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October 23rd, 2023
GreenLife Remedies has become the ultimate one-stop shop for all things hemp, offering a variety of hemp products to provide relief to residents of Charlotte and surrounding areas. Our dispensary has all of the necessary licensing to provide our customers with assurance that they’re getting only the best formulas on the market.
We’ve worked hard to build our dispensary from the ground up, and we couldn’t be prouder of what we’ve managed to achieve. That being said, many of our customers wonder what makes our business a dispensary, as opposed to a smoke shop, where you can also find products related to cannabis. Because we want to be transparent with our customers, allow us to explain the difference.
A smoke shop, also known as a head shop, is a type of business that’s been around for decades, first coming into real prominence in the San Francisco area in the 1960s, at the height of the hippie area. Traditionally, it’s a type of business that carries hardware and accessories associated with smoking – that can include products used for smoking tobacco, but they’re more known for products associated with cannabis, like pipes, grinders, rolling papers, etc. More recently, they’ve also carried electronic devices, like desktop and portable vaporizers.
Smoke shops may or may not be allowed to sell tobacco, depending on the location. The same goes for cannabis products – either hemp or marijuana. Each state is ultimately different in terms of laws regarding the types of businesses in which these products can be sold. Not only that, but different municipalities can have different laws about where cannabis can be sold, all within a single state.
States that allow recreational marijuana to be sold require that a smoke shop obtains a license to carry cannabis products, to act as a dispensary as well as a smoke shop. The reason for such tight restrictions is that marijuana remains a federally illegal substance, and states regulate it highly in terms of how it can be sold.
Hemp is a different matter, however. Hemp is federally legal, as long as hemp products contain a maximum of 0.3% delta 9 THC. Hemp is also legal in all 50 states, although some states do restrict certain product types and/or specific cannabinoids – most notably, 19 states have banned sales of intoxicating cannabinoids.
Generally, hemp products can be sold legally in any retail outlet, and that’s why Americans across the country are, by now, used to seeing delta 8 gummies and CBD vapes sold in gas stations and convenience stores.
What this means is that hemp products can be sold legally in smoke shops, although that’s not going to be the majority of what’s being sold. Smoke shops, again, specialize more in gear rather than the product that’s being used. So, with that being said, smoke shops are the better choice between the two types of businesses if what you’re mainly looking for is equipment, like the latest vaporizer, or a large selection of beautiful pipes to choose from.
A dispensary is a storefront that carries cannabis products. There are three main types of dispensaries:
Now, let’s take a look at each one.
A medical marijuana dispensary strictly carries cannabis to medical marijuana card holders. This is the type of dispensary that you’ll find in a state that has legalized medical marijuana, but not recreational use. To enter a medical marijuana dispensary, you must have a medical marijuana card, which is provided by the state’s department of health, and requires an application process that includes proof that you have a qualifying condition as determined by the state. Marijuana is only sold to qualifying patients, and rules are very strict in general.
Medical marijuana dispensaries must obtain a license from the state’s cannabis commission in order to legally sell cannabis. Naturally, each state’s application process is going to be different. In most states, just applying for a license can cost about $5000.
A recreational marijuana dispensary is only going to exist in a state in which medical marijuana is legal – naturally. To be able to enter a dispensary, you must first provide your ID to prove that you are of the legal age required by the state to make marijuana purchases. Keep in mind that dispensaries are enormously strict about this.
Most recreational marijuana dispensaries began as medical marijuana dispensaries, as most states that legalized recreational use first legalized medicinal use. In recreational dispensaries, medical patients can also make purchases if they have a medical card. The distinction matters because medical patients are legally permitted to purchase higher quantities of cannabis products than recreational users.
Again, to apply for a license to open a recreational dispensary, you’ll likely end up paying around $5000. And, again, you’ll have to go through the state’s cannabis commission in order to obtain a license and understand the state’s unique regulations when it comes to owning a dispensary.
Finally, we have hemp dispensaries, like GreenLife. Hemp dispensaries are a bit different from marijuana dispensaries. Mainly, states don’t require that a person selling hemp products obtains a license. That’s because again, hemp is a federally legal product that isn’t heavily restricted like marijuana. As a result, there aren’t any state laws that prohibit the types of retailers that can carry hemp products.
This means that a hemp dispensary is really just a term for a store that strictly carries hemp products – or carries almost exclusively hemp products, with some exceptions, like some other herbal products.
