How to Read a Cannabis Menu: THC, MG and Labels

The top pick when you open an unfamiliar cannabis menu is the flower section, and it is worth reading first. Flower listings carry the most detail per line (THC and CBD percentages, weight, cultivator, batch or harvest date, and often terpene data), so they teach you how the rest of the menu is organized. Judge every line against three criteria: potency per unit, the total quantity you are actually buying, and whether lab testing is disclosed. A menu that meets those three standards for flower usually meets them for vapes, edibles, and concentrates too.

The Ultimate Cannabis Menu Guide for Online Shopping

Three criteria that apply to every menu line

Potency is reported two different ways, and mixing them up is the most common menu mistake.

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• Percentage THC or CBD applies to flower, vapes, and concentrates. A 25% THC flower means roughly a quarter of the product weight is THC.
• Milligrams applies to edibles and tinctures. A package marked 100 mg with 10 pieces holds 10 mg per piece.
• Quantity is the weight, count, or volume. A 1 gram pre-roll and a 0.5 gram pre-roll can show identical THC percentages while delivering half the total THC.
• Testing disclosure means a batch number, lab name, or test date on the listing or the package.

Flower: the top pick for a first read

Flower menus usually list strain name, cultivar or brand, THC and CBD percentages, weight tiers, and sometimes the dominant terpenes. The percentages describe the dried flower, so a 3.5 gram jar at 20% THC contains far more total THC than a 1 gram jar at the same percentage.

cannabis menu with prices

Pros

• Easiest section to compare because potency is expressed on one consistent scale.
• Terpene notes, when present, tell you about aroma and flavor direction rather than just strength.
• Batch or harvest dates let you judge freshness.

Cons

• Percentage alone says nothing about the effect you will feel.
• Some menus list strain names without any testing data.

Use case: best for shoppers who want to control dose per session and adjust it themselves.

What is a Cannabis Menu

Pre-rolls and infused pre-rolls

Read the net weight first, then the potency. Infused pre-rolls add concentrate or hash to the flower, so the THC percentage climbs well above typical flower and the effect arrives faster. Plain pre-rolls vary in grind quality, and some are made from trim rather than whole flower, which the listing may or may not state.

Pros

• Clear weight and count make per-unit comparison simple.
• Infused versions deliver higher THC in a single unit.

Cons

• You cannot see or smell the flower before buying.
• Higher percentage on an infused product can catch new consumers off guard.

Use case: convenient for social settings where sharing one unit matters more than fine control.

Vapes and concentrates

Cartridge and concentrate listings typically show total THC percentage, cartridge size in grams or milliliters, and a category label such as distillate, live resin, or rosin. Distillate products often have terpenes added back after processing, which the menu may note. Concentrate jars list weight (usually 1 gram) and potency, which can run high, so a small change in portion size changes the dose sharply.

Pros

• High potency per gram, so a single unit lasts a long time.
• Extraction type is a useful signal for flavor and processing method.

Cons

• Potency varies widely between categories, which makes cross-category comparison hard.
• Hardware details (battery compatibility, coil type) are often missing.

Use case: suits experienced consumers who already know their tolerance and want a low-odor option.

Edibles: read milligrams per package and per piece

Edible menus state milligrams, not percentages, and the number that matters most is milligrams per piece. A 100 mg package divided into ten pieces gives 10 mg per serving. Because edibles are absorbed through digestion, effects can take 30 minutes to 2 hours to appear, which is why package instructions warn against taking more too soon. Read the serving size, the total package count, and any ratio of THC to CBD before you choose.

Pros

• Precise, labeled dosing per piece.
• No inhalation, which some consumers prefer.

Cons

• Delayed onset makes accidental overconsumption easy.
• Effect duration is longer than inhaled products.

Use case: the right fit for anyone who wants a predictable milligram dose and does not mind waiting.

What a well-built menu discloses

• Batch or package date, so you can gauge freshness.
• Lab name and test date for potency and contaminants.
• Cultivation method (indoor, outdoor, greenhouse) when the retailer tracks it.
• State-required warnings and possession limits.
• Allergen and ingredient lists on edibles and tinctures.

Signs a menu is hiding information

• Percentages listed with no weight or unit size.
• Edibles listed only as total package milligrams with no serving count.
• No batch or test information anywhere on the listing.
• Strain names with no category, cultivar, or type attached.

Checklist before you order

1. Identify the units: percentage or milligrams.
2. Multiply potency by quantity to get total THC in the package.
3. Check the serving count on edibles.
4. Look for a batch date or test reference.
5. Confirm the possession limit in your state before buying a large quantity.

Recommendation by shopper

If you are new, start in the edible section at a low milligram per piece and treat flower as your second stop for lower-stakes experimenting. If you have a settled tolerance, flower and concentrates give you the most control per dollar because potency is listed on a consistent scale and you set the portion. If convenience drives the decision, pre-rolls and vapes win, but check unit weight so you know exactly how much you are getting.

Bottom line

Read percentages on flower, vapes, and concentrates, read milligrams on edibles, and always convert to total THC per package. A menu that shows weight, potency, and batch testing is telling you it expects you to compare, and that is the menu worth ordering from.