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Best 14 TV shows to watch high

May 25, 2023 Published by

The scene is set: your weed is rolled or packed, cushions are fluffed, your plateful of snacks is piled high and ready to be indulged — all you need now is something to watch.

Do you spend a half hour or more cruising down multiple streaming service rabbit holes or do you opt for broadcast television? Do you spiral into your YouTube suggestions or finish the video podcast you started last week? Either way, it sounds like a lot of work before you get to relax into your sesh.

We’ve been there too, which is why we rounded up not only our own favorite shows to watch while high, but those of our respective stoner squads as well.

From deep-cut sitcoms to unproblematic classics, to newer, buzzier watches, there’s almost certainly something on this list for all y’all. Plus, we went the extra mile and rounded up some of our favorite deep-stone cultivars we love specifically for spacing out and binge watching.

Comedies

Party Down

For anyone with food service experience, this is the holy grail of job site sitcoms. An ensemble cast with obvious histories in catering and odd-jobs, Party Down nails it to the most niche detail.

Watchers can drop in on any episode without missing out on larger story arcs, and since there’s an LOL moment every few minutes, it’s a perfect choice for Hollywood and/or food industry insider types, as well as stoners and comedy aficionados with about 25 minutes to kill.

Strain suggestion: 33 Bananas

This cross of OG Kush and Bananas reportedly delivers a super-stoney high that’s lightly sedative in the body, mildly euphoric in the head, and powerfully munchie on the downswing. Expect a piney perfume and lemon exhale.

Find 33 Bananas

I Think You Should Leave

Tim Robinson is a former SNL writer whose rogue series on Netflix features many sketches deemed too wild for Saturday Night audiences. The episodes are a very bingable 15-ish minutes long and contain 3 or 4 sometimes raunchy, sometimes absurd, always ridiculous skits.

Bonus: guest stars like Bob Odenkirk, Patti Harrison, and Sam Richardson make timelessly viral appearances that are extremely re-watchable.

Strain suggestion: 9lb Hammer

These jokes hit especially well for the stoned to the absolute bone, and 9lb Hammer is a dependably tranquilizing cultivar that delivers a reportedly silly-sweet euphoric head high. Expect a funky nose and earthy exhale.

Find 9lb Hammer

High Maintenance

This sleeper HBO series follows a fixed gear bike riding pot dealer as he makes deliveries to a wildly diverse client list in New York City. The series plays out in vignettes that typically focus on sordid-lives-style of NYC cannabis consumers, with the dealer acting as a ribbon that braids each of their stories together.

It’s an easy series to drop into, with most episodes being completely self contained. Tune in for the deep-cut, stoner-only laughs, stay for the superb writing and charismatic backdrop of a pre-rec, pre-pandemic New York City.

Strain suggestion: Acapulco Gold

This cultivar has a reputation for delivering happy, peppy highs, so consider it a watch-party smoke that’s sociable, giggly, and reportedly spacey enough to enhance your overall viewing experience. Expect a funky nose and a dank, botanical exhale.

Find Acapulco Gold

The IT Crowd

For fans of low stakes workplace comedies, this fan favorite BBC series is a must watch. It’s made from mostly bottle episodes that take place in the IT department (ie basement) of a nebulous fortune 500 style mega-corp. And in case you need a couple of TV trivia points, this is the series that broke the careers of both Chris O’Dowd and Richard Ayoade.

Strain suggestion: Afghani

This landrace strain reportedly delivers complex, deeply stoney highs that are blissful in both the head and body. Expect a sweet, funky, earthy perfume and commensurate exhale.

Find Afghani

Martin

In 2023, we’re still using the catch phrases that originated on this 90s-era sitcom. Developed by Martin Lawrence, Martin ran from 1992 to 1997, essentially preserving a prime slice of 90s culture.

Phrases like “Damn, Gina”, “You so crazy”, and “You go girl”, are etched into the American consciousness because of Martin; furthermore, he plays excellently in drag. Revisit this program next time you want to feel your peak-of-civilization 90s fantasy.

Strain suggestion: Zaza

This cross of Scott’s OG and Gas Station Bob is the heady relaxer we can imagine Martin and Gina smoking together, reportedly delivering a heartwarming euphoria in the head and a cashmere soft body buzz. Expect a sour, gassy aroma and a lemon-pine exhale.

Find Zaza

The Golden Girls

If it’s been a while since you contemplated the enduring popularity of Betty White, Rue McClanahan, Bea Arthur, and Estelle Getty, now might be the time to reconnect with the ladies on the lanai. Well, after blowing an enormous smoke cloud, of course.

For its time, The Golden Girls was cutting edge. It dealt with all manner of taboo topics, and well past its seven season run, remains the gold standard for ensemble comedies.

Strain suggestion: Velvet Glove

Bred from a cross of GMO and Nookies, Velvet Glove reportedly delivers a warm, comfortably sedative body high and an airy, mellow head high — perfect for chilling on the lanai. Expect a funky fruit nose and a sweet earthy exhale.

