Whether you’re a tourist interested in trying the famed “BC bud” or a curious first-timer local finally ready to explore how to buy weed in BC, visiting a dispensary can feel both exciting and a bit scary. With British Columbia’s cannabis scene growing rapidly since legalization in 2018, it’s never been easier, or more socially acceptable, to walk into a licensed dispensary and ask questions. If you’re feeling unsure about what to expect, let this guide reassure you.

How to Buy Weed in BC

For any beginner cannabis user in BC, the first step is knowing you’re in good hands. Dispensaries across the province are staffed by knowledgeable professionals, follow strict safety guidelines, and carry tested, regulated products. Here’s everything you need to know for your first time dispensary visit.

1. What Do I Bring to a Dispensary?

To purchase cannabis in British Columbia, you must be at least 19 years old and have valid government-issued photo ID. This can include a driver’s license, passport, or BC Services Card. Most dispensaries, like the majority of modern storefronts, accept both cash and debit/credit cards. Products are typically small enough to fit in your purse or pocket, but feel free to bring a reusable shopping bag.

2. Getting Inside a Dispensary

Expect to be greeted at the door or at a reception desk. Staff may ask to check your ID before allowing you to browse. Some stores have a designated front entry area to greet and review IDs, seperate from the product floor, while others allow full access right away and review your ID at check-out. 

You may be surprised by the elegant, boutique-like layout and interior design of dispensaries. Many carry assumptions from earlier eras of cannabis sales and actually avoid visiting a dispensary because they expect a greasy, hippy shop full of “potheads”. This could not be further from the truth. You will likely find dispensaries in BC to be cleaner, more contemporary, and more welcoming than regular retail stores.

3. Customer Service: Just Ask!

Once you’re inside, you’ll be helped by a trained staff member, often called a budtender. Their job is to support customers, especially beginner cannabis users, in understanding what products might suit their needs. If it’s your first time, and you’re tentative on how to buy weed in BC, let them know! This gives them context to explain things clearly, without cannabis jargon. We can only speak from our experience, but we generally find the level of customer service at BC dispensaries to be very high. They are typically eager to help first-timers, listening to concerns and needs and giving tailored recommendations.  

You can walk into a dispensary without any background knowledge. Feel free to ask all the burning questions:

  • What’s the difference between THC and CBD?
  • How will I feel smoking vs. vaping vs. edibles?
  • What’s a good weed product for sleep or relaxation?

Seriously, question is too basic and there is nothing to be embarrassed about. Dispensaries in BC help beginner cannabis users every day.

4. Understanding Categories of Cannabis Products

BC dispensaries carry a wide range of cannabis products, including:

  • Dried flower: The traditional form of cannabis, available loose or in pre-rolled joints. This is the “weed” you would recognize in a photo. 
  • Edibles: Gummies, cookies, drinks, and more. They are easy to consume and often delicious, but take longer (sometimes 1-2 hours) to kick in. 
  • Oils tinctures and capsules: Often used for precise dosing or medical-style use.
  • Vapes: A smokeless option that kicks in quicker than edibles.
  • Topicals: Creams and balms infused with cannabinoids, formulated for muscle or arthritis-related pain relief.

Beginner cannabis users should start with low-dose edibles or milder strains of dried flower. Ask a staff member for products with a low THC content, perhaps balanced with CBD, if you’re nervous and wanting to start slow.

5. Reading Labels & Your Perfect Match

All legal cannabis in BC comes with a detailed label showing THC and CBD content, product type, weight, and batch number. Budtenders can help you interpret these labels, and what they means in relation to the classic strains Indica, Sativa, and Hybrid.

Knowing how to buy weed in BC safely means reading labels and starting with a low dose. A good starting point for edibles is 2.5 mg of THC. For flower, look for strains under 15% THC if you’re new.

6. First Time Using Cannabis

Trying cannabis for the first time should be enjoyable, not overwhelming. As the saying goes: start low and go slow. If you’re trying an edible, be patient. It can take anywhere between 30 minutes to 2 hours to feel the full effects, so be cautious of falling into the familiar trap of after 45 minutes thinking to yourself, “it’s not working!” and taking more. If you’re smoking or vaping, the effects are much quicker, usually within minutes.

For maximum comfort in the early days of your journey, use cannabis at home or in a familiar place with people you trust. Avoid mixing with alcohol, and stay hydrated.

7. Cannabis and British Columbia Law

British Columbia cannabis law allows adults (19+) to possess up to 30 grams of dried cannabis (or equivalent) in public. At home, you can store more, but it must be kept secure and away from children and pets. It’s also legal to grow up to four cannabis plants per household, but growing in public view or near schools is prohibited. It is illegal to drive under the influence of cannabis.

Buying from licensed BC Cannabis Stores or legal private dispensaries ensures your products are tested, safe, and in compliance with provincial law.

Conclusion

Your first time dispensary visit doesn’t need to be complicated or intimidating. The legal cannabis industry in BC is built to serve everyone, from curious newcomers to experienced enthusiasts. Whether you’re exploring cannabis for sleep support, a creativity boost, social occasion fun, or simply curiosity, knowing how to buy weed in BC will deliver you to a wide range of safe, legal options available.

Let’s get started! Queens Cannabis offers a highly diverse selection of cannabis products. Order online and receive free same-day delivery to New Westminster, Delta, Surrey, Richmond, Burnaby, East Van, Tsawwassen, Ladner, Langley, Coquitlam, and White Rock, or shop in-person from one of our three brick and mortar locations in Surrey/Delta, Tsawwassen, and New Westminster.