Too often, cannabis shoppers chase the highest THC percentage thinking it’s the ultimate measure of potency. But as Tracy Martinez, two-time nominee for Budtender of the Year at Dark Matter in Sunland Park, explains — it’s terpenes and individual body chemistry that truly determine how a product will affect you.
Education Over Hype: Matching Products to People
“Flower testing at 17% THC has knocked me out faster than something testing at 33%. It’s all about how your body responds to the terpenes.”
Tracy makes it clear that education is the foundation of a good experience, and she’s pushing hard to make sure patients are equipped with:
- Realistic expectations
- Personalized recommendations
- A focus on feeling better, not just getting high
Why Cannabis Journaling Can Change Everything
Tracy’s dream? A tech-powered personal journal that helps patients:
- Record what they tried, how they felt, and what worked
- Discover their preferred terpene profiles
- Show budtenders a quick reference next time they visit
- Improve product matching over time with AI-enhanced recommendations
“Most people can’t remember what they tried. If they could log it and bring it in next time? That would change everything.”
With platforms like StrainGo, that kind of journal is now possible—especially with voice notes, terpene tagging, and smart AI analysis.
What Cannabis Events Are Missing — and How to Fix It
Tracy also envisions a new kind of cannabis event:
🎓 Part budtending masterclass
🧪 Part terpene and extraction education
🌱 Part grower/farmer Q&A
💡 And all focused on patient empowerment
“People need to see why products work. Let them meet the extractors, farmers, compliance officers, and really learn what’s behind it all.”
Instead of just booths and swag, imagine an event that educates people how to shop smarter, how to identify terpene effects, and how to ask the right questions. It’s a game changer—and it could put New Mexico on the national cannabis map.