8 Tips for Shopping Smart This 7/10

For all of our stoners out there, that time of year, July 10, or 7/10, has come yet again. 

Just like any major sales holiday in the weed world, getting the most out of 7/10 requires strategic, thoroughly planned shopping. Whether you’re trying to celebrate with an ample array of high-quality concentrates, looking for trustworthy products at a great price, or trying to get your shopping in with as little stress as possible, here are 10 shopping tips to help you celebrate 7/10 properly. 

1. Look at and Smell Your Concentrate Before You Purchase

Being able to get a clear look at the product you might buy is essential when shopping for concentrates. If you’re visiting a shop that won’t show you the product, it might be subpar. Check concentrates for color and clarity. If the concentrate has a light amber or clear hue to it, it is likelier to be a higher quality concentrate product. If the product is dark brown or has no translucency, chances are it still contains a lot of plant material, which will create a harsher dab. 

2. Ask for a Certificate of Analysis from a Third Party Lab 

It’s really important to get clean, quality product when shopping for concentrates — especially since this sector of the industry, unfortunately, isn’t short on cheap imitators. Many poor-quality concentrates will contain residual solvents like butane, propane, or hexane left over from improper purging or processing. Distillate vape carts may be produced with leftover or waste product. Other concentrates could contain pesticides, heavy metals, and growth regulators. For the sake of your health, you need to know what you’re putting into your body. 

One way to do that is to ask for a certificate of analysis from a third-party lab testing facility. Don’t just settle for potency testing. Ask your retailer to provide you with a full cannabinoid and terpene profile so you really understand what you’re about to pay for.

3. To Get Around Wait Times, Order Ahead Online for Pickup

While 7/10 hasn’t quite reached the mass appeal and recognition of 4/20, any holiday sale will typically mean longer wait times at dispensaries. Depending on how well a delivery service has prepared, delivery orders can get backed up during a holiday rush. Ordering online for pickup is a great way to avoid excruciating wait times for your 7/10 purchases.

Longer wait times may be inevitable, but keep your cool and plan out an online pickup order, and your chances of getting quality concentrate for your 7/10 celebrations will be much higher. 

4. Be Mindful of Order Caps

To avoid running out of inventories before a 7/10 sale is over, dispensaries may set caps on concentrate orders. Order as early as you can, spread your purchases out between shops, and be prepared to adjust to order caps as dispensaries try to meet the needs of all their customers. 

5. Do Your Product Research Ahead of Time

As you begin to shop for 7/10, plan out your order before you go into a shop, and be prepared with questions you may have about new products. Research ahead of time by using Weedmaps product guides to research ahead of time, and compare and contrast the Weedmaps menus of your local shops before you enter their doors. You’ll speed up your own transactions and help budtenders get through their influx of customers more quickly.

Cannabis concentrates come in a wide variety of consistencies with a variety of consumption methods that continue to evolve into new products. The Weedmaps concentrate product guide is a great resource for understanding where and how to look for your ideal concentrate experience and price point. 

And remember, whether it’s sauce, wax, badder/batter, or sugar, consistency is a matter of personal taste. The most expensive or popular consistency isn’t necessarily the highest quality.

6. Proper Consumption Techniques are Essential

The highest-quality gram of concentrate can go between $80 and $130 per gram.  If you’re investing that much in your experience, you don’t want to waste any of it with wasteful or improper dabbing techniques.

Make sure you can gauge the temperature of your rig.  If you heat up your banger too hot, you’ll scorch your oil and create carcinogens. If you wait too long and your temp is too low, you won’t be activating the entire cannabinoid profile and you’ll need to reheat. Clean your nail or banger after each use. A clean rig makes your oil taste so much better and completely enhances your experience.

7. Beware of Counterfeit Products

Knock-off concentrates and vape products are an issue in the market. Check out verified brands on Weedmaps to identify authorized brands and get a sense of what authentic packaging looks like. A lot of companies are now using specialized counterfeit-proof labels and packaging, and releasing lists of approved retail locations to the public to help consumers get the real deal.

8. Go for the Deals

If you want to save on shopping for concentrates, consult the deals in your area found on Weedmaps, and ask your local shops about their 7/10 promotions in advance. You can also sign up for our daily deals email for the best prices in your area. Find out which dispensaries are offering early deals and take advantage of price cuts that can help lift the weight of the 7/10 rush. 

Andy Andersen