Buying Cannabis Online: Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

Americans spent a whopping $17.5 billion on cannabis products in 2020—and this number continues to increase from year to the next. Consumers nowadays have more options than ever before, and they’re eager to try new products. From cannabidiol (CBD) gummies and chocolate bars to CBD pet treats, there are thousands of products available.

The best part is, you can order your favorite products with the click of a button. Most states have legalized recreational marijuana, so buying cannabis online is easier than ever. However, you still need to research your options, choose a reliable vendor, and know what to look for.

Make sure you understand the legal requirements in your state before taking this step. Depending on where you live, you may not be able to purchase certain products or buy in bulk.

Interested to find out more? Let’s see the most common mistakes people make when buying cannabis online and how to avoid them.

Failure to Comply With the Law

First things first, research your state’s regulations regarding cannabis use. As of today, medical cannabis is legal in 36 states and four territories. Recreational cannabis, on the other hand, can be legally purchased in 18 states and two territories.

Note that each state has different rules. For example, Virginia law only allows the use of cannabis for epilepsy. Other states, such as Texas and Georgia, allow cannabis use for Crohn’s disease, multiple sclerosis, end-stage cancer, and other conditions.

There may also be limits on the amount of cannabis you can carry in public. The State of Massachusetts, for instance, allows adults over 21 to have up to an ounce on their person. If you live in Maine, you can have up to 2.5 ounces of prepared marijuana at any given time.

Other regulations concern home cultivation, dispensaries, retail sales, and more. Breaking these rules can lead to hefty fines, so it’s in your best interest to comply.

Buying From the Black Market

As discussed above, cannabis is now legal in most states. However, some consumers still prefer the black market because it’s cheaper and offers a wider range of options.

Sure, you want to keep the costs low, but is it worth risking your health? Probably not. When you buy from the black market, you don’t really know what you’re getting.

Illegitimate online stores often sell counterfeit cannabis or other products that contain little or no CBD. These may contain fillers, contaminants, bacteria, and so on. Or you could end up buying an ordinary plant with no therapeutic effects.

Choosing Quantity Over Quality

Do a quick online search, and you’ll find different cannabis products at different price points. As you would expect, their quality varies from one brand to the next.

Remember the old saying, “If something sounds too good to be true, it probably is?” It applies in this context, too. High-quality CBD and other cannabis products will never be cheap.

There are plenty of dishonest sellers who dilute their products and then sell them for next to nothing. Reputable sellers, on the other hand, know the value of their goods and price them accordingly.

The best cannabis products are expensive to produce. Manufacturers use cutting-edge equipment, perform quality checks, and spend thousands of dollars on licenses and permits. Therefore, they simply cannot afford to charge $10 for a bottle of CBD oil.

If you’re on a budget, look for mid-market brands and order small quantities. Premium cannabis products are more potent than their cheaper counterparts, so you’ll get better value for your money.

Not Researching the Seller

Buying cannabis online can be tricky because of the large number of stores. That’s why it’s important to compare prices, research sellers, and read online customer reviews.

Reputable stores typically offer some sort of guarantee and list cannabis product ingredients on their websites. They also provide information on the extraction methods used, among other aspects.

Shady sellers, on the other hand, often make false claims or just copy and paste product descriptions from other sites. To stay on the safe side, watch out for these red flags:

• Inconsistent content
• Grammatical errors and typos
• Deals that seem too good to be true
• No contact information
• Online stores without SSL (“https”) encryption

Also, avoid any products that claim to prevent or treat diseases or medical conditions. While it’s true that CBD and other cannabis products may have beneficial effects, sellers are not allowed to make health claims.

Not Reading Customer Reviews

Take the time to read online customer reviews before placing your order. Start with the reviews featured on the company’s website and social media pages. After that, check online marketplaces and business directories, such as:

• Google Maps
• Apple Maps
• Bing Places
• Yelp
• Foursquare
• Angi
• Merchant Circle
• Better Business Bureau
• ConsumerReports
• Trustpilot

Some illegitimate sellers use bots to populate their websites with fake reviews. Others pay people to leave positive reviews. Given these aspects, it makes sense to look beyond their sites and double-check the products you’re interested in.

Also, don’t fall for sponsored reviews and blog posts that praise specific products or brands. Instead, look for unbiased reviews that highlight both the good and the bad.

A legitimate seller won’t delete negative comments but address them in a considerate manner. Moreover, he will thank customers for their feedback.

Do Your Homework When Buying Cannabis Online

As you can see, there’s a lot that goes into buying cannabis online. As a rule of thumb, research sellers and their products, compare prices, and check your state’s laws. Choose quality over quantity and don’t go for the cheapest offer.

If you live in Michigan, browse our online store for premium quality cannabis products. We offer both medical and recreational marijuana from High Life Farms, Cannabee Extracts, and other top brands. See our latest deals and take your pick!