Want to learn how to buy weed like a pro? Here are some quick tips and facts about cannabis

For marijuana enthusiasts, advocates, and occasional partakers, Saturday, April 20, is a day to celebrate the cannabis plant and culture.

While the festivities seem to be a day filled with marijuana consumption, many advocates and dispensary owners see this as an opportunity to educate anyone who might be curious about cannabis.

There is no specific origin to how the yearly April 20 festivities began, but many stories have been passed down from generations of users. The most widely known origin story, according to the High Times, is the Legend of the Waldos, which dates back to 1971 at San Rafael High School in California

A group of five high school students, who called themselves the Waldos, would meet up after school at 4:20 p.m. every day to smoke "doobies" under the school statue of Louis Pasteur. The legend also said this group of friends would search for a mysterious cannabis field in the hills just outside town.

For people who have never gotten high off of marijuana products or know little about it, here are some tips on how to buy it.

What to expect when you walk into a dispensary

Walking into a dispensary isn't like going to the liquor store; the security precautions are higher. When you first walk into a dispensary, don't expect to see any marijuana product right away. Security will greet you in a tiny lobby room, asking you to scan your driver's license, U.S. passport, U.S. military ID, or state-issued ID.

Even though you might look over 21 years old, your ID must be scanned due to the one-ounce per-person per day limit enforced by the Massachusetts Cannabis Control Commission. Massachusetts residents over 21 years old are allowed to purchase up to an ounce of recreational marijuana flower, five grams of cannabis concentrate, or 500 milligrams of edibles per-person in one day.

The security staff at dispensaries scan your lD to ensure you haven't exceeded the legal limit you can purchase in the day. There is no limit to how many dispensaries you can visit in one day, but there is a limit on the amount of marijuana products you can purchase.

After you pass security, the staff will buzz you in, and you will finally enter the floor where marijuana products, accessories, and dispensary merchandise are displayed. All dispensaries are a cash-only business. Debit cards may be accepted, but credit cards are not because marijuana is a federally illegal substance. Be sure you bring a valid ID and cash to make your first visit to the dispensary go smoothly.

How can I buy it?

There are hundreds of types of marijuana strains that fall under three species of cannabis: Indica, Sativa, and hybrid. The most popular ways to consume marijuana are to inhale vapor or smoke and eat or drink it.

Various devices sold at dispensaries create many methods of getting high, and the effects of the high depend on the technique and the marijuana strain.

Cannabis flower and vape cartridges are two ways in which people smoke marijuana. Cannabis flower is the smokable part of the plant. Dispensaries sell flowers by an eighth of an ounce, which is 3.5 grams.

While smoking flower requires some equipment, edibles and vaporizers are an easier way to get high. Dispensaries label any food or beverages made with THC as "edibles." There are dozens of edible varieties, from chocolate bars and gummies to seltzer waters and hot cocoa.

How much does it cost?

Recreational and medical marijuana prices vary, and it depends on the strain, the form it's purchased in, and local taxation. Medical marijuana is exempt from retail state and local taxation. However, municipalities still have the option to impose up to a 3% tax through the Host Community Agreement fee on medical use sales.

The average cost of an eighth of an ounce of marijuana in Massachusetts is between $20 to $40. The price depends on the quality of the cannabis and taxation.

The average cost of a single pre-roll, or joint, from a licensed cannabis dispensary in Massachusetts is between $10 and $25 before state or local tax. A THC vape cartridge is between $20 and $55; the vaporizer device is sold separately.

Then, there are accessories and equipment needed to smoke marijuana. Smoking flower requires a grinder to cut it up so it can fit in a pipe, a bong, or rolling paper. Rolling paper is used to pack flower into a joint or blunt.

Depending on the quality and material of the device, a grinder can cost between $5 and $80 or more. Rolling papers cost between $1 and $5 before taxes.

Pipes and bongs are usually made of glass but can also be made of silicone, wood, ceramic or acrylic. The material and complexity of the pipe or bong influence the price. Pipes and bongs come in many shapes, colors and sizes.

A standard glass or silicone spoon pipe can cost between $8 and $20. Meanwhile, a handmade ceramic or glass pipe can cost up to $50.

A standard glass or silicone bong costs between $20 and $60. The cost of a bong will increase depending on its size, material and complexity. Some bongs cost up to $200 or more.

How long does marijuana stay in my system?

The effects of marijuana last between one and six hours, depending on how much is consumed and the method of consumption. Long after the effects wear off, marijuana takes up to 30 days to leave your system, which means it can show up in urine and hair drug tests weeks after consumption.

While edibles might be more convenient, note that the high can last longer and be more intense compared to smoking marijuana. Edibles are processed through the stomach and liver, which takes hours to leave your system, prolonging the high.

Local 4/20 deals

Now that the adult use and sale of marijuana have been legal since 2018, curiosity may incline people to try it for the first time. If you are one of those people who is curious about the recreational use of marijuana, here are some deals at local dispensaries in honor of this year's 4/20 celebration.

Bud Barn at 682 Spring St. in Winchendon has already started on its 4/20 celebration. Customers can buy any Rev Farms eighth (of an ounce) and get an Ace Weidman's Gelatii Cookies pre-roll for $1. Rev Farms charges between $25 and $40 for an eighth of an ounce.

Daniel Lencioni, district manager for Joint Operations, said they are expecting a call from the Massachusetts Cannabis Control Commission soon to give them the green light to open in Gardner, which means they will have a grand opening on Monday, April 15. He said they should be open in time for the 4/20 celebration.

Joint Operations will offer 4/20 bundle deals between Monday, April 15, and Saturday, April 20. At every location, including Gardner, when it opens, there will be a prize spin wheel where customers can win giveaways, store swag, T-shirts, and accessories for 4/20.

Lencioni said customers should keep an eye on their website for the 4/20 bundle deals.

This article originally appeared on Gardner News: What to know when buying recreational marijuana in Gardner