Sherwood budtender values patience, listening

My first entry into the industry was at Natural State Medicinals [cultivation facility in White Hall] as a gummy cook in their edibles department. I got pretty interested there in inventory tracking. I helped them expedite the way they were doing their labeling. It was one of the first cultivators in Arkansas to use QR codes so people could get links to laboratory results. … I didn’t think I was going to enjoy being a budtender. I ended up falling in love with it. It’s not just a translation, it’s a relationship that we have with people. It’s changed my outlook on life. I have always been known as a little bit of a Negative Nancy, a little bit of a Grumpus sometimes. Just to feel like I’m doing something to help people has really just changed my life. 

What makes a good budtender?

First and foremost, being patient with people. Oftentimes, we see people in their worst moments. You really have to be able to meet people at their own level, be understanding and listen to them. We’re almost therapists in some way. You never know what someone is going through until you talk to them about it. You can teach anybody everything about cannabis, but it’s hard to teach them to be patient and open and welcoming. 

Do you get a lot of customers looking for the highest THC? Do you try to steer customers in other directions or help them find products that might be right for them?

Absolutely, I do. I totally understand, because it’s the one objective number that you feel like you can look at to gauge how “strong” or potent something is. I know terpenes might be foreign word to someone or cannabinoid. You have to very graciously and very patiently warm them up to the idea of looking at something that might be foreign to them. Terpenes are where you are going to find the magic. That’s where you’re going to find what the real effects are. I’ve used products that are 12%, 11% that does just as much for me as something that’s 30%. You’ve got to keep doing the trial and error and try to focus on the terpenes. 

What strains are popular these days?

People gravitate really really strongly toward the strains that are just indica or just sativa. We just got in Durban Poison for the first time in a few weeks from Osage [Creek Cultivation]. That’s one of the only 100% sativas on the market and I guarantee you it’s selling like hotcakes right now, because people have been waiting on it to come back. On the opposite side, you’ve got your indicas like Eleven Roses. The first thing you think of are Eleven Roses and Durban Poison.

Do you sell a lot of edibles and other products? 

Absolutely. A lot of people do vape cartridges because they are more discreet if they have kids in the house or want to be able to use something inside and not stink up their house. Edibles and gummies are super super popular because that’s one of the main types of products that has just considerably dropped in price since we started the program four or five years ago. Gummies have just plummeted in price. 

Do you have drinks?

Osage has what they call elixirs, which are kind of like if cough medicine was made with THC even though it tastes way better than cough medicine. And then Natural State Medicinals has drink mixes, which is like a super, super concentrated liquid that you pour into any drink. Bold has Wynk drinks, which are the seltzer drinks. Those are super popular, just because it is real similar to a Truly. It has very similar packaging in a can that you can pop open and it tastes like a seltzer.

If you had one piece of advice for a new consumer, what would it be? 

Do not be afraid of trial and error. The odds are that the first thing you try is not going to be the last thing that you find that is your favorite. I know it sucks, because this stuff is expensive, but you’re going to try stuff that you don’t like. You’re going to have to say “That was a trial and didn’t work out.” You have to search through the chaff to find the thing that works for you. You’re starting on a journey here. This is not your destination, this is just the beginning of your journey. This is where you are going to start finding what you need.

Check out our previous interviews:

Jennifer Burr, Natural Relief Dispensary

Buffy Montgomery, Suite 443

Addison Aquino, CROP Dispensary

Dustin Watson, Good Day Farm Monticello