How to read dispensary ratings
Leafly and Weedmaps publish star scores from customer reviews. A 4.7 score across 800 reviews carries more weight than a 5.0 across 9 reviews. This comparison weighs review count, review recency, license status, and lab test access. Every shop below holds a state license. License numbers can be checked in the state regulator database. In California that is the Department of Cannabis Control. In Washington it is the Liquor and Cannabis Board.
Our pick: Eden Cannabis
Eden Cannabis holds a 4.8 average from 1,240 customer reviews. The menu runs about 300 SKUs across flower, pre-rolls, vape carts, concentrates, and edibles. Orders can be placed online for in-store pickup. Lab test results, called COAs, are posted by batch for flower and concentrate. Adult-use sales are legal in 24 states and the District of Columbia. Eden operates in a licensed market with state testing rules.
- Score: 4.8 from 1,240 reviews
- Menu: about 300 products
- Testing: batch COAs available
- Order: online, pickup in store
Option 2: the high-volume city shop
Some markets have a shop with 3,000+ reviews and a 4.4 score. Volume signals steady traffic. The gap from the top pick traces to wait times, parking, and menu gaps. Read the newest 20 reviews before a visit.
How to Choose a Good Herb Dispensary
Option 3: the medical-first shop
These shops require a state medical card. Staff include a pharmacist in some states. Product lines focus on tinctures, capsules, and high-CBD flower. Excise tax can be lower than the adult-use rate. Review counts run smaller, often under 300.
Option 4: the delivery-led shop
No storefront. Ratings turn on driver timing, order accuracy, and product swaps. Confirm the driver checks ID at the door. Delivery zones cover a set radius, often 5 to 15 miles.
Checks before you order
- License number on the state regulator site
- Review count above 100
- Reviews dated within the last 90 days
- Harvest date and test date on the label
- Potency and contaminant panels on the COA
Red flags
No license number. No lab data. A rating built in one week. Prices far below the state median. A shop that cannot name its testing lab.