Start with total cost, not the sticker
A deal at the shop two blocks away can beat a deeper discount across town. Add travel time, parking, tolls, and delivery fees to the sticker price. A $30 eighth that needs 40 minutes of driving is not the same purchase as a $38 eighth you pass on the walk home. Set a total cost cap before you open a menu.
Tax rates differ by state and by city. Some states add an excise tax, a local tax, and standard sales tax to the same receipt. Ask for the tax-inclusive total on the items you plan to buy. That number is the one to compare.
Compare price per milligram
For edibles, divide the price by the total THC in the package. A $20 package with 100 mg of THC is $0.20 per mg. A $30 package with 200 mg is $0.15 per mg. The second package is the better buy per mg even though it costs more at the register.
For flower, use price per gram. A $45 quarter is 7 g, so $6.43 per gram. A $30 eighth is 3.5 g, so $8.57 per gram. Divide before you decide.
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Parameters to compare
- Total THC in mg and net weight in grams
- Package date and batch number
- Lab name and results on the Certificate of Analysis
- Tax-inclusive total
- First-visit discount, loyalty points, veteran or senior discount
- Stacking rules: can two discounts apply to one item
- Delivery fee, order minimum, and tip
- Return policy for a mislabeled or defective product
What a promo can hide
- Old stock. Check the package date before you buy a marked-down item.
- Purchase thresholds. A free pre-roll with a $100 spend costs you $100 if your plan was $60.
- Dose. 10 mg of THC is a standard single serving. A 100 mg single-item edible is 10 servings, not one.
- Membership fees. A $50 annual fee only pays back if your discounts clear $50.
- Potency talk from staff. The label and the Certificate of Analysis are the record.
Licensing and delivery
Confirm the license number of the shop or delivery service in the state cannabis registry. Delivery fees, order minimums, and service areas differ by city. Sellers who operate without a license advertise prices that licensed shops cannot match. Those prices carry legal risk and no testing record.
Checklist before you pay
- Confirm the license number in the state registry.
- Read the label: net weight, THC mg per serving, servings per package, batch number.
- Ask for the tax-inclusive total.
- Ask if discounts stack.
- Check the package date and the Certificate of Analysis.
- Keep the receipt. Some states require it for returns or complaints.
Prices, tax rules, and serving caps differ by state. Confirm the local rules for your city before you buy.