A Mini Moment With: Noah Gallego, Budtender

Budtenders are often called “the face of legal cannabis,” but they tend to be a lot more than a smiling face at the dispensary counter. For some, their favorite ‘tender knows their ideal terpene profile better than they do. When a new product hits the shelves, they’re already thinking which regulars can benefit from it. A great budtender makes you want to drive out of the way on your day off; they can change everything you thought you knew about this fragrant, polarizing plant. 

The better the budtender, though, often the blurrier the lines between retail employee, friend, and therapist. In the eyes of Arizona budtender, Noah Gallego, that can be the best and worst part of the job. 

To get answers to our burning questions about life on the other side of the counter, we caught up with Noah during his break at Zen Leaf in Gilbert, Arizona (about 30 minutes outside of Phoenix). We wanted to know what he wishes more customers knew, what makes a great shift and what makes it most challenging, and what he thinks about when considering the future of legal weed between exhales.

What was your relationship with cannabis like before budtending?

My cannabis journey started when I was 18, growing up in Arizona, getting together with friends before we started college. Getting caught at the park. I realized that I loved the way it made me feel, allowing for great conversation and more creativity—feeling free and wacky. From there, I learned more about the mental and physical benefits of cannabis, and it’s become a great tool for making myself feel better. I suffer from negative thoughts, and this has boosted my morale, my happiness, and my ability to function and operate.

How’d you end up working at Zen Leaf?

I lived in Seattle for five years, it was there that I was first exposed to the rec market. I got curious about this new legal world. I moved back to Arizona after that, just as that state was legalizing rec. I was a customer here at this shop while jumping from job to job throughout the pandemic, exploring my artistic endeavors but having a hard time with financial stability. I applied for a job about 2.5 years ago, and have been here ever since.

What’s your clientele like?

We have every walk of life come through the shop. Individuals who play for professional sports teams and people with $10 in their pocket. People with tons of experience with cannabis and people who are curious to learn about it. Lots of older customers looking for sleep aids.

What’s your favorite part about being a budtender?

It’s been the most gorgeous experience for me, work-wise. I come to work with a smile on my face and leave with a smile on my face. My regulars are like my family. I see many of them more often than I see my real family. My patients have my back.

Through this work, I’ve connected with people I never would’ve connected with otherwise. Professional athletes, artists, and musicians. People with terminal illnesses who’ve shown me the miraculous ways cannabis helped them, I feel so much joy being able to relate to them and help them. To create these beautiful relationships with people in the final chapter of their life has touched me on a spiritual level. 

What’s the hardest part about being a budtender?

The trauma dumping. I’ve heard of affairs, people losing their jobs, losing loved ones, legal issues, etc. On a human level, I’ve been there! I get it. I want to make my patients feel loved and special and comfortable. But also, that’s a lot to take in when I’m really just here to talk about cannabis with you. There’s a time and a place to process some of those heavy emotions.

One other instance is more specific: There are some male patients who could use a bit more tact when talking about the aphrodisiac effect of cannabis. It can get uncomfortable.

What’s surprised you about being a budtender?

The negative stigma that endures. People will come in and be whispering about cannabis, because they’re still so scared. A number of elderly customers are scared to tell their husband or wife because of how they would look at them differently. Even younger people come in to shop on behalf of their parents, who don’t want to be seen at a dispensary. It’s shown me there is still so much shame—still work to do on fostering an open dialogue.

I had my own shame about consuming cannabis. Now, I find so much joy in being a part of the cannabis-consuming community and being able to share all the good this plant can do. It feels like a rewarding purpose.

Thoughts on tipping?

Do I appreciate it? Yes. Will it affect the service I provide if I don’t get it? No. 

What’s your current consumption ritual?

I love flower. It’s become such a ritual for me—grinding it up, getting my fingers sticky, packing it in a cone or bowl.  I’ve been a bubbler guy lately and love my Zong. Really allowing myself to sit in my thoughts and watch the smoke swirl around me. Take some deep breaths and reflect. I am also exploring concentrates right now, getting into live rosins, resins, and RSO.

Favorite products right now?

Miss Grass Fast Times lifts my spirit and makes me feel so happy. Grow Sciences is a local grower and manufacturer that I’ve also been getting into. 

What gets you excited about this industry?

The fact that it exists is so cool to me. The potential for upward mobility excites me. There is opportunity for unconventional people like me, a college dropout and a consumer. I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t a little nervous, too, for the eventual federal legalization of cannabis. The soul and the heart of the industry and the plant can get forgotten when profit is prioritized.