Colorado Medical Marijuana Dispensaries

Colorado citizens voted to pass Amendment 20 in 2000 opening the door for an influx of new legal medical marijuana dispensaries. Over the past several years, the Colorado medical marijuana industry has become the fastest growing industry in the state. It was reported in 2010 that the number of Denver dispensaries has grown to outnumber the number of Starbucks in the city.

With this overwhelming number of new cannabis dispensaries opening across the state, it’s hard to know where to start. So if you have your Colorado medical marijuana registry card and you’re wondering how to find the best Colorado dispensaries, then keep reading for some handy tips…

The first step in locating a new medical marijuana dispensary is to identify all the dispensaries that are in close proximity to your location. Google maps is a great tool for this task because it will actually overlay location markers if you do a search for something like “Denver Dispensary”.

Once you have a list of a few dispensaries in your area, you can start researching each by doing another Google search for their specific name and keywords. So search for something like “Denver dispensary review” or just “the best Denver dispensaries” and you should get you the appropriate results. I recommend using the research from these results to further refine your list down to about 3 of the more interesting dispensaries.

You’ve done the proper research and read the reviews, now it’s time to visit these top 3 medical marijuana dispensaries to see for yourself. One thing to keep in mind is that since this market is still so young there really isn’t an industry standard when it comes to how individual Colorado cannabis dispensaries operate. What this means for your is that every Colorado dispensary that you visit will be a unique experience!

While most Colorado medicinal marijuana dispensaries do not require appointments to access the medicine viewing rooms, it’s probably a good idea to call ahead and see if there is going to be a wait to be seen. When making your personal assessment of a new Colorado cannabis dispensary, there are a few things you will want to pay close attention to on your initial visit.

Your first impression will usually be the waiting room area where you will need to provide your Colorado medical marijuana registry card to the person at the counter. After that, you will either be immediately taken to the bud room or you will have to wait until your called back. Wait times are generally very short, often only taking a few minutes. I’ve found many Denver dispensaries have no wait at all during none peak times.

The most important part of evaluating a new medical marijuana dispensary in Colorado is your experience in the bud viewing room. For many people, their first time walking into this room can be overwhelming. With row after row of glass jars packed with the finest Colorado grown medicinal cannabis, patients just don’t know where to begin.

Well, here’s my tips for dealing with this initial experience. Start with the best. Ask to see the A grade, top shelf, red dot or whatever they call their best cannabis strains. This will immediately give you an idea of the best that they have to offer. Also, don’t overlook the lower grades of bud…sometimes you can find the best value for your dollar here.

Also be sure to take note of their pricing structure. This can be a major determining factor when choosing a primary caregiver for the long run. Most Denver dispensaries offer separate pricing structures for members and nonmembers, so be sure to ask each for specific details.

After visiting a few places you will start to see how the general decor and atmosphere of Colorado cannabis dispensaries can widely vary place to place. Some dispensaries present a stark clinical environment that’s similar to a doctor’s office while others will feel more like you’re walking into a friend’s comfortable house. Whatever your preference, there’s a Colorado medical marijuana dispensary that’s right for you.

This article is not an endorsement for marijuana use. Cannabis is still a drug but it is extremely helpful in treating many people with various aliments. The medical marijuana world is rapidly changing so I strongly recommend reading the official Rules and Regulations for Medicinal use of Marijuana from the Colorado Department of Health before making any decisions regarding the medicinal use of cannabis. In the end the best decisions are informed decisions, so be sure to do thorough research on any topic involving your health before acting.