Cannabis has become a normal part of daily life for so many people these days. Popping a quick edible before an event or smoking a joint outside is no longer as taboo as it once was. But not everyone is an expert on the plant.
If you’re interested in trying legal cannabis for the first time, you’re in the right place. Entering a dispensary for the first time can be confusing and overwhelming, no matter how relaxed you feel about it.
We often recommend stopping by our Niagara Falls dispensary with a friend for the first time. But if you’re alone, you can make new friends. Our budtenders are here to help you out.
For your first New York dispensary visit, you’ll likely want to know more than just the technical effects of the products in front of you. So we’ve put together a guide on real-world experience factors like discretion, price, variety, and more. Rather than focus on the medical and scientific literature, this will serve as a practical shopping guide to help you get exactly what you need.
What First-Timers Should Think About Before Choosing a Product
When shopping for cannabis, the first thing you’ll likely hear is that you need to figure out the mood or vibe you want to experience. That, paired with your level of cannabis experience or comfort, can help you land on a good starting product.
Each product format has its own set of characteristics and effects. Whether you’re trying pre-rolls, flower, edibles, tinctures, vapes, or other varieties, you should familiarize yourself with the expected effects and experience.
For example, if you’re someone who is comfortable with smoking or vaping, you might gravitate toward pre-rolls and vapes. But if you’ve never been big on smoking or want to avoid it, you’ll probably want to try edibles, tinctures, or other smoke-free options.
Other considerations include taste and smell. If you want a flavor-forward experience, you may want to reach for gummies or chocolates, which mask the earthy flavor of cannabis. If you’re comfortable with your space smelling like weed, then you can use flower, pre-rolls, and vapes with no issue. But if you want something a little more discreet, you’ll want to reach for edibles, tinctures, or even some less-obvious vape options.
It’s also important to figure out how you want to consume your cannabis. Will you be doing so alone or with friends? Deciding this will help you determine if you want portable, convenient options over more versatile, intentional varieties.
As for dosage, you’ll want to decide between pacing yourself with fast-acting drinks, pre-rolls, or vapes. With these, you can adjust how much you consume by evaluating the effects every 15 minutes or so. Or, you can opt to stick to a precise dose, as with edibles or tinctures.
Overwhelmed? Don’t worry. We’ll walk you through your options.
Flower: The classic beginner cannabis product
When you hear someone refer to flower, they mean the dried cannabis buds used to smoke. You can grind them up and point them in joints, bongs, pipes, or even dry herb vaporizers.
Flower is a favorite for many first-time users because it’s a traditional way of consuming the plant. For many, it feels like the most authentic way to connect.
Many of our Niagara Falls recreational dispensary customers have actually smoked weed in the past, but haven’t yet tried legal cannabis. They want to give it a try in a more legitimate setting. In these cases, we love to recommend flower because it allows these customers to provide immediate feedback compared with their past experiences. Plus, most people who haven’t tried cannabis since its legalization are shocked by the wide variety of strains and aromas in store.
There are lots of options to choose from when selecting flower. If you find yourself overwhelmed, our budtenders can help. In general, the main differentiators are flavor–ranging from citrusy and fruity notes to earthy and skunky varieties. The strength of the aroma is important too, with stronger odors lending to less discreet experiences. Texture is important too. Flower can range from super sticky to super dry, with many varieties in between. The ritual you plan to engage in can play a big role in your purchasing decision, too. For some, grinding, packing, and lighting all feel more intentional than just picking up a pre-roll. Others prefer the convenience of a pre-rolled item. Of course, the social factor matters, too. If you plan to share with friends, choosing a product that can be easily shared is a good move.
To help you make a more informed decision, we’ve laid out some deciding factors:
You might like flower if:
- You want a full sensory experience
- You are comfortable with cannabis smell lingering
- You prefer fast feedback and control over your experience
You might prefer a different option than flower if:
- You struggle with the mechanics of smoking
- You don’t want cannabis smell lingering on you or your environment
- You prefer a flavor-forward consumption experience
Edibles: The tasty, discreet option
Another classic option that’s evolved over time, edibles have been around since the dawn of pot brownies. Today, you can step into any dispensary in western New York and get your hands on gummies, chocolates, mints, drinks, baked goods, and other delights.
First time users like edibles for their familiar format. Everyone knows how to eat and drink, after all. Most edibles feel similar to enjoying a piece of candy or chocolate from your bag of Halloween goodies.
Plus, edibles are discreet and portable. They require no inhalation, which means no obvious cannabis smell. Cannabis beverages feel similar to enjoying an alcoholic beverage. You can sip and feel the effects quickly before deciding if you want to enjoy some more or put it back in the fridge. This makes them a great option for cautious users who want to be careful about their first-time experience.
You might like edibles if:
- You don’t want to inhale anything
- You prefer sweet flavors
- You value discretion and simplicity
- You don’t require immediate effects
You might prefer a different option than edibles if:
- You’re impatient. Edibles have a delayed onset. You should start low and go slow before consuming more.
