Cannabis is legal in more states than not these days– some approved reform over a decade ago. Still, many consumers remain unsure about even entering a dispensary. Various reasons, like the stigma or internalized judgments, might delay that first step through the door.
Then, when newcomers finally get inside, many leave with a product that does not take effect the way they hoped. This is often blamed on the budtender, but a survey shows that the issue is greater than that.
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The Sanctuary Wellness Institute released a survey with tons of worthwhile tidbits. They dropped the top three strains in the U.S., and shared how the distressing economy is shifting buying habits. Consumers also weighed in on their shopping experience, revealing more about what happens when they enter a dispensary.
Weed shoppers speak on the shopping experience
The survey consulted just over 1000 cannabis consumers in February 2025. Half of the respondents were women, aged 21 to 74. Of these people, 29 percent said they find dispensaries overwhelming.
One in three finds choosing a strain to purchase is too complicated. Many dispensaries are filled with an excess of brands and product types. That may explain some of the other gleaned information.
The survey showed that the brand name is the last concern for many consumers. 77 percent prioritize strain names over brands and growers. 64 percent look for mental effects, 57 percent seek physical effects, and 45 percent prefer to shop by aroma and flavor. These notes are typically explained by the budtender working at the dispensary when a person purchases products.
Only 37 percent of people get their strain recommendations from a budtender. Most like to ask their friends for strains worth trying, 59 percent, to be exact. 45 percent of respondents prefer online reviews and forums for their strain recommendations, and 27 percent of people in non-legal states trust their dealer. One in six uses new tech, checking apps and social media for new varieties.
How to solve the cannabis dispensary problem
The dispensary shopping experience is rarely straightforward. Experts must navigate ever-changing menus, and newcomers receive a deluge of information. Smaller product selections may be the answer.
Retailers across the U.S. are attempting to capture every consumer. It may be time for things to get more niche. Flor dispensary in San Francisco is a small step towards this goal. The store caters to sungrown, craft cannabis, with some larger brands to round out the lineup. This could be the future. If consumers are overwhelmed in dispensaries as they look over products, it only makes sense to shrink that list.
The cannabis industry is new when compared to other American business sectors. Market fluctuations are surely imminent, and corrections, too. Over the next decade, the cannabis retail model could shift. If the survey is to be trusted, the shift should head towards curated, concise, straightforward offerings.
