Education · New York edition
Cannabis, in plain English
Everything a curious adult needs to walk into a shop, read a label and follow the law, with jargon explained the first time and never a promise about what anything does.
Start here
Four reads, 11 minutes, and you’re ready for a first visit.- 1The lawIs Cannabis Legal in My State? A State-by-State Guide to Marijuana Laws
A plain-English guide to cannabis legal by state: what adults 21+ should know, how to think about it, and where to go for the next level of detail.
2 min - 2The visitFirst Time at a Dispensary: What to Expect and How to Prepare
A plain-English guide to first time dispensary what to expect: what adults 21+ should know, how to think about it, and where to go for the next level of detail.
2 min - 3The formatsCannabis Consumption Methods Compared: Smoking, Vaping, Edibles, and More
A plain-English guide to cannabis consumption methods: what adults 21+ should know, how to think about it, and where to go for the next level of detail.
4 min - 4The labelHow to Read a Cannabis Product Label: Lab Results, Potency, and More
A plain-English guide to how to read cannabis label: what adults 21+ should know, how to think about it, and where to go for the next level of detail.
3 min
Industry
12 guides- Cannabis Research: Breakthroughs and What Scientists Are Studying Now
- Personalized Cannabis: How Technology Is Tailoring the Experience
- Cannabis Taxes Explained: How Much You're Really Paying and Why
- Cannabis Careers: Fast-Growing Jobs and How to Break Into the Industry
- Cannabis and Sustainability: The Environmental Impact of the Industry
- Cannabis Lab Testing: How Products Are Tested for Safety and Potency
- Medical vs. Recreational Cannabis: Is There Really a Difference?
- Cannabis Loyalty Programs and Deals: How to Save Money at the Dispensary
- Understanding Cannabis Pricing: Why Costs Vary and How to Find Value
- How to Choose Quality Cannabis Flower: What to Look For
- Cannabis Delivery Services: How They Work and What to Know
- Medical vs. Recreational Dispensaries: Key Differences Explained
Glossary, the short version
All 30 terms- OCM
- OCM is the New York Office of Cannabis Management — the state regulator that licenses every legal adult-use dispensary in New York. Every licensed shop displays an OCM QR code at the entrance; scan it via cannabis.ny.gov to verify the shop's license is current. We only link to OCM-licensed retailers.
- Terpene
- Terpenes are the aromatic compounds responsible for cannabis's scent and flavor — and a piece, but not the whole, of how a strain reads in session. Cannabis carries dozens of terpenes; in our library we surface the seven that show up most frequently as dominant or secondary.
- Flower
- Flower is the dried, cured cannabis bud — the format most people picture when they hear 'cannabis.' Onset via smoking or vaporizing is fast (5-15 minutes) compared to edibles. THC and terpene content are reported as a percentage of dry weight on the label.