Planning a first-time dispensary visit? Bring a valid ID, expect a quick check-in and come ready to ask questions. In Michigan, adults 21 and older can shop at licensed adult-use dispensaries, and our budtenders at High Society are there to help whether you're new or returning. This guide covers what to bring, what happens when you arrive, which products suit beginners and how to order ahead.
Before your first-time dispensary visit: what to bring
If it's your first time at a dispensary, here's what to bring:
- A valid ID. Bring a current photo ID issued by a government: your driver's license, state ID card or passport. Michigan requires adult-use stores to check ID before every sale, not just on your first visit. In most cases, valid government IDs from other states are accepted too; bring yours and the front desk will check it.
- A medical card, if you have one. Adults 21 and older don't need one. Medical patients 18 and older with a medical marijuana card can also buy, and they show their registry card along with a photo ID. Our medical card guide explains how Michigan's program works.
- Payment. Cash works. Other payment options vary by store, so check with yours before you go.
- Your questions. Jot down what you're curious about. Our team is happy to help.
Need a dispensary near you? Our store locations page lists all eight High Society stores, each with its own contact details.
It also helps to know the limits. Michigan caps a single adult-use purchase at 2.5 ounces, with no more than 15 grams of that as concentrate. Registered medical patients can buy up to 2.5 ounces a day and 10 ounces a month.
What happens when you arrive
Each High Society store follows a similar flow:
- Check in. Show your ID to our security and front desk team. If you'd like to hear about discounts and special offers, you can share your phone number and email.
- Wait to be called. When it's your turn, a budtender calls you from the waiting area.
- Talk it through. Your budtender helps you choose products and answers your questions.
- Your order is prepared. Once you've chosen, the budtender passes your order to our order preparation team.
- Check out. A staff member calls your name, takes payment and reviews the order with you to make sure it's right.
Take your time. It's perfectly fine to say you're new and want to start small. Dispensary etiquette is simple: have your ID ready, wait to be called and ask as many questions as you like.
Look at the menu before you go
Each High Society store has its own online menu; start from our online shop and pick your store. Looking ahead helps you:
- see the categories and formats your store carries
- compare THC and CBD numbers without feeling rushed
- note a few options to ask your budtender about
Selection changes often, so think of the menu as a starting point for your conversation.
The main product types in a minute each
| Product | What it is | Good to know for a first visit |
|---|---|---|
| Flower | Dried cannabis buds for smoking or vaporizing | Labeled with THC and CBD percentages; felt quickly |
| Pre-rolls | Ready-made joints | No gear needed, and you don't have to finish one |
| Vape pens | Cartridges or disposables filled with cannabis oil | No smoke; take one small puff and wait |
| Edibles | Gummies, chocolates and other infused foods | Measured in milligrams; slow to start, long-lasting |
| Concentrates | Shatter, wax and other potent extracts | Much stronger than flower; better saved for later |
| Tinctures | Infused oils taken by dropper | Easy to measure small amounts; on some store menus |
| Topicals | Lotions and balms | Applied to the skin rather than swallowed or inhaled |
Choosing by comfort level
For a first purchase, two habits matter most: keep the dose low and pick a format you understand.
- Low doses. Health Canada's start-low advice is to pick edibles at or under 2.5 mg of THC, and products low in THC with at least as much CBD. A Michigan adult-use edible serving can hold up to 10 mg, so cutting a piece is an easy way to start smaller.
- Familiar formats. If you've smoked before, flower or a pre-roll may feel more familiar than a vape. If you'd rather not inhale, edibles and tinctures skip the smoke but take longer to work.
- Strain labels. Indica, sativa and hybrid are rough guides at best. A 2021 genetic study found that samples labeled sativa and indica weren't genetically distinct overall, so give THC, CBD and your own experience more weight.
Simple first-time product paths
Wondering what to buy at a dispensary as a beginner? These paths keep it simple:
- Smoke-free and measured: a low-dose edible. Keep the first piece small, at 2.5 mg of THC or under, and give it a full two hours before deciding on more.
- Quick to feel, easy to stop: a pre-roll or a vape. Health Canada's start-low advice is one or two puffs of a vape or joint with 10% THC or less, then a pause; full effects can take up to 30 minutes.
- Less THC overall: a product with as much CBD as THC, or more.
Our beginner's guide to cannabis goes further.
Questions to ask your budtender
Our budtenders would rather answer questions than have you guess. A few good ones:
- What would you suggest for someone new, and at what dose?
- When should I expect to feel this, and how long might it last?
- What's the THC per serving, and how many servings come in the package?
- What's the difference between these two products?
- How should I store this at home?
- What should I do if I feel more than I wanted?
Reading a label or an online listing
Every licensed cannabis product in Michigan carries a label. On the label or an online listing, look for:
- THC and CBD. The label lists THC and CBD content, often as a percentage for flower and vapes and in milligrams for edibles and drinks. It also notes that actual values may vary by 10%.
- Serving size. One gummy, one square or a set portion of a drink.
- Activation time. An estimate of when you may start to feel it.
- Harvest date and testing. The harvest date where it applies, plus the testing lab and test date.
- Terpenes, if listed. Aroma compounds such as myrcene and limonene shape smell and flavor.
When you're browsing online, compare the same numbers wherever a listing shows them. Our guide to reading a cannabis label explains each item.
Common first-timer mistakes
- Forgetting your ID. Stores check it before every sale, even if you've been in before.
- Taking more too soon. Edibles are slow. Waiting is the hard part, and the most important one.
- Starting too strong. High-THC flower and concentrates can be a lot for a first try.
- Adding alcohol. It makes it harder to judge how you feel.
- Using in public or in the car. Michigan doesn't allow cannabis use in public places or while driving. Keep your purchase sealed for the ride home and enjoy it on private property where it's allowed.
- Crossing state lines. Enjoy it in Michigan; don't travel across state lines with cannabis.
Ordering ahead for in-store or curbside pickup
Prefer to decide at home? You can order ahead:
- Choose your store and browse its menu.
- Pick your products and quantities, add them to your cart and choose a pickup time.
- Check out with your details. First-time customers show a valid ID, and returning customers can sign in for a faster checkout.
- For curbside, let the store know at checkout, and you'll get a text when your order is ready.
Bring your ID either way, since the store checks it before every sale. While you're in, ask about joining The Society, our free loyalty program, where members earn points on qualifying purchases. The club member program page has the details. 21+ only. Please consume responsibly.
