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What Is a Dispensary Everything You Need to Know Before Your First Visit
Your out-of-state ID works, debit cards act like ATMs with fees, and crossing state lines stays illegal—complete first-visit guide.
Written by Sipho Sam
September 30th, 2025
Your out-of-state ID probably works, your debit card will act like an ATM with fees, and that rounded-up total you see at checkout is completely normal.
A dispensary is a state-licensed retail store that sells regulated cannabis products, operating under strict state (not federal) laws with mandatory testing, tracking, and compliance requirements.
We're about to walk through exactly what happens from the moment you approach the door to when you leave with your purchase, answering the three questions that stop most people from visiting: Can I get in? How do I pay? What's legal once I leave?
Table of Contents
What Is a Cannabis Dispensary (And How It Differs From CBD Stores)
Getting Through the Door With Your ID
Why Dispensaries Only Take Cash and Debit
What Happens to Your Purchase When You Leave
Understanding the Menu Without a Chemistry Degree
Your First Visit From Check-In to Checkout
Finding the Right Dispensary Near You
Medical vs Recreational Access Explained
When Online Shopping Makes More Sense
Your First Visit Checklist
What Is a Cannabis Dispensary (And How It Differs From CBD Stores)
A cannabis dispensary is a state-licensed retail store that sells regulated cannabis products containing THC under state law, unlike CBD stores in strip malls or smoke shops selling accessories.
Every product on dispensary shelves undergoes laboratory testing for potency, pesticides, and contaminants before reaching consumers, with the state tracking every gram from seed to sale.
You'll encounter two types: medical dispensaries requiring a doctor's recommendation and a state card, and recreational (adult-use) dispensaries open to anyone 21 and older.
Some locations operate as hybrid facilities serving both markets, though medical patients often enjoy benefits like lower taxes and higher purchase limits.
Explore our categories
Getting Through the Door With Your ID
For adult-use dispensaries, you need a valid government-issued ID showing you're 21 or older, and yes, your out-of-state driver's license works in most legal states, including California, Colorado, and Nevada.
Medical dispensaries require your state-issued medical cannabis card plus a matching ID, though some states offer reciprocity to honor out-of-state medical cards.
The door process is simple: show your ID to security or reception, wait for verification (sometimes they scan it for purchase limit tracking), then enter the sales floor.
Some dispensaries use check-in kiosks while others have traditional reception desks, but either way the process takes just minutes once you know what to expect.
Why Dispensaries Only Take Cash and Debit
Federal banking laws prevent dispensaries from accepting credit cards since cannabis remains federally illegal, forcing these state-legal businesses to operate primarily with cash.
Your Visa or Mastercard will get declined every time, regardless of your credit limit or the dispensary's legitimacy.
Most dispensaries now offer "cashless ATM" systems for debit cards where your $48.50 purchase rounds up to $50, you receive $1.50 in change, and your bank statement shows an ATM withdrawal.
This system processes your payment as an ATM transaction, with the $2.50 to $5 fee you'd expect from any out-of-network withdrawal.
Nearly every dispensary has an actual ATM on-site if you prefer withdrawing cash directly, and some newer systems allow true PIN debit without rounding, though fees still apply.
What Happens to Your Purchase When You Leave
The moment you step outside with your purchase, you're subject to state cannabis laws, including possession limits (usually one to two ounces for adults) and consumption restrictions.
Crossing state lines with cannabis violates federal law and risks arrest, even when traveling between two legal states like Massachusetts and Maine.
Dispensaries cannot and will not advise you about taking products across state lines, even if you ask directly.
Consume your purchases within the state where you bought them, follow local rules about public consumption (usually prohibited), and never drive while using cannabis products.
Understanding the Menu Without a Chemistry Degree
Dispensary menus break down into six basic categories with clear labeling for THC amounts: flower, pre-rolls, vapes, edibles, concentrates, and topicals.
Flower refers to dried cannabis buds sold by weight in increments like one gram, an eighth (3.5g), a quarter (7g), or an ounce (28g).
Pre-rolls are joints already rolled and ready to smoke, usually sold individually or in multi-packs.
Vapes contain concentrated cannabis oil in cartridges that attach to batteries, offering discrete consumption without the smell of smoking.
Edibles include any THC-infused food products from gummies to chocolates, with effects that take 30 minutes to 2 hours to begin but last much longer than smoking.
Concentrates pack high potency into small amounts through various extraction methods, while topicals provide localized application without psychoactive effects.
Your First Visit From Check-In to Checkout
After checking in with your ID, you'll either enter directly or wait briefly in a lobby area, especially at busy locations.
Once inside the sales floor, you can browse displays, examine packaged products, and ask budtenders anything since they expect questions from newcomers and genuinely want to help.
Take your time deciding because there's no pressure to hurry, and asking about THC amounts, effects, and recommendations is literally the budtender's job.
When ready, the budtender gathers your selections and rings you up, which is when that cash or debit-as-ATM payment situation we covered becomes relevant.
Finding the Right Dispensary Near You
Google Maps shows dispensary locations just like any other business, complete with hours, reviews, and contact information.
For cannabis-specific features, Weedmaps and Leafly let you browse menus, compare prices, and read strain reviews before visiting.
Look for dispensaries with recent positive reviews mentioning helpful staff, clear pricing, smooth checkout processes, and visible licensing displayed at the entrance.
Many dispensaries now offer online ordering for in-store pickup, and some states allow delivery or curbside service depending on local regulations.
Medical vs Recreational Access Explained
Medical cannabis programs typically allow access at 18 with a doctor's recommendation and state card, while recreational dispensaries require age 21 regardless of medical status.
Medical patients pay significantly lower taxes (often 15-20% less than recreational customers), making that card valuable for regular consumers.
Purchase limits differ too: recreational customers might buy up to one ounce of flower daily, while medical patients could purchase two or three times that amount.
Some high-potency products or specific formulations remain medical-only in certain states, giving cardholders access to a wider selection.
If you're weighing whether to get a medical card, consider consumption frequency, budget sensitivity to taxes, and whether you need access to medical-only products since cards typically cost $50-200 annually plus doctor fees.
When Online Shopping Makes More Sense
Geographic barriers, legal restrictions, or personal preferences might make dispensary visits impractical or impossible for many consumers.
If you live hours from the nearest dispensary, can't legally access one in your state, or simply prefer home delivery convenience, online alternatives exist.
Hemp-derived products containing Delta-8 THC, THCa, and other cannabinoids ship legally to most states under federal hemp regulations.
These products undergo similar testing and offer comparable effects to dispensary cannabis. They arrive directly at your door without ID checks, cash-only payments, or geographic limitations.
Mood specializes in these federally-compliant alternatives, from disposable vapes with temperature control to precisely-labeled edibles containing up to 30mg THC per serving.
Every product includes clear labeling and lab results, shipping discreetly without the dispensary markup or tax burden.
Your First Visit Checklist
What to Bring:
Valid government-issued ID (passport, driver's license, or state ID)
Cash or debit card (remember the ATM fees)
Medical card for visiting a medical dispensary
Questions about THC amounts and effects
What to Expect:
ID verification takes 1-3 minutes
Possible waiting period during busy hours
10-30 minute shopping experience
Debit transactions are rounded to the nearest $5
Products in compliant, sealed packaging
Every state sets its own cannabis regulations, so verify local rules about possession limits, consumption locations, and driving laws before your visit.
This guide provides general information about dispensary operations, but specific policies vary by location.
Note: Mood provides educational information about cannabis but is not a medical or legal authority, so always consult healthcare professionals about cannabis use and verify current laws in your jurisdiction.