Find Velvet Glove

Doctor Who

Cannaisseurs with a penchant for sci-fi already know how committed one can become to The Doctor, but curious stoners dipping their toes into science fiction should be warned: you may quickly be sucked in. And before you know it, you’re a time lord traveling the cosmos in a British police box and comparing anything that belies a spacious interior to a TARDIS.

Even those who don’t self identify as sci-fi nerds can get onboard with this long running, mind bending series made all the more fantastic when viewed hella stoned.

Strain suggestion: Timewreck

Get ready to cheer for your favorite Doctor. Timewreck reportedly delivers an enthusiastic high for an energetic watch party. Expect a skunky, lemon perfume and a dank, woody exhale.

Find Timewreck

Think Pieces

You

For stoners who want a bit more of a puzzle than a carnival, Netflix’s You is a compelling soap opera centered around a unrelentingly romantic sociopathic murderer whose sometimes cornball narration is the stuff memes are made of. Content warning: this series is violent, with women often on the receiving end. Though, if you can stomach the horror, the main character’s comeuppance in season two is a payoff.

Essentially, this is a great hate watch for anyone who’s ever been on the receiving end of an entitled, inauthentic, human catastrophe’s attentions — or anyone else who enjoys getting wrapped up in psychological thrillers when extremely stoned

Strain suggestion: The Gift

This therapeutic cultivar is a low THC, high CBD phenotype of Ringo’s Gift excellent for low-tolerance smokers or the canna-curious. Consumers report uplifting, blissful head highs and effervescent body effects. Expect a sweet, minty aroma and exhale.

Find The Gift

Lodge 49

This esoteric, slightly dramatic, mostly surreal comedy is a fever-dreamy “fable” about a sad sack stoner’s entanglement with his local fraternal lodge and the eerie secrets beyond Lodge 49‘s threshold. It’s equal parts goofy, bittersweet, and California beach-weird; which, if you’re not familiar, is a specific flavor of weird uniquely satisfying to cannabis consumers the world over. Plus, even the more complex story arcs are space-cadet friendly, so smoke away.

Strain suggestion: Sweet Tooth

This balanced cross of Afghani Indica and Hawaiian Sativa reportedly delivers a mellow, long lasting, creative high. Expect a botanical perfume and a candy-sweet exhale.

Find Sweet Tooth

Reality Bites

The Great British Bake Off

If soothing vibes are your cuppa tea, there are few scenarios more satisfying and cozy than this amateur home baker’s amicable competition for a big crystal dish and bragging rights.

Without a gargantuan cash prize to galvanize the competitors, the energy stays super genial, supportive, and — lucky for us viewers — instructive. Case-and-point: once, during an epic dab/Netflix binge, a mid-season episode taught me both how to make choux pastry and how to calm a manic British Grandma (a deep breath and a cup of tea).

Strain suggestion: Royal Cookies

Too on the nose? This rare GSC phenotype’s reported effects include a deep body stone and a refreshing, blissful head high. Expect an herbal nose and a sweet, nutty exhale.

Find Royal Cookies

RuPauls Drag Race

Any TV viewer who appreciates top-tier art and performance — from comedy to acting to dancing to creating show-stopping runway looks — should be engaging with this technicolor, life affirming, gender-euphoric reality program. The show even introduced a cis, male, straight drag queen on one recent season, and a lesbian drag king on another, shaping the conversation on masculinity, femininity, and gender expression in ways never before seen on primetime TV. Honestly, Survivor could never.

Strain suggestion: Purple Panty Dropper

Also known as PPD, this three-way cross of Purple Haze, Oregon Grape, and Matanuskan Mist is allegedly damn sexy, so prepare for big aphrodisiac energy from both the Drag and the weed. Expect a funky fruit aroma and grassy, berry exhale.

Find Purple Panty Dropper

Ink Master

Not unlike the the Drag Race universe, Ink Master is replete with a wide variety of amazing artists at the top of their game, and even viewers with nary a drop of subdermal ink can appreciate the skill, talent, and commitment of many of these artists.

And of course, the contestants produce thrilling behind the scenes drama, made all the more thrilling by the sheer number of neck, head, and face tattoos many of them sport.

Strain suggestion: Sour Tsunami

Often bred as a therapeutic strain, this gently euphoric cross of Sour and NY Diesel can frequently be found as a 1:1 THC:CBD hybrid with a 10% cannabinoid average. Expect a gassy perfume and a funky lemon exhale.

Find Sour Tsunami

Wildcards

Guillermo Del Toro’s Cabinet of Curiosities

Stoners in the mood for some lightweight spookery might enjoy this anthology series produced, and in a few cases co-written, by genre master Guillermo Del Toro. Watchers can go in for a penny or a pound, with the episodes lasting anywhere from 30 minutes to over an hour. Prepare for jump scares lest you scatter your snacks, fumble your bong, or choke on your hit.

Strain suggestion: Kryptonite

Kryptonite is a hard hitting, long lasting, deeply relaxing cultivar that reportedly unfolds into a romantic, euphoric head high. Expect a pungent skunk in the nose and a sweet exhale.

