How to Choose a Reliable Online Cannabis Dispensary
It seems like online cannabis dispensaries have been popping up everywhere lately but that doesn’t mean they’re all reliable.
To ensure you get quality products and great customer service along the way, you need to look at a few important factors before you buy weed online or purchase anything from an online dispensary.
1. Product Quality
When you’re dealing with something like cannabis, product quality means everything.
Cannabis and hemp-derived products are not FDA evaluated or approved, the safety of these products is entirely in the manufacturers’ hands. For this reason, it’s essential to take sourcing, production, and lab test results seriously.
This is especially important when you buy these products for your health, such as CBD gummies for anxiety, CBD gummies for pain, or anti-stress gummies.
2. Hemp Source
Hemp can absorb toxins from the soil it grows in and the air surrounding it. For this reason, unethical sourcing could lead to pesticides, fertilizers, and other toxins making their way into the extracts.
To limit the margin of error and ensure you’re only using the purest hemp products possible, look for a company that sources organic, non-GMO, and US-grown hemp from reputable farms.
3. Extraction Methods
Except for flower, all THC-infused products are made with cannabinoid extracts. This means that before the cannabinoids have to be extracted from the plant before they are infused into products like potent dab pen, gummies, THC oil, tinctures, THC cartridge, weed cart, or concentrates. There are many extraction methods a company can use.
They generally fall into two categories — solvent-based and solventless extraction:
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Solvent-based extraction methods use chemicals to extract cannabinoids from hemp. These chemicals can make their way into the extract used to make hemp-derived products.
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Solventless methods use things like heat, water, or pressurized CO2 to extract cannabinoids. With solventless extraction, there’s less risk of harmful materials making their way into the products.
If you’re concerned about purity, choose a company that uses solventless extraction. This significantly reduces the potential for leftover chemicals to make their way into your body.
4. Ingredients
Knowing where your products came from and what you’re consuming when you take them is key to the safest experience.
There was a time when people with dietary restrictions or preferences couldn’t enjoy the same THC-infused products as the rest of us. But now, there’s something for everyone.
More companies are beginning to use pectin instead of gelatin in THC gummies, making them vegan-friendly. There are also gluten-free, sugar-free, and low-sugar options available.
With the push for natural and organic products stronger than ever, many companies are opting for natural color and flavoring options over artificial alternatives. Some are even using natural, hemp-derived terpenes for flavor.
Products also come with different cannabinoids, from nonpsychoactive THCA to psychoactive THCs like delta 8, 9, and 10. THCA may not get you high, but when you heat it up, it becomes THC and can get you high.
Delta 8 vs delta 9 differ in the type of high, with delta 8 being less potent and producing a milder high. When it comes to delta 10 vs delta 8, delta 10’s effects are less potent and more energizing, while delta 8 is more calming.
Whatever your needs or preferences are, there’s a product that’s right for you.
5. Third-Party Lab Testing
Any reputable online dispensary will boast about its third-party lab results. But if you’re new to the world of cannabis, you might be wondering what exactly “third-party lab-tested” means.
After a reputable company creates a batch of products, it’ll send them off to an unaffiliated (third-party) lab to undergo unbiased testing.
Third-party lab testing checks for the following:
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Cannabinoid content
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Product quality
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Pesticides, heavy metals, and other toxins
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Compliance with federal law
Once the results come back, the company will typically post each product’s COAs (Certificates of Analysis) on its website. Some companies list them in online product descriptions, while others have a separate page on its website that holds every product’s lab results.
You should only purchase from a dispensary with recent third-party lab results you can easily find on the website. For the highest level of safety and transparency, look for batch-tested results that are less than one year old.
6. Licensing
In states where medical or recreational cannabis is legal, every dispensary that sells marijuana (or hemp products containing more than 0.3% THC by weight) needs to be licensed to do so.
Selecting a dispensary with a valid license not only means it’s a reliable source but will also keep you out of any hot water legally. Before purchasing cannabis products, make sure the dispensary is licensed.
7. Potency
“Potency” refers to a cannabis product’s strength. Low-potency products contain lower amounts of cannabinoids, while high-potency products have a larger concentration.
A beginner would probably be more comfortable with lower-potency products. An experienced user might need something stronger to reach their desired effects.
Whatever your potency needs may be, choose a company that can accommodate them with a wide selection of products.
8. Product Transparency
The final thing to consider is your comfort level with the dispensary you’re considering. The easiest way to tell whether you should trust a company is its level of transparency with customers.
