Photo Credit: helpinghands.com

A few weeks ago, I was having dinner with a couple friends on Pearl Street.   As we were enjoying our meal, we started discussing this blog and some of the dispensaries I should check out – both in Boulder and others in the State.   We decided right then and there, after eating, we’d check out Helping Hand Dispensary which is located on Pearl between 10th and 11th.

I’ll be honest, I’ve passed this dispensary a few times and never really given it much thought.  I had never gone in before or looked it up online, so walking in I had no preconceived notions at all.   My first instincts upon entering Helping Hand was that it was a very traditional and comfortable dispensary.   As we took our place in a decent sized line, I immediately started to take notes (blame that on years of doing corporate store visits for my last employer).

One of the first things I noticed was – Smiles!   A lot of them.  From the budtenders to the customers to the security guards everyone was having a genuinely good time.  As someone who spent years trying to train people how to have a genuine connection, I could tell the staff was doing their best to create a good experience.  Sure there were a few customers who had already “sampled” some of the products beforehand (or maybe had a few drinks next door), but it was still great to see that a group of diverse humans could all be interacting in a positive manner with one another.  The staff has a lot to do with that.

Photo Credit: Sound Cloud

It was no different when it was my group’s turn.   Our budtender immediately smiled and asked how our night was and how he could “help us make it better.”   While my friends’ focus was on edibles, which seemed plentiful, I did notice that their flower selection was very limited.   I believe that night they only had two sativa strands and two or three indica strands.  This left me a little disappointed.   On a side note:  isn’t it funny that I’m so spoiled as a stoner that having multiple choices is a “disappointment?”  I mean back in the day, so I hear from others, you were lucky with whatever your friend Joey had!  I digress…

We made our selections with some guidance.   I was pleasantly surprised at the prices overall, especially when it somehow became my responsibility to pay.   I didn’t really keep track, like I know I should have, of what we all got, but for four guys I paid less than $60 for us to enjoy the movie more!

Helping Hand was a pleasant discover based on that the staff was awesome and prices were good.  The line did take a while to get through but I won’t lose my mind over a little wait, especially given the prices and service received.   My biggest drawback is the lack of choices (I know, this again – but it’s important to me) on flower.  Overall I’d say Helping Hand is a great find for those who find themselves on Pearl Street and looking for a little treat.

Don’t forget to stop by next Sunday at 4:20pm for my next Canna-Business Review!   If you have a business you’d like me to review sound off in the comments!

Cannabis products are designed for adults 21 and over.  Please consume responsibly. 

James was born and raised in Southern Colorado. He holds a BA in English with a creative writing minor from CSU-Pueblo. After obtaining his BA, James took a position as an adjunct instructor of English at Rostov State University in Rostov-on-Don, Russia. Besides the yearlong teaching stint in the “Motherland,” James spent time doing what most English majors do - working retail. After a few years of retail sales experience, he was able to move into corporate training. During his time in sales and training, he earned an MBA from Keller Graduate School. His background in English and Business has afforded him the opportunity to try many different pursuits. However, writing has always been a passion of his. Now using his business background along with his passion for writing, he will introduce you to local cannabis companies in his weekly blog.