Dispensary

A retail store licensed by a state that has legalized cannabis and that sells cannabis products under a state-legal regulatory (read: highly official, highly taxable) framework. In states with legal medical or adult-use cannabis, a dispensary is the brick-and-mortar location where patients or consumers can purchase cannabis flower, edibles, concentrates, and other derived products.

Cannabis dispensaries are typically subject to strict state and local regulations. For example, medical dispensaries require customers to present a doctor’s recommendation or medical marijuana card, whereas recreational dispensaries check ID to ensure customers are of legal age (21+ in most places— sorry Billy).

Inside a dispensary, products are usually lab-tested and clearly labeled for potency. Trained staff (“budtenders”—presumably because they tend to you, their soon-to-be-bud—don’t fact check that) assist customers with selecting strains or products appropriate for their needs.

Dispensaries differ from illicit market sellers by operating openly, paying taxes (and collecting them from you—thanks for funding pothole repair and park benches, you civic legend), and often providing a safer, more informative purchasing experience. They have become the primary point of access in legalized areas—specialty stores that sometimes resemble boutique shops or pharmacies.

Overall, a cannabis dispensary is to marijuana what a liquor store is to alcohol: a controlled retail outlet for legal sales (that typically has a super buff bro who likes to hang out by the door for some reason).

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