bud tending is easy, but not that easy..

Not many 420 Patients realize what it truly takes to be a good bud tender to the members of the collective. It's not just being cute selling weed, it's about having alot of cannabis knowledge to actually be helpful to the patients that come in for their medication, as well as dedicating countless hours to be there. Not to mention, in CA, clinics are still being shut down, so bud tenders are faced with the legal apprehends as well.

Yesterday, i bud tended 14 hours at a shop. Sounds crazy, but 14 hours is a usual full day for a bud tender or security officer at a shop. I was bud tending for over a year, but I've been out of the game for a while due to the last shut down of a shop that i volunteered at, and yesterday was really busy, throwing some tests at me... For example: An middle aged woman came in for the very first time ever in a dispensary for her son with multiple diseases and health issues. She herself was fighting cancer and the tumors growing in her body. She didn't have a rec, but was just her sons caregiver. However, though she is not for getting "stoned", she learned from her sons doctor the helpful effects of C-B-D in Cannabis. I helped her out and bud tended her, answered any questions to the best of my knowledge, she had ALOT of questions. It truly had me quizzed on so many questions on cannabis, which i know i am learning more and more every day of the health benefits, different concentrates, and i guess more of the.. science of the plant were consuming. Countless patients went by and i was still assisting this one patient. She actually ended up making a donation for alot of medicine for both herself and her son and she left with a little more confidence and knowledge on cannabis and what can help them. I learn everyday from the patients, cause like i said, i don't know everything, and so many patients come in with different health issues. That's kind of my rant on that. It's great being able to learn more and also help people at the same time. recreational stoners or medical patients!

As far as dedication in time, when i was just a 420 patient, i would notice my bud tenders at my regular shop were ALWAYS there. Bud tenders don't always just get to kick it and smoke weed all day with an occasional rush of patients. When you volunteer at a predominantly busy shop, we don't get to have lunch, set time breaks, etc. We have a "rotation". So one budtender helps a patient, next patient is helped by the other and that goes in rotation. When were hungry and have a quick minute of not having any patients, we scarf down our food or snack to get back out there and get those patients out with their medication. If it's not too crazy, we'll be able to skip a couple patients then switch. As part of proper bud room etiquette, we can't be on our phones with patients in the flower room. For myself, i don't get to check txts, phone calls, or be on social media as much as i'd like. (okay 3rd world problems lol) We do work very hard and receive tips, which are so beneficial to us considering we're (quote un quote) "volunteers". Yesterday, my fellow budtender assisted 3 family members with their order and they tipped us very well for such a big order they needed. Maybe an hour later, i noticed a large bill was missing from the tip jar. A patient had jacked our $!! How fucked up is that for anyone in general to steal from someones tip jar!? A bud tender, a bar tender, a cashier?! After being helped, they steal from us. It's just so crazy to me someone would do that and especially someone we see and help out daily. What a slap in the face. We tried not to dwell on it the rest of the day. Karma is real yall!

Anyway, i needed to vent on my long, stressful day. I have alot of appreciation for my bud tenders and i hope 420 patients to as well. And knowledge on cannabis is growing, learn your weed! benefit yourself on how exactly this herb can help you! New cannabis information is surfacing, i know i have alot more to learn too:]