Now that you know what makes a hemp dispensary different from a smoke shop, let’s talk a bit more about the differences in products.
Like we said, a smoke shop will specialize in gear, while carrying some hemp products. But, you’re unlikely to find a wide selection of hemp products, and the quality standards can be subpar. The owner of a smoke shop specializes in equipment and accessories, so you can’t be fully sure that they know how to weed out low-quality hemp products to carry only the best.
A hemp dispensary has dedicated their business strictly to carrying all kinds of hemp products. So, they’ll come with some major advantages over smoke shops, and other types of retailers. Those advantages include:
You’re going to find that a hemp dispensary offers a huge selection of product. The hemp industry has expanded a lot over the years, with new product types, cannabinoids, and formulations emerging by the week. This is important, because everyone has their own goals when it comes to what they’re trying to get out of hemp. A dispensary lets you choose from more delivery methods, strains, milligram strengths, flavors, ingredients, and other options, compared to smoke shops. This way, you can really get exactly what you’re looking for.
Like we said, you’re likely to find higher-quality products at a dispensary, because these retailers are managed by hemp experts who know exactly what to look for when choosing how to stock their catalogs. They know how to read lab reports, find trusted brands, and choose only the most exceptional lists of ingredients. So, you don’t really have to worry about ending up with a disappointing product, which could happen easily at a smoke shop.
Since dispensaries specialize in hemp, it’s likely that their products will be fresher. The more demand for these products in a business, the faster the product turnover rate, which means that products aren’t just sitting on the shelves for ages before they’re finally purchased. Freshness matters tremendously when it comes to effectiveness, because the organic compounds in hemp degrade over time and become ineffective after a while, resulting in a waste of money. Of course, freshness affects flavor, too.
A dispensary is going to be filled with employees who are knowledgeable about hemp, and are there to help you figure out exactly what you need, and how to take it. You can ask them all your questions and they’ll provide you with the answers that you’re looking for. It can be intimidating choosing from a wide selection of cannabinoids, strains, and product types, so it’s helpful to have experts by your side to give you the advice you’re seeking out.
Overall, hemp dispensaries can provide you with resources to learn more about hemp. They can point you in the direction of clinical studies and other literature so that you can gain a better knowledge of the plant and all that it’s capable of.
GreenLife opened in Charlotte, North Carolina to serve locals in the area the finest hemp possible. We’ve made it our mission to provide customers with top-of-the-line product and care. You’ll see that we carry an extensive menu of product types, cannabinoids, strains, and more, as our catalog is absolutely enormous, and always growing. We’re always ahead of the curve to introduce new and exciting options to our hemp-loving customers.
Our products are all made in the United States, from locally sourced, organically grown hemp. Every product that we carry has undergone extensive third-party testing, and we won’t carry any products that contain questionable additives or filler ingredients. Our customers deserve the best, and so our standards are incredibly high.
Besides that, we’re proud to employ a team of knowledgeable hemp enthusiasts who are eager to answer all of your questions, and help you find exactly the product that will best suit your needs. All that you need to do is tell us what you’re trying to get out of the hemp plant, and you can allow us to find you a solution that completely captures your needs.
If you’re thinking about visiting us for the first time, we’ve come up with some helpful tips and pieces of information so that you can make the most of your GreenLife experience.
It’s always good to have a goal in mind when visiting a hemp dispensary – such as headache relief, relief from stress, or simply enjoying a super powerful yet legal high. This way, we can make the proper recommendations, and you’ll know you’re getting exactly what you want.
Keep in mind that some of our products will get you high, so consider that before buying any old hemp formula you see on the shelf. Lots of legal hemp derivatives are intoxicating, and some are even stronger than delta 9 THC. Other products, like those made with CBD, CBG, and CBN, are not intoxicating in any dosage amount.
Keep in mind that in addition to our Charlotte storefront, we also operate an online store that’s fully stocked, and we ship around the country.
We only carry products that are legal to purchase according to both federal and North Carolina law. That means that if we don’t have a product, it’s because it cannot legally be sold.
Our state-of-the-art hemp dispensary in Charlotte, North Carolina is bursting at the seams with the most in-demand hemp products on the market, with something for every enthusiast out there. Buying from us is superior to shopping for hemp at a smoke shop, where quality standards can be questionable, and product selection is likely to disappoint. We’ve dedicated our lives to serving the public the widest selection and highest quality levels imaginable, so if you’re ready to treat yourself to the hemp experience you deserve, visit us in person or online today.
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