Tiered pricing in cannabis flower

Cannabis, like wines, liquor, food and many other products, isn’t a one-size-fits-all flower.  Visit a dispensary menu and you’ll see tiered prices for different strains of flower.  Why the variation in price?  Well, that depends on several things.  Imagine yourself in the grocery store looking at canned green beans.  You have the option to go for DelMonte, which is a higher priced version from a long respected brand; you could go mid-range with a store’s specialty brand, typically priced lower than a premium but touting specialty quality; or you could get the Brand X generic that is usually the least expensive.  We make choices based on our own perception of quality, sometimes influenced by brand recognition, or perceived value.

Cannabis flower pricing strategy works this way too, but remember that price is often determined by a number of factors aside from quality.   Price can be impacted by competition, cost of goods, and seasonality as well as scarcity or specialty of strain.  When visiting a dispensary, you can make a selection based on price, but you’re best served by doing your homework and determining what your expectations for the purchase are.  Are you looking for an effective medicine without fanfare and a low price?  You’re likely to find what you’re looking for in a value brand.  These are frequently popular strains that are widely available and have a lower price tag than something considered top-shelf.

Top-shelf will more than likely be a brand’s signature strain and not available at other dispensaries.  Top-shelf flower will be higher priced, but also of the utmost in quality – perhaps the strain is new or different in terms of genetic content, a limited release, or packaged in high-end materials.  Top-shelf consumers are likely to be most concerned about the perception of the quality, planning for a special occasion, or a treat that differs from the usual standbys or “regularly” used products.

Something extremely important to remember in Missouri is that all of the cannabis flower you purchase in dispensaries will have to pass the state’s testing regulations, so you can feel comfortable that what you’re purchasing at any price point is a quality product and is not suspect in terms of content.  The real key is to find what best meets your needs in terms of effects, budget, and availability.