How to Choose the Right Caregiver/Dispensary

January 26th, 2012 // 3:41 am @ Herb Diesel // No Comments

Becoming a new patient can be intimidating for some people. Not only are you bombarded with a ton of new rules and guidelines that go along with your new red card, but every dispensary you visit is trying to convince you that they are “The Best in Town” and that you should sign your caregiver rights over to them.

Don’t jump on the bandwagon too soon, you don’t want to get stuck with a dispensary that had a nice sign-up bonus but then you quickly realize they don’t have anything else to offer except inflated prices. This blog post was created to guide you to the dispensary that is right for you.

Dispensary Membership Perks

Every dispensary will offer it’s members perks because with your caregiver rights they are able to grow more plants among other things. Here is a list of the most common specials and membership perks you will find at medical marijuana centers. Many dispensaries will just have one or two types of membership perks so pay attention to which perks are most important to you and your medical and financial situation.

Membership Sign-up Bonus:

When you sign a dispensary up as your caregiver there is often a special bonus gift. At Alameda Wellness Center we give our new members a choice between two offers. The first choice is half of an 1/8th of any strain for free and the second offer is a free 1/2 oz of our premium shake a $40 value. One time bonus but once you get it, that’s it.

Daily Specials:

If you visit the dispensary on a specific day of the week you can get reduced prices on product or for next to free. Alameda Wellness offers member only specials on Monday and Wednesday. Monday members receive a gram for only a nickel and on Wednesday a pre-rolled joint for a nickel. If you show up every Monday and Wednesday you will get about 4 grams of bud and 4 joints a month for only 40 cents. There are also specials on other days of the week and they are available to non-members as well.

Reduced Cost for Members:

Some dispensaries have flat prices across the board to keep things simple and others have the prices that vary so they can offer lower prices to both members and non members. One of the most common forms of reduced member cost is when a dispensary reduces their flat price of $45 per 1/8th down to $35 for members. Another common member discount is to give members a specific percentage off their final total. This works better in situations when the dispensary’s regular prices vary greatly. This percentage off has been spotted at around 20% in some dispensaries. Reduced cost is one of the best ways to save money over a long period of time.

Dispensary Atmosphere

Many patients would think about the atmosphere of the dispensary above all else when choosing which dispensary to give their caregiver rights. After all you want to feel relaxed and at home when you are buying your meds, especially when you are new to the whole medical marijuana scene.

Product Quality and Selection

Medical marijuana quality can vary greatly from dispensary to dispensary. If you are a new patient you should definitely visit several dispensaries and observe their quality and selection closely before settling on the medical marijuana center with the best deals and discounts. Even though a dispensary has affordable products, it doesn’t necessarily mean that is medical quality or worth your membership rights. On the bright side, most dispensaries will give you full advantage of the member perks if you are a first time visitor to their dispensary. Take advantage of this early!

Non-Member Discounts

If you are looking for a dispensary to sign your caregiver rights to, why should I concern myself with their non member discounts, especially if they have great member discounts? Once you become a member of the dispensary you may no longer be eligible for some of their other coupons and specials, so you need to pay attention to the fine print on coupons and promotions. Most non-member discounts are also available to members, so they may be another way for you to save whether you do or don’t give them your caregiver rights. These coupons and discounts are most commonly found in the dispensary newsletter, twitter, facebook, newspapers and magazines.

How to Designate a New Caregiver/Dispensary

If you already have your red card but have not designated a primary caregiver or want to change your primary caregiver, you must submit a Change of Patient Records Form to the Health Department’s Medical Marijuana Registry. Most dispensaries will be eager to help you fill out the necessary paperwork. The appropriate form can be printed off here: Change of Patient Records Form (Correct form as of December 2011)