Budtender Spotlight – Addie from The Dispensary

Budtender: Addie Martin-Bondhus
Dispensary: The Dispensary
Locations: 5347 S. Decatur Blvd LV, NV 89118 and 50 Gibson Rd, Henderson, NV 89014

Addie Martin-Bondhus has been budtending at The Dispensary since its inception. With her passion and knowledge of buds, concentrates and all things cannabis, she has become one of the more popular budtenders in the Las Vegas Valley. Addie is a Stand Up Comedian, host of Bake n’ Wake Review, a mother, a wife, a photographer and filmmaker in her spare time when she isn’t educating patients and “slinging the Ganj”.

Q: WHY DO YOU LOVE BEING A BUDTENDER?
A: I’ve wanted to be a Budtender since I knew the job existed. I used to hide High Times magazines in between my mattress as a teenager. I grew up on the East Coast in red states so I watched the cannabis movement from afar always wanting to be a part of it; eventually I moved out to Los Angeles for cannabis and comedy which lead me to Vegas. The day I was handed my MME agent card from The Dispensary, I nearly cried with gratitude. Coming from the underground and having that fear of getting in legal trouble to legally wearing my agent card around my neck is a powerful feeling. Then being able to help a patient overcome certain symptoms based off of my strain recommendations, that’s an overwhelming feeling of gratitude and joy that can’t be described with simple words.

Q: WHAT IS THE STRANGEST QUESTION YOU’VE BEEN ASKED?
A: Being a comedian, people assume I have no filter, so they ask some weird personal questions but in regard to my cannabis use I always get asked a lot about what my daughter thinks of it. She and I have always had open and honest communication and she calls cannabis “medicine”. I think the newer generation is more accepting of the culture and the medicinal aspect of cannabis. Another question I get asked the most is what I eat when I’m stoned. The question to that will always be “anything with cheese.” If you are what you eat, I’m bread and cheese.

Q: WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE TYPE OF PATIENT? NOVICE, EXPERIENCED OR SOMEWHERE IN BETWEEN?
A: I love when the old school Veterans come through. They have the best stories about smoking the worst weed in Vietnam or Afghanistan. It’s fascinating to me to talk to someone who has seen all the phases of the evolution of cannabis and to have them now walk into a retail shop and purchase cannabis products like grocery store items, that’s pretty revolutionary. They used to fight against the cannabis movement and now vets are fighting for their rights to medicate with it. Newbies are always fun too, they get so overwhelmed with the various options of products and accessories it’s fun to be a part of their first time experiences. These youngsters have it so good…I remember the kind of stepped on garbage I had to choose from when I was younger.

Q: DO YOU REMEMBER YOUR PATIENTS’ NAMES?
A: Those who know me know I have an awful memory due to my MS but when it comes to patients or comedy fans I always remember names. I fully enjoy the conversations I have with the patients at The Dispensary. I don’t take for granted that they don’t have to open up to me and share anything about their lives or illnesses. I appreciate the trust and respect they show us. I usually remember not only their names but what strains they like, what terp profiles they prefer…remembering things like that make people feel appreciated and cared for.

Q: DAB, SMOKE, VAPE, TOPICAL OR INSERTABLE?
A: I’m an old school stoner so I love the process of grinding up my ganj and rolling a joint or packing a bowl. I also remember taking hot knife dabs at high school and college parties so to have an entire rig and e-nail set up for dabbing is the best! I use topicals daily for my arthritis but have yet to get into insertables. As a former grower, I’m used to letting someone during harvest season put their fingers under my nose so I can smell what they’ve been trimming…suppositories took the fun out of that.

Q: WHAT IS THE MOST COMMON QUESTION YOU HEAR FROM A PATIENT?
A: Cannabis consumers are some of the most informed consumers so with that comes the pressure of answering some of the toughest questions. Most of those questions always pertain to the cannabis product itself such as THC content or particular strain information. I’ll admit, I can say the worst, most inappropriate things on a comedy stage with a straight face but when it comes to talking about suppositories or intimacy oils, I giggle and make awkward jokes the entire consultation.

Q: WHAT DO YOU THINK IS THE FUTURE OF CANNABIS IN LAS VEGAS?
A: Attending the last few cannabis conventions in Vegas such as AGE and CHAMPS made me realize how much of the culture here is dab heavy. It seems like concentrates are preferred. You’ll always sell more flower and there are those who are loyal to it and won’t ever stray away from the old school methods of consumption but the convenience and the pure potency of concentrates seems to be appealing to more Las Vegans. As for the laws, we are all preparing for recreational. It’ll be interesting to see what changes we will face after voting this November.

Q: WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE THING ABOUT VEGAS?
A: I consider Vegas my home because my daughter and I chose this city. My parents didn’t move me here, I didn’t grow up here but I started visiting to perform stand up comedy and I just hated leaving. I found myself sitting at The Comedy Store in LA one night and although I loved being there I missed Vegas. Two weeks later I signed a lease on my apartment and performed at the Hard Rock Casino the same night. I fell in love with the people and the environment and quickly realized how much I loved the Vegas cannabis culture. Vegas will always be home to me.

Q: WHEN YOU ARE NOT BUDTENDING, WHERE ARE WE MOST LIKELY TO FIND YOU?
We have the largest selection of inventory in Nevada at The Dispensary so most days off you’ll find me at home doing homework. Homework does involve product testing but it also entails doing lots of research about the strains, growers, anything that we need to know as Budtenders to sell the product or recommend properly to a patient with certain symptoms. I also love spending time with my daughter going to arcades or the movies at casino theaters. We are preparing for the birth of our second daughter so life for me is always busy but joyful whether I’m home or working.

Vegas Cannabis Magazine will be spotlighting a new budtender every month as a recurring segment, so you can learn a little bit about some of the more popular budtenders in town. Have a question for a budtender or want to nominate your favorite budtender? Email budtender@vegascannabismag.com.