This is a real story: I’ve just arrived in New York City for an event and I’m battling my typical travel anxiety.
I faint in the backseat of my Uber after a panic attack. I’m sure I’m not the first or last one.
After a nap and some water, I feel ready to hit the dispensary bodega (see how New York I am?) and buy some cannabis. It helps my nausea, anxiety, and general overwhelm.
The budtender at the dispensary is patient. They provide excellent service, listen to my needs, and recommend me the perfect cannabis strains.
Since New York City public consumption is legal, I sparked up in a nearby park. Immediate relief and feeling audibly thankful for New York’s legalization.
For me and so many others, budtenders aren’t just cannabis salespeople. They are product experts, helpful guides, and a visual signal that your brain and body are about to relax.
THIS is why I tip my budtender. They are the window to the wellness product I need, and that’s worth the $5 I put in the tip jar. It's how I thank those who work hard to enhance my dispensary experience.
There are millions of people just like me. Maybe they don’t experience the same struggles as I do, but cannabis is a helper for so many. The budtender facilitates that!
Should you tip your budtender?
While tipping budtenders is generally acceptable at most adult-use cannabis dispensaries, some places may discourage or even prohibit tipping. It’s always a good idea to check local laws and policies to be sure.
That said, tipping your budtender is completely optional. In an era where tipping etiquette has faced backlash—especially with concerns over "tipflation"—it’s understandable why some people might feel fatigued by constant tipping prompts.
Read next:
Dispensary staff training: How to empower cannabis retail employees
However, much like tipping service industry workers like a server or hairstylist, I believe tipping your local dispensary budtender for exceptional service is a practice that deserves more recognition.
Here’s why.
1. Great budtenders provide a service
Budtenders do more than just ring up sales. Unless you’re using a self-serve kiosk or don’t have any questions for the budtender, you are receiving a service. Sometime this service goes above and beyond! Good budtenders are experts at their craft, and much like hairstylists, they need specific knowledge to answer your questions and serve you.
2. Cannabis knowledge isn’t streamlined
Until recently, there weren’t many budtender training courses available, and budtenders learned much of their knowledge through their own research and experience. Budtenders put a lot of effort into deeply understanding the characteristics that define high-quality cannabis products, where they come from, terpenes, proper consumption methods, how to interact with a broad range of consumers, and so much more. Added gratuity is a way to acknowledge their expertise and the personalized care they bring to your cannabis journey.
3. It fosters a safer, more informed cannabis industry for all
If you’re shopping in a cannabis retail store, you probably care about the plant! It’s a hard industry to be in, with a lingering stigma and widespread product misinformation. Tip your budtender and encourage them to keep going!
How much should you tip your budtender?
Standard tipping rates for budtenders are between 10% and 20% of the sale. However, the most important thing is to tip what you feel is fair. Even a few dollars can go a long way and will be appreciated by your budtender.
Unlike a hairstylist or server where 20% is the norm, tipping doesn’t need to follow that same standard in cannabis retail. Dispensaries serve people of all income levels, and cannabis is essential for many medical cannabis patients. Tipping budtenders 20% might not be realistic for everyone, and that’s perfectly okay.
Here’s a simple guide:
Quick transaction: If you’re in and out with a simple order, small tips like $1 or spare change is a thoughtful way to say thanks.
Guided selection: If your budtender took the time to help you choose the right products or answer your questions, consider tossing $2-$4 in the tip jar.
Complex orders: For consultations that take a significant amount of time, $5-$10 in gratuity shows appreciation for the extra effort.
Every interaction with a budtender is different. Some transactions are quick and easy, while others are first-time customers and involve 15-20 minutes of detailed questions.
If your budtender spends extra time helping you achieve a great cannabis experience, a larger tip may be appropriate if you have the means. But whether it’s a couple of dollars or a bit more, your tip reflects your appreciation for the quality of service provided.
Consider tipping your budtender $1-$10 next time you're at the dispensary.
How Flowhub empowers budtenders with technology
Tipping budtenders is one way to show appreciation, but empowering them with the right tools is just as important. Flowhub’s dispensary growth platform is built so that budtenders can thrive at work every single day.
We are creating stoner proof technology that makes being a budtender as easy and enjoyable as possible with features like:
Customer insights
Automated deals
Custom loyalty programs
Budtender tipping options with Flowhub Pay
Budtender performance tracking
Flowhub’s technology doesn’t just make transactions easier and more efficient at the cash register; it’s helping budtenders shine and deliver more personalized customer experiences.
Happy Budtender Love Week: Don’t forget to tip your budtender!
While I wish Flowhub could throw a party for every incredible budtender in person, we are having an online budtender party instead!
From September 6th-13th, 2024, we’re hosting our 1st-ever Budtender Love Week. To celebrate budtenders, we’re giving away over $2,000 worth of prizes (including a $200 PuffCo gift card!) on LinkedIn and Instagram, hosting a live training session with Vetrina Group, issuing Flowhub Budtender Awards, and more.
Make sure you’re following us on social media and join us!
On behalf of all of Flowhub: THANK YOU BUDTENDERS for being here and doing what you do. You are appreciated every single day!
