A pot primer

A sign directs customers to the appropriate counter at Theory Wellness in Great Barrington.

Photo: Stephanie Zollshan

By Noah Hoffenberg, Herbalist contributor

They seem to be springing up everywhere. The feds aren’t shutting them down, so arrest seems out of the question. It wouldn’t be responsible not to investigate them, to see, smell and hear firsthand what all the hubbub's about.

Well, there it is: You’ve decided to visit a Western Massachusetts marijuana dispensary.

As of this writing, there are three dispensaries in the Berkshires that are open for business, catering to recreational adult use; each of these — Temescal Wellness in Pittsfield, Berkshire Roots, also in Pittsfield, and Theory Wellness in Great Barrington — also provide medical marijuana offerings, although that’s a totally different animal purchase-wise.

In nearby Hampshire and Franklin counties, there’s also NETA in Northampton, INSA in Easthampton and Patriot Care in Greenfield.

Additionally, there are about 30-plus different marijuana businesses that are planning on opening in the Berkshires. Some will be retail sales, while others will be production sites and grow facilities.

This article will convey 10 things you need to know before you try to buy recreational marijuana at one of these local retail sites.

Parking

Because most of the dispensaries in the Berkshires began as medical operations, medical marijuana patients get the right of way for the choicest parking spaces next to the dispensary. Try to snake one of these spots, and you might encounter someone telling you to scram (see entry on police); adult-use parking is typically just a few steps away, often in an adjacent lot.

Don’t forget to bring your ID

Mike Popowich checks the identification of customers at Berkshire Roots in Pittsfield.

Photo: Adam Shanks

Dispensaries are locked, secure sites, and you’ll often need to be buzzed in by security or greeters who will want to see your driver’s license. If you’re a veteran marijuana consumer and you’re plagued by short-term memory problems, I suggest you use your favorite mnemonic device to jog the brain into remembering ... string on a finger; a note on a smartphone; something inked onto a visible part of your body.

Be prepared for the 20 percent tax

For recreational consumers, the commonwealth of Massachusetts has slapped a 20 percent tax on adult-use purchases. That means an extra $20 for every $100 spent. If you’re on a tight budget, careful calculation is necessary before point of purchase.

Police presence

At many dispensaries in Massachusetts, crowded parking lots and nearby roadways are being managed by police officers doing traffic control. They aren’t there to bust you and confiscate your stash; they just want to make sure that no one is getting run over by lead-footed marijuana connoisseurs coming and going from the lot. However, if you’re breaking the law — such as smoking marijuana in public or while driving, or if you’re stumbling and bumbling on a city street — you probably can expect to be questioned or even invited to wear those always-fashionable silver bracelets.

Dress for success

Opening day customers line up outside Temescal Wellness.

Photo: Stephanie Zollshan

Lines for dispensaries have shortened since these sites first went online last year. That said, when you combine fickle Western Massachusetts weather and waiting in a dispensary line, it can be a recipe to get cold or hot, wet or sweaty, and otherwise uncomfortable. Wear clothes that are appropriate for the weather.

There’s a line inside, too

Oftentimes, even if there is no line outside a dispensary, there will be one inside as consumers queue up to work with dispensary staff. Because some marijuana users are accustomed to buying it from underground or black market purveyors, folks in line will either engage in nervous chatter with other people nearby or even stare at the ground to avoid eye contact and/or being recognized. If this sounds uncomfortable for you, then you’ll be happy about the next entry.

You don’t have to wait in line

Wait. What? It’s true: Most of these sites have an order-ahead option, so you can have it ready for pick up in no time. By ordering ahead, you’ll often be able to bypass the exterior and interior lines to get extra-speedy service. Of course, if you enjoy socially awkward chatter, then by all means queue up.

Do a little research

While you’re waiting in line, you’re likely to hear other customers asking the so-called “budtenders” a lot of basic questions about the product and related tools. Sure, it’s fun to chat, but they’re also slowing up the line with queries about sativa versus indica; terpenes; concentrates versus flower; etc.

A quick run around the web will tell you nearly everything you need to know. Incidentally, I’ve never heard of anyone peppering their former underground cannabis salesmen with questions such as those overheard at dispensaries.

Be careful with the edibles

Because ingested marijuana takes longer to affect the body than marijuana that is smoked or vaped, some new users mistake that time lag as a lack of potency, and then they eat more. This can lead to some unenviable, roller coasterlike side effects, such as nausea, anxiety and disorientation. Generally speaking, this is not your granddaddy’s ditch weed: Some reckon the potency has increased by as much as 30 percent since the 1960s and 1970s. Whether you’re using it for pain management, anxiety reduction or as an appetite stimulant, it’s best to go easy with your intake.

Just because it’s legalized …

Alex Premoli makes the first sale to a customer on the opening day of recreational marijuana sales at Theory Wellness in Great Barrington.

Photo: Stephanie Zollshan

It’s important to remember that, just as with alcohol, public consumption of marijuana is illegal, as is operating a motor vehicle under the influence of drugs. Being swept up into the judicial system or having your driver’s license suspended is not worth puff-puff-passing before driving. Moreover, according to state law, marijuana that you’re taking from the store to home must be kept in a closed container in the trunk or a locked glove compartment.

Do yourself a favor and check out each store in the region, as one will likely fit your personality and wallet a bit better than the others; product differences probably will guide your patronage habits.

Also, a wise, longtime cannabis user once intoned to me that consumers shouldn’t solely base purchases on getting the maximum THC content (THC is the psychotropic chemical in marijuana that’s released and broken down into absorbable parts when introduced to heat). To aim solely for this tip-top THC percentage, which these days is often around 30 percent, would be akin to only buying grain alcohol as a drink of choice because it’s the strongest; clearly, drinkers opt for their beverage of choice based on taste and customs, in addition to other measures, such as alcohol content, the building blocks of the beverage (rice, potatoes or grapes, for example), whether it’s a pre-, during- or post-meal drink, etc. Different strains will have different benefits for the user.

Best of all: There’s no rush. With adult recreational sales now underway across the commonwealth, there’s plenty of time and options to try. In short order, you’ll be the expert, dispensing indispensable dispensary information to all of your peeps, having been one of the first to cross over into the brave, new, marijuana-infused world. Bone appetit!

Matthew Daniels rings up a sale for customers on opening day for recreational marijuana sales at Temescal Wellness in Pittsfield.

Photo: Stephanie Zollshan

The locations

Here’s the list of Western Massachusetts dispensaries that are open for business.

1) Berkshire Roots

501 Dalton Ave., Pittsfield, MA 01201, 413-553-9333, Berkshireroots.com

2) INSA

122 Pleasant St., Suite 144, Easthampton, MA 01027, 413-206-6339, Myinsa.com

3) NETA

118 Conz St., Northampton, MA 01060, 413-727-8415, Netacare.org

4) Patriot Care

7 Legion Ave., Greenfield, MA 01301, 413-203-6131, Patriotcare.org

5) Temescal Wellness

10 Callahan Drive, Pittsfield, MA 01201, 413-464-8044, Ma.temescalwellness.com

6) Theory Wellness

394 Stockbridge Road, Great Barrington, MA 01230, 413-650-5527, Theorywellness.org