Medical vs. Recreational Dispensary: What's the Difference?

Quick answer: a recreational (adult-use) dispensary sells to anyone 21 or older with a valid ID. A medical dispensary sells only to registered patients with a state medical card. Many shops are licensed for both.

Who can buy

Taxes and prices

Medical purchases usually carry lower taxes than adult-use sales, which is one reason patients in legal states keep their cards.

Purchase limits

Medical patients often get higher limits than recreational buyers. The numbers are set by each state.

Products

Medical shops may carry higher-potency products or forms reserved for patients. Ask the staff what is open to you.

How to tell which one a shop is

Check the state's license list. It shows whether a retailer holds an adult-use license, a medical license, or both.

Find a licensed shop

Alexis 420 lists 9,700+ state-licensed dispensaries across 36 states and DC, pulled from each state's own license list. Ideas and guides on Pinterest.

For adults 21 and older.