Knowing how to choose a dispensary is mostly a matter of a few checks. Look for a state license, honest reviews, a menu that fits how you consume, fair deals, knowledgeable staff and a store that runs smoothly. This checklist works anywhere in Michigan, whether you're new to cannabis or sizing up a shop you haven't tried. Everything here applies to adults 21 and older.
How to choose a dispensary: start with a Michigan license
In Michigan, cannabis businesses answer to the Cannabis Regulatory Agency (CRA), the state office that licenses and oversees them, and each city, village or township decides whether stores can open there at all. A license matters because of the requirements that come with it. Every cannabis product a licensed store sells has to be sealed, with a label stating how much THC and CBD is inside, which lab tested it and on what date. Where it applies, the label also gives the harvest date, and every label carries the state's universal THC symbol and Michigan's mandatory warnings.
Unsure about a shop? Search for it by name or address in the CRA's online license lookup, which covers adult-use and medical businesses. If a store doesn't turn up there, the CRA says it likely isn't licensed. Once you're inside, a licensed store shows itself in a few ways:
- Staff look at a valid photo ID before each sale, on every visit.
- Products are sealed, labeled and marked with the universal symbol.
- One adult-use sale is capped at 2.5 ounces, and only 15 grams of that can be concentrate.
High Society buys from trusted vendors, and what we sell has passed Michigan's testing standards.
Reading dispensary reviews: patterns and red flags
Reviews are most useful when you read a batch of them. Look for:
- Patterns. Ten reviews that mention patient, knowledgeable staff tell you more than one rave or one rant.
- Recent posts. Staff, menus and management change, so weigh the last few months most.
- Specifics. Comments about order accuracy, wait times or how a problem got fixed beat a bare star rating.
- Replies. A store that answers complaints calmly and makes things right is a good sign.
Red flags include reviews describing sales without an ID check, unsealed or unlabeled products, pushy upselling, and staff making health promises about products.
Menu range: flower, vapes, edibles and more
A good menu covers the formats you actually use, with enough choice in each to compare.
| Category | What to look for |
|---|---|
| Flower | A range of potencies and strains, with harvest dates on the label |
| Pre-rolls | Singles and multipacks, with infused options clearly marked |
| Vapes | Cartridges and disposables with clear THC content |
| Edibles | Milligrams of THC per serving and per package, easy to read |
| Concentrates | Labeled potency and type, suited to experienced consumers |
| Topicals | Lotions and balms made to apply to the skin |
At High Society, every store keeps its own online menu. Expect flower, pre-rolls, edibles, vape pens and concentrates, with topicals, tinctures and accessories on some menus. Selection varies by store, so check what's available today before you head out.
Deals and loyalty programs worth joining
Compare deals by how they work: what they apply to, whether they combine with other offers, and whether they're limited to certain products. If a store advertises a first-visit offer, read the terms before you plan your cart around it. A low price is only a deal if it's on something you'd buy anyway.
A loyalty program worth joining costs nothing, takes a minute to sign up for and spells out how points are earned and spent. Ours is The Society. Joining is free, you can sign up at the counter or online, and points build with qualifying purchases and come off at checkout as discounts. The club member program page has the current perks, and our deals page shows what's running now.
Staff knowledge: questions to ask and good answers
Budtenders are a shortcut to the right product, so put them to work. Questions worth asking:
- How much THC and CBD is in this, per serving or per gram?
- When was this flower harvested?
- How soon does this format start, and how long does it last?
- What do you recommend for my experience level?
- Does the package or listing show terpenes?
Good answers are specific and point back to the label. A strong budtender says so when they don't know something, suggests starting small with anything new and stays away from health promises. If someone claims a product will fix a medical problem, that's a red flag; health questions belong with your doctor. At High Society, that's how our trained staff work: questions first, then help finding the right fit.
Store feel: cleanliness, signage, check-in and wait times
First impressions say a lot about how a store is run. Look for a clean, well-lit space, clear signs for check-in and pickup, an ID check every time, and staff who greet you and give you an idea of the wait. Prices and serving sizes should be easy to read.
Here's how a visit to High Society goes. Security and the front desk check you in. When your turn comes, a budtender greets you in the waiting area and helps you pick, and our order preparation team packs your items. Last, a staff member calls you over to pay and walks through the order with you so nothing's missed. Cash works; payment options beyond that vary by location, so check with your store before you go.
Matching the store to medical or adult-use needs
Michigan runs two tracks, and the limits differ.
| Adult-use | Medical | |
|---|---|---|
| Who can buy | Adults 21 and older with valid photo ID | Registered patients showing a registry card and photo ID |
| Purchase limit | Up to 2.5 ounces per sale, including at most 15 grams of concentrate | Up to 2.5 ounces per day and 10 ounces per month |
| Where | Licensed adult-use retailers | Licensed provisioning centers |
Visiting patients count too: Michigan honors a valid, unexpired medical card from another state, shown with photo ID, at licensed provisioning centers. Because medical sales depend on that license, patients should ask a store whether it serves registered patients before making the trip. For the legal details, see our Michigan cannabis laws guide.
Ordering ahead, pickup and delivery
Ordering ahead suits shoppers who know what they want or need a quick stop. At High Society, you fill a cart on your store's online menu, pick a time to collect and check out. New customers present a valid ID with that first order, returning customers can sign in to speed things up, and everyone shows ID again at pickup. Rather stay in the car? Ask for curbside during checkout; we'll send a text once the order is packed and ready.
Delivery works differently and comes with its own requirements. High Society's stores handle pickup, inside or at the curb, plus regular in-store shopping; to see how licensed delivery works in Michigan, read our guide to cannabis delivery in Michigan.
Tips for first-timers, out-of-state visitors and low-THC shoppers
First-timers. Bring an unexpired government-issued photo ID, say up front that you're a first-timer and start with something small and easy to judge. Jot down what you bought and how it felt, so the next visit is easier.
Out-of-state visitors. Adults 21 and older can buy with a valid government photo ID, and High Society accepts valid out-of-state IDs in most cases. Our New Buffalo store sits near the Indiana line, an easy stop for drivers coming up from Chicago and Indiana. Enjoy your purchase here, and don't travel across state lines with cannabis.
Shoppers who want little or no high. Say so up front and ask about CBD-forward products, low-dose edibles and topicals. If you have a health condition or take medications, talk with your doctor before you start.
Dispensary etiquette: tipping, photos and courtesy
A few courtesies keep visits smooth for everyone:
- Have your ID ready at check-in.
- Ask before taking photos; policies vary from store to store, and other shoppers may not want to be in them.
- Tipping is a personal choice.
- Keep phone calls short when you're at the counter.
Our guide to budtender etiquette and tipping covers the rest. To find a High Society store near you, browse our Michigan dispensary locations. 21+ only. Please consume responsibly.
