More than 100 new marijuana dispensaries are slated to open in Ohio in 2025, according to the state鈥檚 division of cannabis control. This adds to the 124 storefronts already in place, ideally attracting an influx of new and veteran consumers. Newbies in particular will be asking about what constitutes 鈥渜uality cannabis,鈥� a question that proprietors like Klutch Cannabis are prepared to answer.
鈥淲e fight the general idea that THC potency is everything, like that鈥檚 the end-all, be-all of determining whether a product is high quality or not,鈥� said Pete Nischt, chief compliance and communications director for Klutch, an Akron cultivator with dispensary locations in Lorain and Canton, and forthcoming storefronts in downtown Cleveland and Northfield Village. 鈥淎 lot of consumers, especially in the beginning, will say I want the most potent thing you have. What they鈥檒l get is the highest THC content, but that doesn鈥檛 tell the whole story.鈥�
THC, the psychoactive component of cannabis, produces a 鈥渉igh鈥� when consumed through smoking, vaping or edibles. Yet, THC concentration is only one attribute of overall product quality. Terpenes, another chemical compound found in cannabis, contribute to how the plant tastes or smells, said Nischt.
鈥淲e鈥檙e still exploring this, but we know there are hundreds of compounds in the cannabis plant that exist in different quantities,鈥� Nischt said. 鈥淓ven things that exist in just nominal quantities may lend themselves to that kind of subjective experience when using the product.鈥�
Understanding the plant鈥檚 value
Klutch has welcomed hundreds of new customers since Ohio鈥檚 recreational debut last August. Conversations at dispensaries among patrons and staff revolve around flavor, aroma or the quality of a product鈥檚 active ingredients. Ultimately, these discussions are designed to empower consumers, said Nischt.
鈥淭he baseline question is what鈥檚 your experience with cannabis?鈥� Nischt said. 鈥淎re you an experienced user? What product forms do you use? Do you only eat edibles? Do you use flower products exclusively, and if you do that, do you smoke them, or do you vape them? What kind of devices are you using?鈥�
Additional queries may touch on strain preferences, flavor profiles and desired outcomes. Tim Johnson, a long-time lobbyist and former law enforcement officer who advised the Ohio legislature on the state鈥檚 2023 marijuana legalization initiative, said misconceptions arise from consumers who simply don鈥檛 understand the plant.
To that end, Johnson has presented language to the Ohio Legislative Service Commission - a nonpartisan arm of the state general assembly 鈥� that would require detailed labeling on all cannabis products. Under this guidance, product packaging would include active and inactive ingredients 鈥� cannabinoids, terpenes and flavonoids, along with various additives, sugars and dyes.
In the interim, Johnson continues to battle the sensationalism that first manifested during the cannabis hysteria of the 1930s.
鈥淲e have to recognize we鈥檝e all been misguided about the 鈥榩roblems鈥� of cannabis, as far as it鈥檚 a violent drug that creates violent tendencies,鈥� said Johnson. 鈥淭hat it creates heart and lung problems, that type of stuff. There鈥檚 a lot of misconceptions there.鈥�
Consumers can get reliable information from budtenders 鈥� retail associates who work the dispensary floor 鈥� and studying reputable online resources. New users can also identify specific metrics to assess cannabis quality, Johnson said.
For instance, you can tell much about high-grade marijuana simply by its appearance, Johnson said. Top-shelf buds are deep green in color with red, orange, purple, or blue hairs. Cannabis flowers with a light green color may suggest premature harvesting, while dark green or brown may indicate a product past its peak.
鈥淚 look for a sweet, clean smell that dominates a fresh plant,鈥� said Johnson. 鈥淭he plant has a good texture, it鈥檚 got some stickiness to it when I squeeze it between my fingers instead of crumbling like dust. And you want something with a smooth inhalation draw, not something with a draw where you鈥檙e coughing your brains out.鈥�
A wealth of information
For edibles like gummies, buyers should ask if THC was infused or sprayed on top of a product, as the method of infusion can impact potency, Johnson said. Customers can also talk to budtenders about dosing, although the general rule for smoking is to 鈥渟tart low and go slow.鈥�
鈥淵ou have to consider how long a person has been consuming, and how long they鈥檝e been consuming daily,鈥� he said. 鈥淎 dose of five milligrams is reasonable, then let that take effect and see what happens. See if you achieve the reaction that you needed.鈥�
This principle also applies to gummies, which are available in a wide range of potencies. However, edibles including gummies exhibit a delayed onset (45 minutes to two hours) compared to the rapid effects of vapes and concentrates (10-15 minutes), noted Pete Nischt of Klutch Cannabis.
Edibles are likely the best entry point for the "canna-curious" or recently returning users, he added.
鈥淔or these users, we鈥檙e looking for products that are at lower potency with a predictable dose,鈥� Nischt said. 鈥淲hile we do make high-dose edibles, we have multiple lines of lower-dose edibles, like microdose mints with 2.5mg of THC. I鈥檇 feel comfortable giving those to anyone who鈥檚 curious and of legal age. You鈥檒l get a little taste of what the drug will do to you.鈥�
Educational resources are readily available for people new to Ohio's expanding recreational market, Johnson said. Ohioans can earn a trade certification from Green Flower, a California cannabis sommelier certification for budtenders, buyers or dispensary teams. Ultimately, the program aims to cultivate individuals with comprehensive, in-depth knowledge of their company's product line.
Would-be cannabis employees can also attend workshops at the , which has brought vendors, speakers and industry leaders to the International Exposition Center every October for the last five years.
Within the cannabis industry, professional budtenders undergo continuing education, completing 16 credit hours every two years under the supervision of a designated dispensary employee. Put simply, a wealth of information awaits both novice and experienced cannabis enthusiasts, Johnson said.
鈥淕et on the internet and look for the researchers that are out there,鈥� he said. 鈥�(Experts) are the one thing the cannabis community doesn鈥檛 have a shortage of. We鈥檙e not here to have somebody rushed into the hospital because they had too many gummies and feel like they had a bad experience.鈥�
