A year ago, Milton Baker was stuck. “I felt trapped in what I perceived as a soulless, dead-end job,” he says. “I was searching for something that could reconnect me with a sense of purpose, something I genuinely understood and felt passionate about.”
He found it on Indeed. A listing for Grounded Dispensary in Poughkeepsie caught his eye, and after two interviews, Baker joined the team. Now, approaching his first anniversary at the family-owned Hudson Valley dispensary, his customers have made one thing clear: he was meant to be here.
“Milton is one of the most patient budtenders I have ever met,” one nominator wrote. Others praised how he “goes above and beyond to make my experience personal,” credited him with helping them understand terpenes, and called him “incredibly enthusiastic” with “a warm presence.”
That warmth is intentional. Baker’s approach is shaped by his own early experience when low tolerance met high potency. “That memory reminds me how important guidance and pacing are,” he explains.
At Grounded, that translates to a mantra: low and slow.
The Terpene Teacher
When customers praise Baker’s ability to break down cannabis science, they’re likely referring to an analogy he’s refined over dozens of conversations.
“THC is like the fuel in a car or a rocket ship,” he explains. “Terpenes, cannabinoids, and flavonoids are the steering wheel, rudder, or wings. They guide the experience and determine where you end up.”
Baker stays current through Leafly, CannaMD, government websites, and peer-reviewed research. “Credibility matters,” he notes, “especially in a space where misinformation can be common.”
Challenging the Stereotype
Baker’s passion is rooted in wanting to dismantle decades of stigma.
“For decades, cannabis users were labeled as unmotivated or irresponsible,” he explains. “That stigma still lingers, largely because of federal regulation and outdated narratives.”
He sees his role as an opportunity to reframe that narrative. “I want customers to walk away with a more elevated, informed, and respectful understanding of what cannabis is, and what it can be.”
The Salt Cave Start
Grounded isn’t your typical dispensary. The shop, run by Dutchess County natives Frank and Stephanie Barone, features a salt cave. Baker uses it as a conversation starter.
“Most people are pleasantly surprised by it, and it immediately communicates Grounded’s ethos, peace, calm, and wellness,” he says. “By the time we move deeper into the store, I usually have a clear understanding of why they came in.”
The Moment That Stays With Him
For Baker, it’s a customer experiencing severe, life-altering pain.
“I recommended a low-THC, high-CBD edible,” he recalls. “They later shared that while it didn’t eliminate the pain entirely, it made it manageable, allowing them to function again.”
Feedback like that, he says, reminds him why he shows up for every shift.
Milton’s Picks
Topicals
Ayrloom or Bison Botanical balms: “Effective for inflammation and pain relief without psychoactivity.”
Tinctures
Harney Brothers Calm Tincture: “CBG is my favorite cannabinoid—the mother of all cannabinoids. Uplifting, euphoric, focused.”
RSO (Rick Simpson Oil)
“High-potency, full-spectrum. It should be approached carefully and respectfully. Again, low and slow.”
What’s Next
Baker would love to combine his teaching background with cannabis education. “There’s poetry in how these plants interact with our endocannabinoid system,” he says.
For now, he’s happy where he is. “I truly love working at Grounded. These people have done more for me than you could imagine.”
His advice for aspiring budtenders? “Consciousness is delicate. We should always approach it with care.”
Milton Baker is a budtender at Grounded Dispensary, 3665 Albany Post Road, Poughkeepsie. Open daily 9 AM–9 PM. hvgrounded.com
