Your first visit to a Florida dispensary

Florida dispensaries are run more like pharmacies than shops. There is a door check, a registry lookup and usually a short wait, and knowing that in advance turns a nervous first visit into a ten-minute errand.

What to bring

Florida does not accept medical cards from other states. Seasonal residents can register here, but a card from home will not work at the counter.

What happens inside

1. Check-in. Staff scan your ID and look you up in the Medical Marijuana Use Registry. This confirms your certification is current and shows what you are allowed to buy.
2. The wait. Most shops call patients through in order. Busy afternoons and the days around the first of the month are the slowest.
3. The counter. A staff member, often called a budtender or patient consultant, takes your order. Ask them anything; that is the job.
4. Payment and packaging. Your purchase goes into a sealed bag with a label. Keep it in that packaging on the way home.

Order online first

Almost every Florida dispensary lets you order ahead for pickup, and many deliver. There are two good reasons to do it:

• Pickup lines are usually shorter than walk-in lines.
• Some discounts are online only, and the menu online shows the sale price before you commit.

The deals feed links each offer straight to that dispensary's menu, so you can see the deal and order it in the same few taps.

Questions worth asking

• Do you have a first-time patient discount? Many shops do, and it is easy to miss if you do not ask. The discounts page lists the ones each brand publishes.
• Is this deal in store and online, and does it stack with anything else?
• What would you start with for someone new to this form? A good consultant will steer you to a low dose.

If the menu itself is the confusing part, Cannabis 101 explains the words on it.

Payment methods, waiting times and discounts vary by dispensary. This page describes the usual process and is not medical or legal advice.