Anatomy of the Marijuana Plant
Although you may be familiar with the marijuana buds that we covet, many people have never seen a marijuana plant, let alone know about its anatomy. The cannabis plant is made up of many different structures and this post is meant to provide a brief introduction to the main parts of this amazing plant.
Flower
Flowers (a.k.a. buds) are the most well-known part of the cannabis plant. The plants will either have female or male flowers, and the flowering process is how a grower discerns whether the plant is female or male. A flowering female plant will develop a cola and grow buds. It will also produce seeds if it is fertilized by a male plant. The flowering male plant does not have buds, but develops small pollen sacks at the base of its leaves. Pollinated plants are far less rich in cannabinoids (like THC) so the buds you purchase and enjoy are always unpollinated seedless females.
Cola
The cola refers to the part of the female plant where the buds come together at the tip of the stem. The quality and size of the cola can be increased during the growing process with plant training, which means physically manipulating the plant so it grows more bud sites, which increases yields. The cola produces the largest, densest buds with the highest potency. When you buy top-shelf flower, you usually get buds from the cola that have been hand-trimmed.
Fan Leaves
Fan leaves are the large, protruding leaves that appear up and down the plant. Each leaf usually contains five individual leaves, but sometimes have more. Photosynthesis is the main function of these striking leaves, and they don’t produce high levels of cannabinoids like buds do. But even though they aren’t smoked, they are famous for being an iconic symbol of the cannabis plant in marijuana culture.
Sugar Leaves
Sugar leaves are the small leaves that grow out of the buds. They are often hidden, with only their tips peeking through. They are usually covered in trichomes, which give them the appearance of being dusted with sugar. Because they carry cannabinoid-rich trichomes, they can be used to make concentrates and extracts.
Trichomes
Trichomes are a tiny but essential part of the cannabis flower. These resin glands coat the flower and look like translucent crystal-like globes. Trichomes are rich in cannabinoids and terpenes, which are responsible for the euphoric and therapeutic effects of the plant.
Pistil
Pistils look like tiny hairs that grow out of the sides of the flower. They start out white but turn to red, orange, and brown. Only females have pistils, and they function to capture pollen from male plants.
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How much do you rely on your budtender to guide your purchasing decisions? Studies show that over 90% of consumers purchase a specific product recommended by the budtender. So why do we put so much faith towards a budtender recommendation?
Budtenders are often considered connoisseurs who have in-depth knowledge about cannabis and various cannabis products. In LivWell's case, this assumption is a reality. They use the budtender training platform Learn Brands to ensure every employee has relevant and intimate cannabis knowledge that you can trust.
Internal Training
Learn Brands hosts a suite of training solutions that set their budtenders above the rest. Internal Training is the first step of the process. LivWell University is a world-class training program built on Learn Brands that every level of employee across the company participates in. The two-week-long program covers:
- The company’s history
- Expectations
- Security
- Compliance with local and state laws
- Product types
- Marijuana history and botany
- Plant cultivation science
- Extraction techniques
- Bodily effects of cannabis
- Customer service and more
These topics are presented through engaging, interactive, and multimedia content to optimize the learning experience.
Brand and Product Education
Brand and product training is an ongoing source of education that our budtenders constantly engage with to stay up-to-date on the products that they sell. Learn Brands hosts a course for every brand carried on LivWell’s shelf.
Each course is built in partnership with the brand and provides real-time access to product information straight from the source. This empowers the budtender to know and understand the best products to recommend for any consumer's desired effect.
Sampling
In the food industry waiters, and waitresses are often asked “what I should order” based on the expectation that they have tried the food offered at the restaurant. A budtender shares a similar role. Consumers want to know the products that the budtender has tried and liked.
The issue is cannabis products can be expensive, and regardless of employee discounts, it can be difficult to purchase every product carried by the store. Learn Brands allows each LivWell budtender to sample every brand carried by the store for $1 as an incentive to learn more about the various product lines.
Your Experience Is Important To Us
We know how important it is for our budtenders to keep you informed about the cannabis products you purchase to help you meet your cannabis goals. LivWell uses LearnBrands to guarantee that our budtenders have accurate and up-to-date information for every customer interaction and the opportunity to sample all our brands and products we carry.
This allows our budtenders to be the most knowledgeable and trustworthy about our company, the cannabis industry, and the cannabis products that matter to you. You can let us know how we are doing at any of our 21 stores here. Thank you for shopping with us!
Here are some tips on the best ways to store your cannabis flower, concentrates, and edibles so that they are fresh and last as long as you need them. Because who doesn’t love the best taste, smell, potency, and condition of your weed right up until it’s gone?
Keep in mind that the best method for storing marijuana depends on how long you intend to keep it and its consistency and nature. And remember to always keep it locked away and labeled for safekeeping. There are a ton of safe storage options on the market that have locks and are designed to be childproofed.
Storing cannabis flower
When storing your bud, it’s best to separate your cannabis strains from each other to maintain their individual flavor profiles. Here are a few other tips on storing your weed.
Glass is best
If you store your cannabis flower properly it can last up to a year. The best storage type for flower is an air-tight glass container. You can use a mason jar or purchase special glass jars made for storing your weed. Glass won’t affect the taste like metal containers and won’t cause static as plastic does. Plastic containers or bags are ok for transporting your buds short-term, but the static can fry those sugary trichomes over time.
Humidity is important
It’s best to put your bud in its container in a cool and dark place so it doesn’t get too much light and heat, which can cause it to dry and degrade. If you live in Colorado you know that it gets very dry here. So if you notice that your bud looks a little dry you can place an orange peel or wet cotton ball into the container to re-moisturize it.
