Tips On How To Buy Cannabis Online
It feels like we have the whole world at our fingertips, and we can buy anything in the world with a click of a button. The internet is a wonderful place, with tons of information, entertainment, and of course– online shopping. But, can you really buy everything online, including cannabis?
It may not be a familiar practice for most people, but it feels like we can buy almost everything we need on the internet, so why not cannabis? Well, it can be a bit more complicated than adding some bud to your cart. There are legal restrictions and rules that need to be followed, and they may change depending on your location and situation.
We understand that buying cannabis online would make life a whole lot easier, so we’re here to give you some tips on how to do it (legally, of course).
Tip 1: Check your state’s laws about buying cannabis online
Depending on where you live in the US, it may be easier or harder to purchase some cannabis online. This all comes down to your state’s legislature and the current ruling on the subject. Just because you live in a state where recreational use of marijuana is legal doesn’t mean that it’s also legal to get delivered– but you might!
If it is legal to order marijuana online in your state, there may be some requirements. For example, some states will only allow online purchase/delivery of cannabis for medical purposes, which would require you to possess a medical marijuana card. Either way, it’s always better to be safe than sorry, so check your state’s requirements for purchasing cannabis just to be safe.
Tip 2: Order locally
Now, don’t get too excited about ordering the finest marijuana from sunny California if you don’t live there yourself. Unfortunately, ordering cannabis to be shipped across state lines is still illegal on a federal level. That means online websites that offer “worldwide” or even “nationwide” shipping are operating illegally. Also, no matter what service you use, it’s important to remember that sending cannabis through the mail is always illegal.
However, some businesses may still be within your state that offer cannabis delivery or pre-ordered pick-up options.
But if you are thinking about purchasing some cannabis online, we recommend getting delivery from a local dispensary. In some states where recreational cannabis is legal, dispensaries may offer delivery services (although this can be rare). If your local dispensary provides this, it will make your delivery much more convenient and fast. However, this also comes with specific requirements, so you may be better off just ordering your cannabis for pick up from your local shop.
Tip 3: Keep an eye out for illegal cannabis stores
It’s like you always learned growing up– don’t trust everything you see online. Just because it has a cool website or seems to make the purchasing process easier than ever doesn’t mean it’s trustworthy. In fact, that could be a red flag.
The first way to spot an illegal cannabis service online is to see their protocol matches your state’s, and if it doesn’t, that’s another red flag. These illicit websites are much more common than you might realize, so be aware when your browsing for an order. Other warning signs you may want to be alert to are:
Lack of policy information on the website.
Prices that seem too good to be true.
False promises about delivery abilities (ex. “We can ship anywhere in the US”)
These are just a few of the warning signs to look out for, but here’s another one– if you open the website and it doesn’t ask you to confirm your age (ex. Are you over 21?), we recommend leaving the site overall. Age restrictions are the first sign of legal practice, so if they don’t seem to enforce it, stay away.
Tip 4: Stay away from social media scams
This is something common you may see not just for cannabis delivery but for other services & online shopping as well. More recently, you might notice that social media accounts will constantly comment on cannabis-related posts, with small advertising messages about their weed delivery service.
If you then visit the account page out of curiosity or interest, they may offer a phone number instead of a website. That is a major red flag because many of these social media scams will list phone numbers that connect with burner phones that cannot be traced. Furthermore, if you naively trust & call this number, you will more than likely be asked to provide your payment information to complete the transaction– can you see where this is headed?
Odds are, you won’t get the cannabis they are promising to deliver, but they will have your payment information to use for themselves.
Even if the social media page does seem more legitimate than an easy-to-spot scam, it isn’t worth the risk of purchasing a social media app.
Tip 5: Do your research
The good thing about online cannabis services is that it gives you more time to carefully research before you make a decision. While the first thing you should research is the legality of the service, the second thing you can research is the quality of the bud! This part is a lot more fun, especially when placing an online order for a local pick-up from a dispensary.
This eliminates that panic when you feel pressured to decide which cannabis menu option is best for you. Sometimes, you may just go with the first flower you see to make the process go faster. But when you order online, you can browse your options and research the background of the strain, brand, method, and anything else you might want to know. Of course, your cannabis experience will depend on the quality of the product and your personal preferences.
It’s like shopping online for clothing– you wouldn’t want to order a sweater made out of fabric that makes your skin itchy. The same goes for cannabis because you wouldn’t want to order a strain that caused unwanted side effects for you in the past.
Buying cannabis online can be a great way to find the quality marijuana you are looking for, but only if you do it the right way. Be mindful of your local laws and regulations, and always keep an eye out for illegal services. The more information you have when making your purchase, the more likely you’ll make the right decisions.
