Budtender etiquette comes down to a few easy habits: have your ID ready, say what you're looking for, stay patient during a rush and thank your budtender in a way that fits. Budtenders guide you through the menu, keep every sale within Michigan's limits and answer the questions that make shopping easier. Here's what the job involves, which questions get better recommendations, how a visit to High Society works and an honest look at tipping.
What a budtender does, and what they can't do
A budtender is part product guide, part compliance pro. Over a shift, a budtender might:
- explain formats, potency and labels so you can weigh one product against another
- help first-timers and regulars find something that suits their plans and budget
- make sure each purchase stays within Michigan's limits
- keep track of what's new on the menu
Medical advice is something a budtender can't offer. Budtenders aren't clinicians, so they can't diagnose a condition or recommend a product for one. If you have a health condition, take medications, or are pregnant or nursing, ask your doctor or pharmacist before using cannabis. Our article on what a budtender is covers the role in more depth.
How a High Society visit works
Here's what to expect from the moment you walk in:
- Check in. Have a valid government photo ID or a passport with you, and our security and front desk team will sign you in. Adult-use shopping starts at 21, and medical patients 18 and up can shop with their card.
- Hear about deals, if you want to. At check-in, you can leave your phone number and email to get word of discounts and specials.
- Meet your budtender. Once your turn comes up, a budtender calls you over from the waiting area to help you pick, first-timer or regular.
- Your order is prepared. Once you've decided, your budtender hands the order to our order preparation team.
- Pay and look it over. A team member calls your name, takes payment and goes over the order with you. Cash works; for anything else, check with your store first.
In a hurry? Order ahead from your store's online menu for in-store or curbside pickup. Ask for curbside, and a text lets you know when it's ready. Our first-time dispensary guide has more tips, and our store locator lists every High Society store, so you can find the nearest one.
Questions that get better recommendations
The more your budtender knows, the better the match. Come ready to share:
- The experience you want. A quiet night in, a social evening, a creative afternoon? Put it in your own words.
- Your experience level. Brand new, coming back after a long break, or a regular? Tolerance changes what a small amount means.
- Your budget. Give a number and ask what fits.
- Your preferred format. Flower, vapes, pre-rolls, concentrates and edibles differ a lot, especially in timing.
- What you've liked before. Name a product or describe a flavor you enjoyed, and mention anything that didn't sit right.
Questions of your own help too:
- What fits someone with my experience?
- How soon will I feel this, and how long does it last?
- What's the serving size on this package?
- What actually separates these two products?
Misconceptions budtenders hear most
A few myths come up at dispensary counters again and again. These are worth retiring:
- "Highest THC is best." THC percentage is one number among many. In a University of Colorado study, regular concentrate users ended up with more than twice as much THC in their blood as flower users. Even so, the short-term effects the team measured didn't differ by product type or potency. Aroma, dose and your own tolerance count too.
- "Indica means couch, sativa means energy." A 2021 study from Dalhousie University compared the genetics of over 100 cannabis samples, and the indica and sativa labels didn't match real genetic differences. Instead, the names lined up with a few scent compounds called terpenes, so ask about the terpene profile and the dose.
- "The edible isn't working, so I'll have more." Edibles are slow, and the effects may not arrive for up to two hours. A second piece taken too soon can stack into far more than you meant to have.
- "A budtender can tell me what to take for my condition." Budtenders explain products, not medical outcomes. That conversation belongs with your clinician.
- "The priciest option must be the best." Price reflects many things, from brand and packaging to package size. Ask your budtender to compare two options on THC, aroma and format, then decide what matters to you.
Counter courtesy: budtender etiquette that helps everyone
- Have your ID out. Expect an ID check every time you buy in Michigan, not just on your first visit.
- Know the limits. A single adult-use purchase in Michigan tops out at 2.5 ounces, and concentrate can make up 15 grams of that at most. Your budtender will help you stay under the cap.
- Be patient when it's busy. Short on time? Say so up front so your budtender can keep things moving.
- Keep it respectful. Put the phone down at the counter, skip the haggling and give other shoppers room.
- Wait to consume. Using cannabis in public isn't legal in Michigan, so save it for home or private property where it's allowed.
- Raise problems kindly. If something's wrong with a product, contact the store you bought it from, by phone or in person, and our team will help sort it out.
Pickup and curbside courtesy
Ordering ahead comes with a few courtesies of its own:
- Show up close to the pickup time you chose, with your ID ready.
- Want curbside? Ask for it when you order, then wait for the text saying your order is ready.
- Check your order before you leave, so any mix-up gets fixed on the spot.
- Running late or changing plans? A quick call to the store helps the team plan.
Tipping: is it expected, cash or card, and other ways to say thanks
Should you tip your budtender? Tips aren't required, and customs vary from one store to the next. Some dispensaries keep a tip jar, while others don't take tips at all. If you're not sure, ask before you leave anything.
How much to tip a budtender is your call, and there's no standard amount. Where tips are accepted, a dollar or two, or rounding up your total, is a simple thank-you. You might give a little more after a long, helpful consultation.
Cash is the simplest way to tip, since adding a tip to a card payment depends on each store's checkout setup. And a tip is always optional: good service comes with every visit, whether you tip or not. If tipping isn't your style, or isn't allowed, the next section has thanks that cost nothing.
Thanking your budtender: reviews, referrals and coming back
Appreciation doesn't have to come in an envelope:
- Leave a review. A specific online review that says what went well, and who helped, means a lot.
- Tell a friend. Recommending a store or a budtender to another adult 21+ is a real compliment.
- Come back and share how it went. Tell your budtender how their last pick worked out, so the next one fits even better.
- Join The Society. Membership in our loyalty program costs nothing, and qualifying purchases earn points; here's how The Society works.
- Say it at the counter. A plain thank-you goes a long way on a busy day.
Curious about the job yourself? Budtender is one of the roles listed on our careers page.
21+ only. Please consume responsibly.