Every product listing on the website should give you the details you need to make a final decision.
Choose an online dispensary that lists all the following information in its product descriptions:
All of the above factors are important, but customer reviews could potentially make or break your decision. It’s one thing for a company to advertise its products in a certain way, but only people who’ve used the products in the past can tell you how they really are.
Legal Considerations: A Look at Federal & State Laws
Online cannabis shopping is relatively uncharted territory. Virtual dispensaries have been around for a few years, but they’re still pretty new in the grand scheme of things. For this reason, a lot of people have questions surrounding their legality.
1. Federal vs. State Legality
There are two types of laws you need to consider before purchasing something from an online dispensary — federal and state.
Federal Law: Under federal law, only hemp-derived products containing less than 0.3% delta 9 THC by weight can be sold legally. Every hemp-derived cannabinoid company we’ve listed above complies with these laws. But before you buy anything, it’s a good idea to check your state laws.
State Law: Many US States have followed the federal standard and kept hemp-derived products containing 0.3% or less THC legal. However, a few have restricted it even further, and some have completely outlawed certain cannabinoids, like delta 8 and delta 9 THC. Knowing both sets of laws is essential — even if you buy something legal by federal standards, you might land yourself in trouble if it’s not legal in your state.
2. Age Policies
Apart from the broad legalities of products containing THC, there are a few other state-specific or dispensary-specific policies to be aware of.
In most states, you need to be 21 or older to purchase products containing THC — online or in person. There are a couple of states with lower age limits for federally-legal products, but they’re few and far between.
When you purchase a THC product online to be shipped to your home, you’ll need to upload a photo of the front and back of your license or state identification. If you’re buying something to be picked up or delivered from a local dispensary, you’ll likely need to show your ID in person, as well.
3. Purchase & Possession Limits
There are also policies in place to prevent people from buying large quantities of cannabis from dispensaries, and then selling it illegally afterward. There are purchase and possession limits in every state where recreational or medical cannabis is legal.
Every state has its own laws regarding purchases. Some limit the amount you can buy each day, while others impose a monthly limit. Legal possession limits also vary widely but usually range from one-half ounce to one ounce.
Range of Products Available in Dispensaries
While some online dispensaries specialize in one type of product or cannabinoid, most of them offer a wide range of products for everyone to enjoy.
Some of the products you’ll find in an online dispensary are:
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Flower
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Edibles
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Concentrates
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Cartridges
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Topicals (like high-grade CBD creams, ointments, and lotions)
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Beverages
The best dispensaries also offer a wide variety of cannabinoids. From psychoactive delta 9 THC to relaxing CBD products, more and more companies are beginning to embrace all the wonderful cannabinoids hemp has to offer.
Whether you’re looking for a low-potency therapeutic tincture or high-potency psychoactive gummies, make sure you can find the cannabinoids, strains, and strengths you need.
Online Dispensary Shipping & Delivery Policies
Shipping and delivery policies vary based on the state you live in and the type of order you’re placing. However, almost all dispensaries ship and deliver in discreet packaging, with no indication of what’s inside.
Here are some of the differences between online-only dispensaries and physical dispensaries that offer delivery services.
Online-Only Dispensaries
Under federal law, hemp-derived products containing 0.3% or less THC by volume can be shipped to states where these types of products are legal.
Most of the companies on our list ship products in discreet packaging for standard shipping costs, with free shipping available on orders over a certain price.
Dispensaries Offering Delivery Services
If you live in a state where cannabis is legal, you may be able to order online from your local dispensary. However, these dispensaries will not ship products across state lines — in fact, most don’t offer shipping at all.
Local dispensaries sometimes offer delivery services. These work similarly to food delivery — you purchase your products online, and then a courier delivers them to your home by the end of the day. To qualify for this type of delivery, you need to live within the delivery radius and show your ID when the employee is at your doorstep.
Online Dispensary Customer Service & Support
Customer service is everything, and the cannabis industry is no different. For the best online shopping experience, it’s essential to choose a dispensary known for stellar customer service.
Depending on which you choose, a dispensary’s customer service channels may include:
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Phone support
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Email support
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Live Chat support
No one anticipates a problem when shopping online, but it’s a good idea to review your options so you know what to expect if an issue arises. Check customer reviews to make sure support is fast and helpful, and get familiar with the dispensary’s return, exchange, and refund policies.
