When most people shop for cannabis, the first thing they look for is THC percentage. It’s become the default shortcut for judging quality, and for a lot of consumers, it feels like the easiest way to compare products. But cannabis is more complex and layered than a single number on a label, and a higher THC percentage doesn’t automatically indicate a better, smoother, or more enjoyable experience.  

At Seed & Smith, we believe good cannabis education should help consumers make smarter choices, not stronger ones. The best product isn’t always the one with the highest potency — usually, it’s one that fits your tolerance, goals, and the experience you’re looking for.  

THC is only one component of the experience

THC is important, but it only tells you a small piece of the story. While it can give you a sense of a product’s strength, it doesn’t tell you how balanced it will feel, how flavorful it is, or how well it may suit your needs. Two products can test similarly for THC percentages and still deliver completely different experiences.  

That’s because cannabis is made up of more than just THC. Terpenes, minor cannabinoids, cultivation quality, freshness, and the product type all contribute to your consumption experience. Focusing on potency is like choosing a meal based on a single ingredient — you might get the headline, but you miss what makes the full experience work.  

Even experienced consumers often find that balance of all these things matters more than brute strength — the right terp profile, the right extraction method, and the right format can make a product feel more dialed in thana high THC option that seems impressive in theory. 

Your nose knows

In many cases, your nose can better tell you what you’ll enjoy more than THC percentage ever will.  

Terpenes are the aromatic compounds that give cannabis its smell and much of its flavor. They are what makes one strain smell bright and citrusy, while another strain comes off dank and gassy. For a lot of consumers, the fastest path to finding a product they’ll enjoy is to smell it first, and notice how their trigeminal nerve becomes activated.  Some aromas feel bright, sharp, and high in the nasal passage, while others feel softer, heavier, or lower in the face. Understanding that physical sensation is a helpful tool to guide shoppers toward the experience they may be looking for.  

Instinct matters! If a scent feels appealing to you, there’s a good chance the product may suit your body’s preferences more so than something that simply looks stronger on paper. Shopping by aroma helps take some of the guesswork and makes shopping feel a bit more intuitive.  

What else matters

A smart way to judge cannabis quality is to look at the full profile of the product, not just potency.  

• Minor cannabinoids: Compounds like CBD, CBG, and CBN, may help add balance or shift the experience, and together with THC and terpenes contribute to the entourage effect. 

• Freshness: Proper curing and storage can have major impact on  flavor, smoothness, and consistency.  

• Cultivation quality: Healthy plants, mindful growing, and attention to detail all show up in the final product.  

• Product type: Flower, concentrate, edible, and oil all behave differently, and fit different moments.  

Once you start paying attention to these factors, cannabis shopping becomes less about chasing a number and more about something that actually fits what you’re looking for. 

How to shop smarter

A better cannabis purchase starts with asking your budtender better questions. Instead of asking for what has the highest THC, think about the experience you want and what your senses are telling you. 

Ask yourself: 

• Does this smell appeal to me? 

• Do I prefer bright, sweet, earthy, gassy, or floral aromas? 

• Am I looking for something uplifting, calming, or balanced? 

• Does this product seem fresh, well-made, and thoughtfully cultivated? 

Once you start shopping with aroma, quality, and experience in mind, you’re more likely to leave the dispensary with more confidence and less confusion.  

The Seed & Smith approach

If you trust your nose and pay attention to the full expression of the plant, you’re already shopping smarter. Start with what smells good, look at the details behind the product, and choose the option that fits your taste, tolerance, and the experience you’re in search of.