Over 16% of Alaskans have used cannabis in the past year. If you’re interested in finding the best Alaska cannabis, you’re in great company!

Whether you’re interested in using cannabis for medicinal or recreational purposes, Alaska is the perfect place to indulge. However, when starting this new hobby, you’ll need a supplier.

If you’re new, the question might seem intimidating. How can you find the best cannabis dispensaries in Anchorage?

No need to feel intimidated! We’re here to help with choosing a cannabis dispensary.

1. Ask for Cannabis Dispensary Recommendations

Cannabis in Alaska might seem like an oxymoron at first. After all, it’s often associated with hippie communes under the Golden Gate Bridge.

There’s no longer such a stigma associated with cannabis. It’s not just for that one loser cousin that shows up stoned out of their mind anymore. Now, it’s for people who are looking to reap the medicinal benefits, or simply kick back and relax.

With that being said, your friends may use cannabis. If that’s the case, they’ve already tested the waters for you. Or, they’ve heard from other cannabis-using friends about shops to go to and shops to avoid.

Relying on word-of-mouth recommendations is always better than simply googling “best cannabis near me.” Google will base recommendations on location.

By contrast, your friends will recommend based on experience, customer service, product quality, and more. They’ll be able to warn you away from shady places, or ones that simply sell lower quality products.

2. How Do They Treat You?

Everyone’s been at the start of their cannabis journey. You often don’t know more than how to smoke, and some people didn’t even know that! Selecting a strain, rolling a joint … like anything else, it takes a lot of practice.

What makes the best Anchorage cannabis dispensary is one with staff that is willing to come alongside you.

They’ll ask questions without being pushy. What are you looking for with your cannabis experience? How are you looking to use it?

They’ll be able to help you craft the cannabis experience that you’re looking for and feel safe with, not one that makes them the most money.

When you’re looking for the best Alaska cannabis, you’re not just purchasing a product. You’re building a long-term relationship with a dispensary that will hopefully serve you for a long time to come.

3. What Are You Looking For?

When you’re looking for Anchorage cannabis, there are so many options that it can sometimes feel overwhelming.

If you’re looking for edibles, the dispensary down the street might not provide exactly what you’re looking for. If you’re looking for CBD oil, you might not need a dispensary with huge stock.

Make sure that your dispensary offers what you’re looking for.

4. Consider Your Location

When you’re looking to buy from your local dispensary regularly, you’ll want to make sure it’s convenient.

This is especially true if you use cannabis for medicinal purposes. Of course, even if you use it recreationally, you don’t want to run out!

How far is it from your home, and do you have reliable transportation? When you’re choosing a dispensary, location is often a huge deciding factor.

5. What Perks Do They Offer?

Here are the basics your local cannabis dispensary should cover:

  • A clean, positive environment
  • Helpful staff
  • A wide variety of products
  • A wide variety of tools and accessories
  • A location that’s convenient to you
  • Approval from the government and Better Business Bureau

Once they’ve met the bare minimum requirements, what else should you be looking for?

Think about going to your favorite coffee shop over and over. Often, you’ll receive a punch card. After you purchase a certain amount of coffee, your punch card will fill up and you’ll get a free one.

If you’re lucky, that’s what will happen at your dispensary. You’ll get points that will eventually add up to free purchases or discounts on some bigger shopping sprees.

6. Start Window Shopping

There’s no shame in playing the comparison game! You don’t have to spend money at each store. Instead, get an idea of what you’d like.

Then, go around to a few different locations. Take into account how they treat you, the variety of strains and accessories, the atmosphere, and more.

Sometimes, word of mouth of a quick Google search simply won’t do it. You’ll have to do it the old fashioned way by comparing in person.

Make it a fun weekend trip and see what you find!

When you do this, you will also be able to see how they follow local and federal regulations. For instance, if you make a purchase, how are they handling the products?

They shouldn’t be measuring out your cannabis with bare hands. Instead, they should be using gloves or tongs.

7. Pay Attention to Security

Purchasing marijuana at a legal dispensary is a lot different than borrowing a little from a friend for medicinal purposes.

Instead, a lot of dispensaries need to invest in security measures. That’s because many people want what they’re selling, and most customers pay in cash.

At any given time, a dispensary could have a fair amount of cash on the premises. If they have security features like cameras or a guard, you should feel safe knowing that they’re protecting themselves, their customers, and their products.

On the other hand, keep an eye out if it feels less like a retail location and more like a prison. This could be an indicator that the location is unsafe, and might not be a neighborhood that you want to visit again.

Finding the Right Cannabis Dispensary

In the end, finding the right cannabis dispensary boils down to your needs. Consider how you feel when you walk into the location, and what their stock looks like.

Sometimes, it will take several visits to solidify your decision. If they’re often out of your favorite strain, for instance, that might be a sign that you need to take your business elsewhere.

While you’re looking for the best cannabis in Alaska, come pay us a visit! We’d be happy to see you.

“Marijuana has intoxicating effects and may be habit forming and addictive. Marijuana impairs concentration, coordination, and judgment. Do not operate a vehicle or machinery under its influence. There are health risks associated with consumption of marijuana. For use only by adults twenty-one and older. Keep out of reach of children. Marijuana should not be used by women who are pregnant or breast feeding.”