NETA - Northampton (Rec)

I've sampled and experienced prerolls, concentrates and flower from NETA first in Northampton, and then I tried Salem's Alternative Therapies flower and their EXTREMELY limited selection of concentrate. I'm so glad my first MASS recreational buy was at NETA, not all dispensaries are created equal! I explained this multiple times today in line, and someone asked me to write a review of my experiences on Leafly. I loved my first NETA budtender and she basically set a high bar, she was originally from Colorado so it was easy to have a conversation versus someone pretending they know a product they are clueless about. I'll drive hours to NETA for the 20% discount on bulk concentrate and the experience, assurance of quality. My next stop was Verilife in Wareham trying to find concentrate NETA does not carry for recreational including live resin, rosin and crumble. I'm posting a combo review here to help others decide where to drive, because many people are driving far distances not knowing exactly what to expect and may be looking for certain products, and I have some comparisons for three of the locations. Best place to order online and pick up the order with a line designated for ONLY reserved purchases is NETA. Really, the overall experience. I promise you will be disappointed if you have experienced other states' recreational and medical dispensaries. NETA is the only dispensary that comes close here. #1 You feel safe, the police are extremely nice and help protect customers not only at dispensary but their is a distinct presence causing less anxiety. #2 Beautiful dispensary with amazing products and NETA's marketing materials are stellar 3# Best budtenders and educational information, also best Website #4 If you do have a medical issue like epilepsy but can't afford a medical card they still can educate you to make the right choice on your own, not medical advice just education #4 You'll love visiting Northampton and the surrounding areas. The people waiting in line at NETA with me were lots elderly in wheelchairs and cancer patients that could not afford the cost of a WEED doctor or Wealthcare. However, the product is still extremely limited at ALL locations if you are looking for a medical solution without a medical card. They reserve high CBD products for medical because they limit products significantly and reserve the best deals and discounts for medical. Verilife is pretty awesome but WAY TOO SMALL, and they allowed news cameras to film inside which many people did not like at all. We did not sign releases or anything. PAX was doing a pretty sweet promo for opening day so if you purchased a PAX era cartridge they gave us an almost free PAX era vape for ONLY $1. They should have advertised this, the wait in line was shorter than all others, 2 hours with preorder for opening day because of the coordination between the police, parking and great shuttle. There were some drug addicts in line which was a little off putting, other locations did not allow intoxication on premises at all. Budtenders and staff at NETA are very well trained, and unlike Verilife, if you order in advance there is a separate pick up line which rarely has a wait when the line goes around the block. I hope Verilife looks to do this in future, since some people just need to pick up and go. Some people need more education, but if you have pre-order capability it does not make sense to not have two lines and make pre-orders behind people taking 20 minutes to decide when there are only two recreational check out lines. Kudos to Wareham for the excellent customer service and security, they do not allow any kind of smoking on the property. Verilife would get a higher rating, up until I got to the budtender and I asked for an Indica dominant hybrid and they suggested Super Silver Haze, a Sativa Hybrid. I pretty much dismissed asking any other questions after hearing another budtender also give misinformation. Many of us in line had more cannabis education than the budtenders. Plus, some of us have traveled and we know what Colorado, California, Oregon and Washington were like from the start. Verilife, for example, sells 5g flower flights with five varieties and this would be great for new recreational users that don't want to choose each one and just want to sample before purchasing larger amounts. NETA has INDICA, SATIVA, and sometimes HYBRID five-pack prerolls selling for $70 for 1gram joints, pretty good deal and highly recommend. Going to Alternative Therapies was the worst of all three experiences currently available. It is in a very sketchy area of Salem with even creepier parking, has longer waits and they are super inefficient and not really friendly at all. Parking is already a problem in Salem. The police presence also did not really care about medical patients and allowed cigarette smoking right in front of the door and in line. It feels like you are entering a prison and they only had four cashiers checking out for recreational and an extremely limited menu. Drive somewhere else, avoid the line and wait. Their flower is okay and not really worth talking about. So I would rate NETA #1 for on point quality and analysis, great flavors, sticky bud and great packaging. They also have a 20% discount if you buy 4+ grams of concentrate. Great products and selection. Other discounts, but you have to check all RECREATIONAL menus for changes daily. I did not feel I had to question the quality. If you are totally new to dispensaries or you are tourist, I still think it is worth it to go to Northampton because the town is beautiful and the security is great, plus great food there. Verilife #2 I loved the PAX promo and actually PAX promo people answered more questions ACCURATELY than any of the Verilife staff, regarding concentrates and vapes. The staff seemed burnt out or improperly educated by noon. I like the prices but not sure about the quality yet though Verilife basically is selling other established and some award winning dispensaries' products. A little worried about safety in line not like NETA because the police in Wareham basically stood at the front of the building talking to each other and unlike in Northampton the police are very UNFRIENDLY. I actually worried about the medical patients at Verilife, some were standing in line and were elderly so luckily I asked them and told them to go directly to the check in person. Many people on my return shuttle were disappointed because Verilife did not issue their ADULT USE menu until today, and they were upset about not being able to buy the 5g Flight Variety flower and bought less overall because we just less choice. Do not confuse medical menus for recreational menus, they are NEVER the same. There were people on my shuttle enjoying Cultivate, I have not been there because their prices are the highest overall, and no one has told me yet their bud was as good as Amsterdam. Some strains from NETA definitely will make you feel you saved on hotel and airfare to AMS. I just hope they open a recreational NETA in Boston. #3 Alternative Therapies I would just say AVOID, who wants to pay 20% tax on an awful experience in a shady place with what seems to be nasty police. Seriously, the Salem police will glare at you, I promise, who wants that? I mean the dispensary put the poor police standing in the rain at the door with barely an awning and I never even saw them get a coffee. They are super disorganized, people cutting each other and arguing, no one watching and I expected to see a brawl during the three hours you may stand out there and they have no warming tents, did not offer umbrellas and literally it was a mistake not leaving the line. They have the worst product packaging! I don't think I will ever tell someone purposefully to go in to Alternative Therapies, unless you want bad service, budtenders with very little social skills and not enough cannabis education. Maybe it is okay if you live there and can throw money away, and don't mind clutching your wallet or purses because several gentleman remarked that someone coud pickpocket you in line and if you had to walk for parking you might get stabbed or robbed.

Jessica was kind, professional, and made my transaction stress and worry free. The new store layout is friendly, inviting, and the product I got is just right for my back pain. Would recommend for locals and visiting stoners alike

Drove from New Haven CT 1.5 hrs and was not greeted at all by anybody as I walked in. NO hello, no welcome,no wave,no directions as to medical on one side and recreational on other. Then we were greeted by Anthony which was very nice and helpful. But as we left we also got no lost as to what exit to use and staff continued to stand there with there heads down. We got no thanks for coming, or come back soon. I then realized I was

cool place, getting steady on the deals