Ask a Budtender

Leah Goldman has been a Lead Budtender for Megan’s Organic Market in San Luis Obispo since their opening in summer of 2020. In 2021, she was voted “Best Budtender in SLO County” in the New Times San Luis Obispo reader’s poll. Prior to starting at Megan’s, Leah had about four years of industry experience working on farms and trimming cannabis. Because the cannabis industry constantly is growing and evolving, Megan’s offers employee education opportunities to stay on top of trends and innovations, as well as product, compliance, and anti-bias trainings. A longtime SLO local, when Leah is not at work, she enjoys spending time with her newly adopted dog.

As the first dispensary in San Luis Obispo how has your reception been going?

"We’ve been very well received by our business neighbors and by the community at large! Our dispensary brings between 400 and 600 visitors per day, which is a lot of activity in a previously non-trafficked part of town. And many of the visitors are new users who might not have been into a dispensary before, so they like that it feels like a regular retail experience, like you’re walking into a regular health and wellness shop. It’s a really welcoming and approachable environment and people enjoy getting to ask questions and learn about new products in a relaxed atmosphere."

We’re also very intentional about making sure we’re good community members — we work closely with our neighbors to cross-promote each other’s businesses, host regular community meetings for nearby business owners and residents, and try to be really available to any answer questions and any address any concerns that might arise.

Is there one ailment that seems to be more prevalent than another?

"Sleep and anxiety are the two most common issues that bring people into our shop. But even that can vary by day. One great thing about our industry is that everyone’s relationship with cannabis is different. It keeps things exciting. Someone may come in looking for their favorite sleep gummy, followed by a guest in search of relief from chemotherapy treatment side effects, and another customer who wants to find a product to take with them for a relaxing day at the beach. There truly is something for all of our guests’ needs."

What do you feel is the biggest misconception about dispensaries?

"One of the biggest misconceptions is that dispensaries bring crime, when really, that couldn’t be farther from the truth. Studies actually show a reduction in crime in the immediate vicinity of dispensaries because of all of the video surveillance, security guards, and other security measures the state requires of dispensaries.

Another big misconception is that dispensaries are for young people. The majority of our customers are between 40 and 49 years old. We host regular tours for residents of senior living facilities, and our oldest customer is 95 years old!

I also feel like there’s an assumption that most people visit dispensaries just looking for something to use to get high and to have a good time. When, in reality, the majority of people that come in are looking to use cannabis as a relief for specific ailments or issues that they’re having. Don’t get me wrong, we also have plenty of products to use for purely recreational purposes, but that’s only one segment of the customers who we serve."

If you could give one piece of advice to a first time dispensary shopper, what would it be?

""Utilize the budtenders by asking questions! We love being able to create a welcoming and approachable experience for our guests. We’re in the service industry for a reason — we truly enjoy listening to customers’ needs, and working with them to find the perfect product for their use. There are a lot of really unique products on the market now, for example microdose products that allow us to use cannabis in a very focused way that we couldn’t before legal cannabis. Plus, we love nerding out about our favorite plant as often as possible!

Any special or funny stories to share?

"Well, there are a lot of couples that come in nervously inquiring about our sexual wellness orgasm-enhancing products. Like I said, there’s something for everyone!

I also have guests that come in looking for help with anxiety or sleep, and after a few visits and some recommendations, they have amazing success. I’ve had multiple guests come back in, almost in tears, because they’re so relieved and so grateful for these products because they haven’t slept in 20 years and they’re finally getting a good night’s sleep!

And we have senior customers who come in with walkers who have never touched cannabis before, and they find something as simple as 2 mg CBD mints that help relieve their aches and pains. These customer interactions make this job so wonderful!"

Should clients be prepared to leave a tip?

"The experience we provide in the shop is very similar to one you would receive from other service-based industries. Gratuities aren’t expected, but if you find that you’ve had a The Cannabis Lifestyle great experience with one of our budtenders — for example, they talked with you about various product options and helped find the right thing for you — a tip is certainly greatly appreciated."

Any product recommendations?

"For cannabis connoisseurs looking for great flower, the brand VOID has really special, really flavorful and high-end flower at a great price point. Customers have been loving that!

Some of my favorite products right now are the cannabis mints. They’re a great microdose size — some as low as 2.5 mg — and because they’re a mint as opposed to a regular edible like a gummy or chocolate that you chew and swallow, they absorb directly into your bloodstream through the membranes of your mouth, making them more fast-acting than a traditional edible.

My other recommendation is any product with the cannabinoid CBN in them. CBN is linked to REM sleep and being able to stay asleep through the night. Most people who take CBN find that their quality of sleep really improves. It can also be helpful for people with aches and pains."

Leah Goldman is a Lead Budtender at Megan’s Organic Market, located at 280 S. Higuera Street in San Luis Obispo. Visit megansorganicmarket.com for more info.

Megan's Organic Market, San Luis Obispo