So you’ve just gotten your medical marijuana card, and you want to choose a medical marijuana dispensary as your primary caregiver. How do you go about picking a dispensary to buy your meds? What should you look for? You should really do a little research before you make your decision on a dispensary caregiver, as it will literally pay off in the long run.

First, let’s look at what being a primary caregiver really means. When you choose a medical marijuana dispensary as your primary caregiver, you are essentially giving them the right to grow a certain number of plants. (The number depends on the particular state.) In my state of Colorado, I am allowed to grow up to six marijuana plants, and no more than three of those plants are allowed to be mature enough to produce a usable form of marijuana. So when I choose a dispensary as my primary caregiver, I am essentially letting them grow the plants that I am legally allowed to grow on my own.

Because the dispensary is profiting from your flowering plants, it makes sense that they should offer you incentives for choosing their medicine and their establishment. If a certain dispensary caregiver does not provide any member benefits, remember that there are plenty more dispensaries to choose from that are willing to give incentives.

I recommend shopping around for a dispensary caregiver. Take the time to do a little research. A reputable medical marijuana dispensary will have a web site with an updated strain menu. A dispensary’s web site will tell you a lot about the establishment itself. If the site is outdated and lacks important information about laws as well as member benefits, steer clear.

On the other hand, a well-designed, informative web site will be easy to navigate and will provide an updated list of available strains. Some dispensary web sites have a strain library so that you can make the right decision about what kind of medications to purchase. Another good way to research a dispensary online is to look up their ratings on Yelp and Weedmaps.

When you decide to visit a particular dispensary, take notice and ask yourself:

Is there ample parking? Is the parking area well-maintained and trash-free? The parking lot can give clues about the quality of the dispensary.

Is the dispensary clean and neat inside? Is the atmosphere professional and friendly? An unkempt, stuffy, and unattractive waiting area probably means that their medications are not up to high standards as well.

Are the employees professional? Do they wear the appropriate badges? Do they use gloves and/or chopsticks when handling your medication? If they drop a bud on the floor and put it right into your med jar, that it is a bad sign. Remember, these are medications. If your pharmacist dropped a pill on the floor, wouldn’t that be extremely unprofessional?

If your pharmacist dropped a pill on the floor, wouldn’t that be extremely unprofessional? As far the medications go, is the dispensary well-stocked? They should have a good variety of sativas, indicas and hybrids in flowers and edible forms to choose from.

When you get home, inspect your medication. Are the nuggets well-manicured? The four most important things to look for when determining the quality of your pot are smell, appearance, taste, and potency.

What if you name a dispensary as your primary caregiver, but a few weeks later you are dissatisfied with their meds and/or service? You can change your primary caregiver, but only according to the time frame determined by your particular state. There is an official form that is required to be filled out and notarized, and the dispensary can supply this for you. The only thing you will need to do is enjoy the benefits.