- You want fast-acting effects. (Though many brands on our Niagara Falls recreational dispensary menu have fast-acting options.
- You have a restricted diet. While some vegan and sugar free options are available, you will have to sift through many options that may conflict with your diet.
Vapes: The modern era of cannabis smoking
Many beginner cannabis users misconstrue cannabis vapes as being similar to trendy e-cigarettes that have become popular among the younger crowd. While they share some similarities, there are some important differences. Primarily, cannabis vapes are available as pens or disposable devices filled with cannabis oil instead of nicotine.
They’re a popular choice for new users who don’t want to deal with learning to grind and roll their weed. They’re also popular among those who want an inhalable option that doesn’t produce a lingering smell.
Vapes come in a variety of formulations, so even if you don’t like one, there might be another out there that suits your preferences. Many are fruit-forward and dessert-inspired, while others stick to natural, earthy cannabis flavors. Vapes produce minimal smell–it’s not nonexistent, but it’s certainly less potent than cannabis smoke and it fades away quickly.
Many people prefer vapes because they’re portable and discreet. You can take them on the go, and they won’t immediately be flagged as cannabis. After all, they often resemble other nicotine-based vapes. You can enjoy controlled, small puffs to microdose with vapes, too.
You might like vapes if:
- You want something modern and convenient
- You like flavored experiences
- You want something fairly discreet that you can take on the go
You might prefer a different option than vapes if:
- You want to experience a ritual, such as grinding flower, smelling the strains, and making an experience out of your consumption
- You have a sensitive throat or lungs. While vapes are still smoother than smoke, they can still cause irritation.
- You want to avoid flavored products. Many vapes lean heavily into fruity flavors that feel unnatural to consumers.
Tinctures: The lowkey wellness product
An often overlooked option for new cannabis consumers, tinctures are a great entry point that can double as a wellness product. While some may find them to sound a little woo-woo and witchy, they’re a great, science-backed option for harnessing the therapeutic benefits of cannabis.
Tinctures are liquid cannabis drops, essentially. You can place them under your tongue and let them dissolve, or you can add them to drinks. They’re easy to measure because they come with precision-dose droppers and clear package instructions.
These products have a distinct, earthy flavor. But they can sometimes be masked by other flavor add-ins, like mint or fruit. They have no smell and are very discreet–espeically since there are many other non-cannabis tinctures on the market. Plus, they’re tiny and portable, making them easy to take on the go.
Many beginners like to add CBD tinctures to their coffee or smoothies for a calming boost without the high. This is a good way to introduce yourself to the consumption method with low stakes.
Those who prefer tinctures typically praise them for feeling more like a supplement than a drug. If you’re wellness-oriented, tinctures may be a good place to start.
You might like tinctures if:
- You prefer wellness-style products
- You want precise control over your dose
- You dislike smoking or eating sweets
You might prefer a different option than tinctures if:
- You care about taste and texture, as tinctures often have a herbal, bitter flavor
- You want a social experience. Tinctures are personal and functional. This makes them difficult to share in a social setting.
- You want something fun or exciting. Tinctures feel more like taking a supplement than enjoying a recreational product.
How to Choose the Right Recreational Cannabis Product for You
Here’s a quick breakdown to help you select the right products for your needs:
- If you value flavor & ritual → Flower/Pre-Rolls
- If you want sweet & discreet → Edibles
- If you want modern & portable → Vapes
- If you want low-key & precise → Tinctures
First-Time Cannabis Shopping Tips
We’re used to customers asking for first-time use advice at our cannabis dispensary near Buffalo, NY. We get it. And we’re happy to help.
At Nativa, we want you to feel fully informed before making any purchasing decisions. But we don’t want that to be overwhelming, either. It’s why we’ve put together this guide and staffed our western New York dispensary with an amazing group of knowledgeable budtenders.
Here are some quick and dirty tips if you just need a few pointers before visiting our store:
- Don’t solely chase THC. Effects range vastly between different terpene and cannabinoid profiles, and your budtender can help you find the right ratio for your needs.
- Ask about flavor profiles. If you don’t like certain flavors, we’ll find you something that better fits your taste.
- Start with single-serving products. You’re not likely to find your absolute favorite product on your first try. With single-serve options, you can test out different products without wasting your money.
Shop Recreational Cannabis in Niagara Falls
Remember, cannabis can be personal. You are allowed to experiment and find products you do and don’t like. Not everything is for everyone.
You might even find yourself having a bad experience here and there. We want to minimize those occasions, of course, but it’s natural to take a break and come back when you’re feeling more comfortable. Once you get a better sense of what formats work best for you, you can more easily tailor your future shopping experiences.
We encourage you to shop based on your lifestyle, not based on outside pressure or what looks cool.
Ready to give it a shot? Talk to a budtender at our dispensary near Buffalo for the best advice. You can shop online or in store at our Niagara falls dispensary, open daily from 9:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m.