Online Dispensary Pricing & Discounts
Prices can vary significantly based on the dispensary you shop at and the products you’re buying. Some, like Area 52, charge higher prices to make up for the higher costs of clean extraction and premium ingredients. Others make it a point to offer slightly less potent products at prices everyone can afford.
Other Fees to Consider
Like everything you buy online, THC products typically come with some additional fees at checkout.
Taxes: The first thing to consider is taxes. The way THC products are taxed depends on the state you live in, but typically vary from 6% to 11% of the total cost of your order.
Shipping: Another thing to think about is shipping. Most dispensaries ship through USPS and charge somewhere between $5 to $10 for shipping. However, many dispensaries also offer free standard shipping if your order is over a certain price.
How to Save When Shopping at Online Dispensaries
If you find a product you love but are a little hesitant about the price, don’t worry. There are plenty of ways to get premium products without spending an arm and a leg!
Some ways to save while shopping at an online dispensary include:
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Look for coupon codes. Many dispensaries give discounts to first-time buyers or people who sign up for their email newsletters.
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Check for promotions. Online dispensaries sometimes offer discounts seasonally or during the holidays.
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Join a loyalty program. Quite a few dispensaries have loyalty programs where customers earn points toward discounted products with every order.
Frequently Asked Questions: Online Dispensaries
Do you still have questions about using an online dispensary?
The frequently asked questions below may have the answers you’re looking for:
1. Is it Legal to Buy Cannabis Online from Another State?
You can purchase hemp-derived products that contain 0.3% or less THC online and have them shipped to your state, as long as they’re legal where you live.
However, anything that falls under the legal definition of “marijuana” (cannabis-derived products or hemp-derived products containing more than 0.3% THC) cannot cross state lines.
If you’re traveling in a state where marijuana is legal, you can order marijuana from a local dispensary, then pick it up or have a courier deliver it to where you’re staying. But you can’t take it with you when it’s time to go home.
2. What Should I Look for When Choosing an Online Dispensary?
The online dispensary you choose should have a wide variety of products to fit all your needs. Check the COAs and customer reviews before you make a final decision, and make sure the products can be shipped to your state.
3. Can I Return Cannabis Products if I’m Not Satisfied?
Local dispensaries in states where marijuana is legal do not allow returns due to regulatory restrictions. Some online dispensaries that sell hemp-derived products do offer returns and refunds, but policies vary.
Always check a dispensary’s return policy before making a purchase.
4. How Do I Know if an Online Dispensary is Legitimate?
A legitimate, reputable online dispensary will always be licensed to operate in the state it’s based in. It’ll also make third-party lab test results available to customers and offer secure checkout.
All of the companies included on our list are legitimate and reputable. But if you’re shopping elsewhere and have any doubts about the dispensary’s reputation, look for verified online reviews. The best companies always have hundreds of positive reviews about their products, customer support, and shipping.
5. Are There Any Restrictions on the Types of Cannabis Products I Can Order Online?
Under federal law, only hemp-derived products containing 0.3% or less THC by weight can be shipped to you. If you’re placing an online order for pickup or courier delivery, any restrictions will depend on the state in which you live.
6. How Many Days Does Shipping Usually Take For Online Cannabis Orders?
Shipping for online cannabis orders usually takes between three to seven business days for hemp-derived products. Expedited shipping options may be available for faster delivery, typically within three days for an added fee.
For local dispensaries offering same-day delivery, orders can usually arrive within two hours, depending on product availability and current demand.
7. Do online dispensaries deliver the product confidentially?
Yes, most online dispensaries use discreet packaging for shipments, so the contents are not revealed. This helps to protect your privacy throughout the delivery process.
8.What Is The Method Of Payment In Online Cannabis Dispensaries?
Online cannabis dispensaries commonly accept credit and debit card payments, and some also offer bank transfers and cryptocurrency. However, due to federal banking restrictions on cannabis sales, dispensaries selling products with THC levels above the federal limit may only accept cash. In these cases, you would need to pay in cash either when picking up your order or upon delivery.
9. Can I Track The Status Of My Cannabis Delivery Once It’s Shipped?
Yes, since online dispensaries use shipping services such USPS, UPS, and FedEx, you’ll receive tracking information via email once your order is shipped.
10. Are There Minimum Purchase Limits for Online Cannabis Orders?
Most dispensaries that ship products have no minimum purchase amount, but they frequently require a minimum order for free shipping. Local dispensaries, particularly those that provide same-day delivery, may have minimums for online orders.
