Canada legalized marijuana in November 2018. Since then, Canadians have enjoyed buying top-grade cannabis products thanks to many online cannabis dispensaries in the country. These legal online weed shops provide Canadians with various high-quality products, ranging from fresh buds to edibles.
You can buy any type of product from the comfort of your home. All you need to do is join a trusted online dispensary, select the item you want, pay, and wait for it to arrive at your door. However, before you purchase cannabis, you should know how to identify a well-equipped and trustworthy online dispensary.
The quality and safety of products and services can be questionable with so many online weed stores on the web. Everyone considering buying cannabis from online dispensaries should know a few things about determining how trustworthy a company is. This guide will inform you about the top five qualities to look for in online dispensaries in Canada.
- Selection and quality of cannabis products
The selection and quality of cannabis products is the first thing considered when a store is rated one of the best online dispensaries in Canada. The top two things you should go after in an online dispensary are product quality and selection.
The best online dispensaries should have transparent product policies that you can download and explore to learn about their products. They should also provide various products, prompt service, and secure payment.
The most common products in cannabis dispensaries include:
- Fresh flower buds
- CBD and THC oil
- Cannabis vapes
- Edibles
- Hash
- Shatter
- Concentrates
- Wax
In addition, top-rated dispensaries offer a money-back guarantee and same-day delivery.
- Price range
Before you settle down with an online dispensary you can trust, you should shop around a few brands to compare prices, product selection, and quality. The price range is one of the essential factors when trusting a cannabis brand with your money.
Before you commit to buying, ensure your dispensary offers affordable prices compared to other brands. High prices don’t guarantee top quality. On the other hand, avoid online dispensaries with the cheapest products as they offer poor product quality.
It’s best to find a dispensary with middle-range prices. Aside from affordable prices, top-class online dispensaries should also offer deals, discounts, promotions, etc.
- Positive user reviews
Going through user reviews is the best way to ascertain whether an online dispensary is trustworthy or not. Check the brand on business review sites such as:
- Yelp
- Google Reviews
- Trustpilot
Websites like these give you insights into what people think about specific dispensaries, their services, products, prices, etc.
You should also check online dispensary review websites like Dispensary Guide to see how particular dispensaries stack against the leading brands in the industry.
We recommend browsing online forums like Facebook and Reddit to find pages focused on conversations about the best, most trusted online cannabis brands.
- Prompt customer service and support
While most cannabis enthusiasts don’t even think about customer service when buying weed online, it should be high on your list of priorities. It’s one of the critical indicators of trustworthiness in an online cannabis brand.
Nothing is more annoying than not being able to contact customer support to correct your order, ask questions, or report an order that never arrived. After you find a believable online dispensary, contact customer service to see how it goes.
Check the offered communication channels. A trustworthy cannabis brand should have a few contact options, such as live chat, phone, and email. Customer support should be prompt to answer and offer a few solutions to every problem you might have.
- Welcome offers for new users
Top-rated online dispensaries will do everything to attract more cannabis users. The best way to lure customers is to offer discounts, promotions, and coupons to new users. The cannabis market is overwhelmingly competitive, with hundreds of cannabis dispensaries fighting for their share.
Top brands will offer new users various welcome offers to get them onboard. The most common welcome offer is a coupon code that users can redeem on their first order. It can be a free product, a discounted price, or a credit (token) to spend in-store.
The best online dispensaries should have coupon codes visible on the homepage of their website. A welcome offer appears as a pop-up message when you visit the website for the first time. Apply the coupon code when you place your order to receive a discount.
Tips on buying cannabis in an online dispensary
Here are a few tips on purchasing cannabis online.
- Check the prices
Check and compare cannabis prices across different online dispensaries. Look for the brand with the most competitive pricing, high-class products, and the most value for your money. Dispensaries with the lowest prices are usually fraudulent.
- Look for transparency
Opt for cannabis brands with transparent return policies and shipping guidelines. All reputed cannabis brands keep their return policies and shipping guidelines detailed, downloadable, and transparent.
- Only buy from licensed brands
You should only purchase cannabis from licensed brands to avoid legal problems. While cannabis is legal in Canada, different states have different regulations. Make sure you check those and understand the terms before you buy.
- Use a credit card
Payments made with a credit card are easier to track. You also get certain levels of protection against fraudulent transactions. Gift cards, cryptocurrency, and debit cards don’t offer such protection.
- Learn to identify a fraudulent online dispensary
Suspicious brands selling illegal cannabis leave more than a few red flags, such as:
- Unprofessional and poor website design with messy navigation;
- No transparent information on shipping, returns, etc.;
- Poor-quality, low-resolution product photos;
- Poor-quality website content;
- Disabled or broken web page links;
- No contact information;
- Unresponsive customer support;
- Poor product selection;
- Extremely low prices;
- No Privacy Policy and Terms of Use;
- Constant inquiries on your financial credentials;
- Lots of additional charges.
Conclusion
Getting into online dispensaries can be challenging for a new user. There are too many things to keep in mind, making it hard to be sure that you’ve made a good choice. It’s even worse if you don’t have any previous experience buying cannabis online.
Thankfully, this short but comprehensive guide helps you make an informed decision and find a trustworthy cannabis brand with exceptional product quality, top prices, and a fantastic selection of cannabis products.