially when a lesser-known jar with a stronger terpene profile can be sitting right next to the most heavily marketed brand.

What are sprayed terpenes (spray packs)?

Terpenes occur naturally in all different kinds of plants; these are known as botanical terpenes. Botanical terpenes are not to be mistaken with ones deriving from cannabis, known as CDT (cannabis-derived terpenes).

Botanical terpenes, just like cannabis-derived ones, can be extracted from the plants they're found in. They're then processed into a sprayable aromatic compound, which unfortunately may end up on your eighth, all in hopes of fooling you that what you've purchased is top-shelf.

How to know if your flower is sprayed

Because spraying terps is a way to cut corners on low-grade flower, it's almost never advertised. The first way to quickly identify sprayed flower is to check the ingredient list, if one is provided on the packaging. Not all packaging lists ingredients, so a key way to identify spray is by your sense of smell.

It's entirely possible for your newly acquired strain to smell or taste like a blueberry muffin or a piece of bubblegum, but if you notice a strain smells nearly identical to its name or advertised taste, then the possibility of that product being sprayed comes into question.

Your nose is your best friend when shopping for cannabis. As the market continues to evolve worldwide, new flavor profiles and aromas emerge from skillful growers. Luckily, Farmhands do their best to stay up to date with the evolving cannabis scene, and will continue to do so to provide our customers with the best products New York has to offer.

Always ask your Farmhand

Here at Farmers Choice, our Farmhands are knowledgeable about the New York recreational market and can answer most, if not all, questions you might have, including pulling up the lab results for anything on the shelf.

Your budtender should always know the specifics about a product. Before deciding on your next re-up, Ask Our Team what's worth trying in this fast-evolving industry, at either counter or after a look through the New Paltz menu.

Stay safe and smoke clean, Farmhand Jordan