However, you don’t want your flower to get too moist because it causes mold and microbial contamination. Cannabis should be stored in environments that are below 65 percent RH to remain safe for consumption. So if you really want to get precise on the humidity level, get Boveda humidity control packs for your weed jar.
Putting flower in a refrigerator may cause fluctuations in humidity and temperature so don’t store your buds in the fridge. Also, don’t store them in the freezer as it will cause the trichomes to become brittle and break off.
Storing cannabis concentrates
Containers
The best storage containers for your cannabis concentrates depend on the consistency of the extract. For creamy concentrates like budder, sauce, sugar, or crumble use the smallest possible glass jar with a plastic twist top so there’s no extra space for air. The glass makes it easy to scoop these types of concentrates right off.
For storing concentrates short-term you can consider using medical-grade silicone jars, which are good for scraping off but most aren’t airtight. Another short-term storage option is plastic jars, although with stickier concentrates it’s harder to scrape them off.
Parchment paper is good for short-term storage of concentrates like shatter. Cut just enough for the amount and keep it folded up to protect from outside elements. For medium-term storage put the parchment in a food storage bag or air-tight container.
For long-term storage, you can put your airtight container with concentrate in the refrigerator to help preserve aroma and potency.
Storing cannabis edibles
If you're wondering how to store edibles, in general, all edibles should be stored in a cool, dry, and dark place. It’s also super important to lock them away to keep them out of reach from children and pets.
Store-bought edibles
Softer edibles like gummies or caramels should be stored to minimize air exposure. For caramels or sticky edibles, it’s ideal to have each piece individually wrapped. You can put the edibles in air-tight containers like mylar bags or child-resistant squeeze top containers that many store-bought edibles come with.
For baked goods, it’s best to store them at room temperature and do not refrigerate them as that will dry them out. However, they can be stored in the freezer for up to 6 months.
For chocolate edibles, you can wrap any leftovers in foil and store them or keep them in their air-tight containers. Chocolate can last 8-10 months but if you want it to last a few more months you could store it in the refrigerator labeled and in an airtight container.
Unopened edible drinks can last 6-9 months in a cool location like a dark pantry or the refrigerator. Tinctures can last for a year or more in a cool dry place.
Home-made edibles
If you choose to make your own infused edibles (try Sweet Grass cannabutter), and you have some leftover, consider labeling them with the date they were made. You can vacuum seal them in food bags or put them in food-safe containers. Just remember to keep them locked away, labeled, and stored in an airtight container.
We hope these tips help keep your cannabis fresh and in top-notch condition!
We’re all juggling multiple things every day, so here are a few tips on how to be a smart cannabis shopper so you can get all you want and need—and save some cash.
Things to Know
If you are a tourist or local visiting a dispensary for the first time (or if you just need a refresher), be sure to understand how much cannabis you can buy, as well as answers to other common questions about cannabis shopping. Two quick things to always remember to bring to a dispensary are your ID and cash to avoid any ATM charges.
When dispensary shopping, in addition to checking Google Maps to find dispensaries near you, check out WeedMaps or Leafly mobile apps. They will show you what dispensaries are near you, which ones are offering deals, and things like trending strains.
General Discounts
- Some cannabis shops offer first-time customer discounts so be on the lookout if you are interested in trying out new dispensaries.
- Most also offer veteran discounts if you’ve served or are currently in the military.
- Some dispensaries offer a discount if you place an online order, so be sure to check their website.
- If you want to get your medical card, keep in mind this will save you a boatload of cash on taxes.
Daily Sales
Many dispensaries have daily deals, like Monday Munchies or Wax Wednesdays. If you have time during the week to drop by one of our 21 locations in Colorado, there will likely be a sale going on. Ask your budtender, look for signs for what’s currently on sale or you can check our website ahead of your visit. Bookmark our deals page as it shows daily sales including what, how much, if it’s for recreation or medical, and when the offers expire.
We also have a featured vendor once a month with deals on their products every day of the month. So be sure to check and bookmark our featured partner page to get deals on your favorite brands every month.
Weekend Sales
The deals and featured partner pages will also show any weekend sales, which happens often. Many deals expire at the end of the day on Sunday, so be sure to check the website before you come in on a weekend. If you’re seeing a friend or two it could mean being able to get that extra product or accessory to share or gift!
Rewards Program
Many marijuana dispensaries offer loyalty programs that can provide extra savings. At LivWell, members earn points with every purchase that goes towards credits or discounts on your next purchase. Plus when you sign up to the LivWell Rewards Program, you can opt-in to receive email and/or text communications so you are in the know about all sales going on.
And of course, there is a LivWell Medical Member Program for all of our medical patient customers. Medical members get credits just for signing up, monthly credits, recreational discounts, and discounts on flower. Medical customers can sign up by bringing a valid photo ID and your Colorado medical marijuana registry card to a LivWell dispensary.
Discontinued Items
Sometimes products are discontinued but the remaining items in inventory are available in-store only at discounted prices. So be sure to ask your budtender what discontinued products are available in the category you are looking for and you could save big on those last available gems.
Expiring Items
Regulations require that there is an expiration date on all products. Most products have a longer shelf life than listed and can be preserved past that date by refrigeration or other methods. Ask your budtender what expiring items are available. This could mean even more discounts for you!
Vendor Pop-Up Specials
Pre-pandemic, vendors would often pop into dispensaries to answer questions about their products and offer discounts. Currently, vendors still offer discounts on certain days at select locations even though they are not able to be in-store.
So another way to save money is to check out and bookmark our vendor events web page. Some discounts are as much as 25% off so it’s definitely worth your time to check the vendor events page before your visit in case what you want or need is on special.
We hope these tips will help you get all of the cannabis you need and want plus save you some green. Happy and smart cannabis shopping!
