Media reports have highlighted issues with licensed cannabis sources, including high costs, poor quality, limited supply, inconvenient store locations, and packaging problems. Crowdsourced data show that the price per gram from licensed retailers was nearly double that from other sources.
A systematic review aimed to identify the key factors driving Canadians to buy weed online. It explored consumer preferences and the impact of specific attributes, such as price and packaging.
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Weed Online vs. Physical Store?
Cannabis has been available for purchase online in Canada for several decades and may have been one of the first products ever sold on the Internet.
There are thousands of dispensaries across Canada, but the increase in weed websites has also made shopping for cannabis more hectic.
| Criteria | Website | Physical |
| Personalized Assistance | Depends on the website | All store |
| Product Assessment | Require thorough research | Physical assessment |
| Accessibility | Convenient, anytime and anywhere | Limited |
| Privacy | Secured | Potential encounters with acquaintances |
| Pricing | Affordable | Overhead costs impact the prices |
| Purchase Restriction | None, can buy in bulk | limited |
| Products Selection | Expansive | Limited |
Factors Driving Canadians to Buy Weed
A research article published at BMC Public Health looked into how experienced and inexperienced consumers purchase in Canada’s cannabis industry.
Inexperienced vs. Experience Consumers Buying Weed
Experienced users have a deeper understanding of cannabis and its effects. They are well-versed in the different strains. They can easily use various consumption methods and are familiar with dosing and its impact on their body and mind.
Inexperienced users may find cannabis use to be more daunting or confusing. They might struggle with selecting the right strain or product due to a lack of knowledge. Their limited experience leads them to buy from stores where sources are readily available.
Price
Price was the most frequently discussed concern. Participants highlighted the lower prices found in the online market. Frequent users, whether for medical or recreational purposes, found licensed store prices unsustainable.
Internet retailers provided better sales, loyalty programs, and bulk purchase incentives. These retailers offered special deals around holidays, flash sales, and loyalty point systems that they can redeem for discounts or free products. While licensed stores occasionally offered specials, these were less competitive than the discounts available when buying weed online.
Buying in bulk also allowed for substantial cost savings, which participants felt justified the potential shipping delays. Some mentioned that bulk purchases were impossible at licensed stores due to a limit of 30 grams per transaction.
Quality
Participants had different criteria for defining high-quality cannabis products.
Main Criteria:
- Adherence to federal regulation standards.
- Safety and effectiveness.
- Cultivation methods to enhance the user’s experience.
Inexperienced users:
- Purchasing from licensed retailers provides reassurance of product quality.
- These users also consider product effectiveness and safety. They want assurance that the product will produce the desired effect, whether a high, relaxation, or better sleep.
Experienced users:
- Assess quality based on characteristics that affect their experience with the product.
- They pay close attention to the curing process, its appearance, smell, taste, and how it feels when inhaled.
- Evaluate the product’s moisture content, bud size, and the ratio of flower to stems, with preferences for fewer stems and specific visual indicators of ripeness.
- Internet vendors provide superior-quality marijuana products. These users rely on detailed product information and reviews to make informed choices.
- Selective about their sources and prefer Internet retailers that use an AAAA quality grading system.
Packaging
Participants were generally indifferent to branding and warning labels but strongly opposed the excessive packaging of licensed products. While they appreciated labels with necessary information like potency and strain, some customers considered them excessive.
Most buyers criticized the excessive packaging even though child safety was a necessity. Some noted that certain retailers offer recycling programs, though they suspected most do not recycle the containers.
Excessive packaging also impacts product quality, with larger containers leading to quicker drying. Some companies include moisture packets to mitigate this, but customers can’t always know which ones.
Internet community retailers use minimal packaging, like plastic bags. Sometimes, they take extra measures, such as vacuum sealing and including moisture packets, to maintain the highest-quality marijuana products.
Marijuana Dispensary Characteristics
Participants highlighted several retailer characteristics that impacted their choices. Supporting local businesses was also a significant factor.
Smaller stores, particularly in rural areas, struggle to offer the same variety as larger urban stores. This limited product range is problematic for those preferring lower-strength THC or higher-strength CBD products, which are not always available in smaller stores.
Convenience in location and operating hours also influenced choices. Participants preferred nearby stores and those open at convenient times. Some stores have limited hours, while few retailers adapt by offering extended hours and delivery services.
