Ask a Budtender

Elena Klimasewiski has worked in the California cannabis industry for 10 years mostly as a budtender or dispensary management in the Los Angeles metro area. CBTS interviewed Elena about the job and the state of retail cannabis in general. Read on to see what she had to say.

What is the most requested product?

The most requested products would definitely be low-dose edibles and pre-rolled joints. More and more people are dabbling in cannabis use now as more stigma is removed, so the majority of patients want something quick, easy, and not intimidating.

And how about the most common ailment?

That would probably be chronic pain, anxiety, or insomnia, but I’ve served every kind of person you can think of. I saw several patients with cancer go into remission after taking a course of CBD. Many people with Multiple Sclerosis and Crohn’s disease also found cannabis products to be very helpful in managing symptoms. I even procured a course of Charlotte’s Web CBD oil for an 8-year-old-girl with seizures, her father said it dramatically improved her days.

Are most clients recreational or medical?

The line between medical vs. recreational is getting finer every day. After the recreational law passed in California, most people stopped renewing their medical letters just because it was an extra hassle and fee that was no longer required. I also saw a huge uptick of first-time users who were interested in CBD/non-psychoactive/medical tailored products, as they finally felt comfortable coming in. Most patients now are only renewing their Dr.’s letters in order to get the tax break, patients who are interested in medical products either speak with their primary physician or a budtender like myself.

Have you seen an uptick in new clients since Covid?

A colleague recalls the huge spree of panic buying during the early days, just like with toilet paper, patients were coming in every day and buying their maximum limit. Since then, business has mostly evened out and returned to normal. She doesn’t think that COVID has affected people to either want to start or stop consuming cannabis to any remarkable degree.

What’s the one piece of advice would you give to a first time dispensary shopper?

My best advice for a first time shopper would be: Ask the budtender! We don’t mind answering questions, guiding you, or giving details about your options. Don’t worry about sounding silly or inexperienced, trust me we have heard it all before! I would much rather spend 30 minutes with a new patient finding exactly the right products for their wants and needs, instead of them picking random items that could potentially give them either an overwhelming or disappointing experience.

Any recommendations?

One of my personal favorite flower brands is Cream of The Crop; they have stunning exotic genetics. I also recommend starting a CBD regimen, if you can tolerate a small amount of THC it will work even better! I take CBD every day and after about a year it has done wonders for my anxiety levels and stomach issues. I always recommend being cautious about oil cartridges, only buy them from licensed dispensaries, and even then I personally stick to live resin or rosin only, since they will have fewer contaminants. - CBTS Staff