Walking into a dispensary for the first time can be a daunting experience. After all, cannabis prohibition has prevented precisely the purchasing, possessing, and consumption of cannabis at the federal level for decades. Now, those that have spent years under prohibition can walk into a Massachusetts dispensary near them and walk out with an up to ounce of weed (28 grams).

If you’ve never visited a dispensary before and are wondering what the fuss is about, you’ll need to find a local recreational cannabis dispensary to serve your every weed need, helping you stock up on cannabis flower and other marijuana products. The good news is that after opening with only two locations throughout the state, there are now dozens of Massachusetts dispensaries where you can obtain marijuana products with nothing more than a valid ID — you don’t even need to live here!

In fact, many East Coast cannabis connoisseurs have been making the trek to various Massachusetts dispensary locations in search of the best dispensary in the state, or merely just a place to buy legal weed. The demand led to hundreds of millions in revenue for the few Massachusetts dispensaries that got in on the game early, but now there are many options throughout the state for buying legal weed, and that’s introduced somewhat of a challenge for recreational weed consumers — where do you start?

Beyond the question of which Massachusetts dispensary to go to, novices may also have questions about what they can buy, where they can consume it and how to manage those highs from weed that is now many times stronger than the weed from just a few decades ago. Before you make that trip to a Massachusetts dispensary near you, here are some things to keep in mind.

Since just about every physical store — Massachusetts dispensaries notwithstanding — has a website these days, there’s a lot you can learn about your trip before you even make it. Some dispensaries may require booking an appointment before you show up, while others may list all the products they carry on their website, allowing you to get an idea of what they have before you arrive.

If you’d like to order ahead, you can do that, too. That can help you skip the line when you arrive, allowing you to pop in and walk out without much fuss. For some Massachusetts dispensaries, this can be a real time saver since many patrons are making the decision of what to buy as they reach the counter at the head of the line. To learn more about pre-ordering at Theory Wellness, you can check out our guide here.

That said, you don’t have to rigorously plan your trip, either. If you want to show up and wing it, you certainly can do so. The many “budtenders” on the premises are happy to help, and they often have lots of experience with products that you may only be encountering for the first time. Things like concentrates, edibles, and vapes aren’t quite like cannabis flower, and if you don’t know what you’re getting yourself into, you may want a heads up from someone more knowledgeable.

Think of it like alcohol. You certainly wouldn’t want to start taking shots before having an idea of how it will affect you, though many people do precisely this and end up sick. While you won’t end up sick, you may end up too high for your tastes, and knowing what you’re getting into can help you plan for a better, more satisfying experience.

It’s also important to note whether you’re looking at a recreational dispensary in Massachusetts or a medical marijuana dispensary. Some dispensaries and products are only available to medical marijuana patients, which requires a doctor’s approval and a medical marijuana card, and you may not be allowed into certain sections or the dispensary itself if it caters to the medical marijuana market. While some dispensaries do both, it’s better to call ahead if you have any questions.

When you first arrive at a Massachusetts dispensary you’ll likely be asked for a valid ID. This can be a driver’s license, a passport, or another form of federal or state ID — they’re only checking to see if you’re of legal age to enter and purchase cannabis products. Once inside, you’ll likely be hit by the pungent smell of cannabis, as well as numerous brands, products, and strains that may decorate the glass cases or the walls.

If it all looks like Greek to you, you’re not alone. Only those with a high degree of familiarity with cannabis will be able to make sense of all the products on offer, though it only takes a quick conversation with a budtender for them to assess your needs and match you with the right product. Many products and strains have offbeat names such as OG Kush and Girl Scout Cookies, which only give a slight indication of the underlying taste, effects, or potency.

In general, though, you’ll likely have to make a decision as to whether you want more heady effects or a more relaxed sensation in the body. These common descriptive qualities match with the two main types of cannabis: indicas and sativas. Indicas, also commonly known as “in-da-couch,” are calming strains that can be ideal for resting or just before bedtime. On the other hand, sativas provide more of an energizing and uplifting high, though it can also cause some to feel anxious or paranoid.

Many strains are hybrids that combine qualities from both indicas and sativas, yielding a relaxing high that still allows you to keep your head in the game. That said, different strains and effects are hardly an exact science, and it’s often up to the individual along with their budtender to identify the right products and strains for their needs — similar to how one may discover their favorite alcoholic drink.

For those that aren’t interested in the “stoned” effect of THC, which is the component of cannabis that makes people feel high, there are also CBD products that provide many of the medicinal effects of cannabis without feeling like your day is getting away from you. Some CBD strains may also include a matching 1:1 ratio of THC, allowing consumers to get equal parts CBD to THC for maximum medicinal benefit.

Once you’ve decided on what you’re looking for from your cannabis, there are still additional decisions to be made before you can leave a Massachusetts dispensary and head home. Aside from cannabis flower, which is made up of the sticky buds from the marijuana plant after leaves and other organic matter have been trimmed away, there are many other product types on offer.

For those that don’t have the paraphernalia to smoke cannabis flower, pre-rolled joints or vape pens give you everything you need to spark up at a moment’s notice, though keep in mind that you can’t smoke anywhere in public according to Massachusetts recreational cannabis laws. Edibles and pills are also available if you’d rather eat your cannabis than smoke it, though it takes much longer for the effects to hit — on the order of hours instead of minutes — making it all too easy to consume too much as you wait for the effects to kick in.

There are also tinctures, which allow you to absorb THC into the bloodstream under the tongue or to cook with, though experts will often reach for the dabs, wax, and shatter — ultra-high potency cannabis concentrates that require specialized dab rigs to partake. There’s no right or wrong product; it’s all based on your experience and what you’re looking for.