Budtender Reymon Brown turned his passion for cannabis into a career after Massachusetts legalized adult use. He started budtending to learn the business firsthand, while also exploring ownership opportunities through a social equity program.
His customer-first approach earned him the Oaksterdam Community Advocacy Award, which recognizes budtenders who go above and beyond to educate, advocate, and ensure safe, legal access for patients and consumers.
Building Trust with New Customers
For many first-time visitors, dispensaries can feel intimidating. Reymon makes it his mission to create a welcoming experience.
“One of the first things I do when someone is visibly nervous is say, ‘First things first. Take a deep breath. You are about to buy some weed.’ This always makes them laugh and start to relax.”
From there, he asks open-ended questions like:
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“What are you looking for?”
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“Do you prefer smoking, edibles, or another method?”
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“Are you planning to consume during the day or at night?”
These questions help customers articulate their goals without pressure. Reymon avoids pushing products and instead focuses on finding the right fit. He believes that a positive first experience creates long-term loyalty.
Community and Education
Reymon emphasizes that education is central to budtending. Growing up on the East Coast, he saw less awareness about cannabis than in the West. To address this gap, he founded a pop-up social club where enthusiasts, budtenders, and community members — even non-consumers — can learn about cannabis in a safe space.
“I take that education, slow it down, and put it into terms customized for my customer. That’s how I advocate for everyone,” he says.
For Reymon, budtending is about helping people avoid the confusion he faced when he first started learning about cannabis.
Featured in The Budtender’s Guide
Reymon Brown is one of many professionals highlighted in Oaksterdam University’s Budtender’s Guide: A Reference Manual for Dispensary Professionals and Cannabis Consumers.
This comprehensive resource covers:
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Cannabis use and effects
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Product types and ingestion methods
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Practical budtending techniques
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Customer service and advocacy best practices
👉 Order your copy of The Budtender’s Guide here.
Reymon Brown, Amesbury, Massachusetts