Finally, staff knowledge and demeanour impacted customer experiences. Some stores had staff who were unhelpful or judgmental, while others made customers feel welcomed and respected.
What are Users Saying: Canada Buy Weed Online vs. Physical Pot Stores
On Vancouver’s cannabis-focused Reddit feeds, users agree that the government market is failing to attract buyers due to its higher prices and lower quality.
One user commented, “The government’s cannabis is too expensive. You can’t see a picture of what you’re buying before you purchase, so you’re not an informed consumer. Government weed often arrives with bugs, mould, or is too dry, and it takes too long to get to you.”
“Friends don’t let friends smoke government weed,” remarked one Reddit user.
This sentiment extends beyond Reddit. Recent Canadian government survey results reveal that 40% of marijuana consumers have obtained from other sources. Licensed sales have not met expectations for several reasons – high prices, driven up by taxes.
Online Dispensary Canada: Product Selection
Virtual dispensaries provide not only affordable pricing but also the highest-quality cannabis products that many experienced users are looking for. Some of the popular product selections you can find include the following:
- Flower: Dried, cured buds with different potencies, flavours, effects, and strains.
- Edibles: Food containing cannabinoids to mask the taste and appearance of marijuana buds. Potent and long-lasting alternative to flower.
- Concentrates: Contains high amounts of cannabinoids (up to 90%). Available in multiple consistency and potency such as Shatter, Budder, Distillate, Hashish, or Crumble.
- Vapes: A safer alternative to smoking due to the inhalation of vapour. Contains concentrates in the form of distillate, full-spectrum oil, or live resin.
Selection
| Product | Type | Flavours | Dominant Cannabinoid | Description/ Effects |
| Forbidden Fruit | Flower | Tropical, Grapefruit | THC: 24% | Leaves you couch-locked with a gentle buzz that soothes aches and pains. |
| Mandarin Cookie | Flower | Citrus, Pepper | THC: 24% | A light, relaxing body high that keeps your limbs calm without causing sedation. |
| OneStop – Sour Cherry Lime | Marijuana edibles | Cherry Lime | THC: 500mg | A gummy edible that contains 50mg of THC per piece |
| Potluck – Infused Chocolate – Cookies & Cream | Marijuana edibles | Cookies and Cream | THC: 300mg | Chocolate bar with 12 squares. Each square contains 25mg of THC. |
| Full Melt Hash – Kush Cake – 2G | Concentrate | Citrus, Lemon, Sweet | THC | The super relaxing effect leaves you feeling laid-back and at ease for hours. |
| Premium Shatter – Hindu Kush – 2G | Concentrate | Earthy, Woody, Pungent | THC 70-90% | Feel a euphoric effect settle into your mind, gently easing away negative or racing thoughts. |
| CBD Tears – Full Spectrum CBD – 1ml | Concentrate | None | CBD | Anxiety relief, skin nourishment, heart health, increased appetite, helps with insomnia and nausea. |
| OneStop – THC Distillate Disposable Vape – Indica – 3ml | Vape Pen | Depending on the strain | THC 93% – 95% | High-quality THC infused with natural terpenes, rechargeable, with no additives. |
Quality Products and Lowest Prices
Cannabis purchase decisions involve multiple factors, with price being the most important. Consumers trade-off prices for higher quality, recommendations, better customer support, and convenience. The study findings offer insight, but further research is needed to understand the relative importance of these factors and preferences among different population subgroups for various product types. Buy weed at GrassLife.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are Internet dispensaries shipping products anywhere in Canada?
Yes. Some dispensaries offer mail-order marijuana services, which allow you to access marijuana regardless of your location. These dispensaries use shipping services like Canada Post, which provides affordable shipping costs and shipping insurance.
How is marijuana packaged for virtual orders?
- Vacuum-Sealing: Maintain freshness and prevent odour from escaping. This also helps protect the products from moisture and other environmental factors.
- Discreet Packaging: Plain and unmarked — with no mark of the contents or the dispensary’s name. This helps protect the customer’s confidentiality.
- Secure Wrapping: Wrapped to prevent damage during transit. This can include bubble wrap or other protective materials to cushion the products.
- Tamper-Evident Seals: Some dispensaries use tamper-evident seals to ensure the package has not been opened or altered during shipping.
Why do prices matter to experienced weed users?
Experienced users were more concerned about price, partly because they consumed more and were already comfortable purchasing from a website. They also like to buy in bulk, so they need a dispensary offering lower pricing or discounts.
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