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Getting started

Cannabis Basics for First-Timers

New to cannabis? The plain-language version: the key terms, how formats differ, and how to keep your first time comfortable.

What you’re buying

Every product at a licensed New Jersey dispensary starts with the cannabis plant. It reaches the shelf in a few forms: dried flower, pre-rolls, vapes, edibles and concentrates. New Jersey lets adults 21 and older, residents or visitors, buy it from state-licensed dispensaries like ours.

Three words you’ll see everywhere

  • THC (delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol) is the compound behind the “high.” How much THC a product has is one of the biggest factors in how strong it feels.
  • CBD (cannabidiol) is another compound in the plant. It doesn’t cause a high.
  • Terpenes are aroma compounds. They’re why one strain smells like citrus and another like pine.

Every NJ package lists its THC and CBD content. Here’s how to read the label.

Timing depends on the format

When cannabis is smoked or vaped, it’s usually felt within minutes. When it’s eaten, it usually takes 30 minutes to 2 hours, and it can last much longer. That gap is the one thing every first-timer should know before choosing a product. Compare the formats side by side.

Start low, go slow

No one can predict exactly how a product will affect you. Pick a lower-THC product, take a small amount, and give it time before deciding whether you want more. With edibles, wait a few hours. More on edibles.

Ask us anything

No question is too basic. Tell our budtenders which format you’re curious about, and they’ll explain the labels and point out lower-THC options. Planning your trip? Read your first visit to Green Leaf.

Ready to browse? See what’s in stock on the live menu and order ahead for in-store pickup.