Find Kryptonite

Kiff

For twee smokers who’d rather get lost in a magical animated wonderland than deal with anything resembling realism, Kiff is an adorably easy-to-watch all-ages cartoon featuring Kiff the squirrel and Barry the bunny on chaotic adventures in their magical mountain town.

For fans of Adventure Time, this is an even breezier series that could be a great background watch for stoned crafting or sketchbooking.

Strain suggestion: Herijuana

Consumers report cushiony-soft body highs and blissed out head effects making for an altogether dreamy experience. Expect an earthy-sweet aroma and a grassy exhale.

Find Herijuana

The post Best 14 TV shows to watch high appeared first on Weedmaps News.

Has Cannabis Become Boring?

April 16, 2023 Published by

There once was a time when weed was rebellious and dangerous. The summer of love and counterculture movement ensured that cannabis was the drug of choice for young people across America, and beyond. But thanks to legalization, the nonconformity of stoner culture is melting away into a trendy, commercialized, and predictable, multi-billion-dollar industry.  

Weed is great, and the fact that less people are going to prison for it is even better – but one thing that many smokers yearn for is the good ole’ days of solidarity and civil disobedience among potheads. Now that cannabis is more of an industry than a lifestyle, has it become a bit boring?  

Is weed still cool these days? 

For the record, I still love weed and smoke it regularly. I enjoy it on my own, with friends, at home, in nature, in the car, and pretty much anytime, anyplace. It’s relaxing and familiar, and for some reason, I find it a fun way to kill time. I smoke mainly blunts and the entire process of rolling and smoking a blunt is somewhat of an experience. But it’s also worth noting that I’m 32 years old and grew up during that period when smoking weed was still considered an act of defiance; a big f*** you to the man. Longtime cannabis reform activist and dispensary owner, Russ Belville, puts it perfectly. 

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“There’s an aspect of when pot was illegal, it was a forbidden fruit, rite-of-passage sort of thing,” he says. “Now that pot is legal, it’s mom’s Chardonnay, it’s dad’s cigar. It’s not cool anymore. It’s kind of lame to the kids.”  

Think about some of historically cool stoners for a second, like Cheech Marin, Tommy Chong, Willie Nelson, Mike Tyson, and Snoop Dogg – or even some of the “younger” ones like Seth Rogen and Wiz Kalifa. Although at one point in their lives they were going against the grain with their pot use, each of them are now operating very successful and completely legal cannabis industry companies that offer a wide range of popular products.  

What the stats say 

Obviously, there’s very little in the way of data when it comes to determining what people actually think about pot. We know that people are buying it, and they buy a lot of it. The cannabis market was valued at $13.2 billion last year, and that doesn’t account for the huge number of people still buying from there dealers, either because it’s illegal where they live or simply for convenience. And although what is “cool” is largely based on personal perspective, one way to see what’s currently trending is by looking at what teens and young adults are doing. Based on recent data, it’s not weed.  

Data from Monitoring the Future, an organization that has surveyed national drug usage rates of high schoolers every year since 1975, recently took a look at how these numbers may have changed post-legalization in various states. As per their results, “Since 2005, the number of 12th graders across the country reporting they’ve used cannabis in their lifetime has hovered below 45 percent.” During that same time period, cannabis became legal for medicinal use in 38 states, while 21 states of these states have also legalized recreational use.

Interestingly, the date indicates that legalization results in less teens using cannabis, not more as previously believed. According to data from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health, numerous states saw these declines, including Colorado, Washington, Alaska, and Washington D.C. In Colorado, the first state to permit recreational use, only 9 percent of teens between the ages of 12 and 17 used cannabis monthly between 2015 and 2016, a drop of two percentage points from the year prior. In a rather comical flip of the script, “middle-aged parents are more likely to use marijuana than their teens,” says the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 

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Another newer study came up with similar results based on legalization patterns. Dwight Mark Anderson, PhD., from Montana State University concluded that “teenagers are less likely to use cannabis in places where the drug has been legalized.” Anderson and his team looked at health surveys of US high school pupils between 1993 and 2017, and they published their results in the medical journal Jama Pediatrics in 2019.

Thank you for stopping in. Head over to the Cannadelics Weekly Newsletter for direct updates; and get access to awesome deals on cannabis buds, vapes, edibles, smoking devices and equipment, cannabinoid compounds, and some psychedelic products! Go get high responsibly!

What real people are saying 

Almost everyone I know still smokes weed, so my opinion is likely a bit skewed. Add to that, I hang out with people close to my age or older, so late 20s and up. And aside from my kids, I honestly cannot think of anyone that I talk to on a regular basis who is under the age of 29. So I definitely fit into that demographic of parents or everyday older people that smoke weed regularly.  

That being said, I wouldn’t necessarily classify pot as “cool” either. When I was a teenager, absolutely. But these days, it’s just a product that I use on a regular basis because I enjoy the effects it has on me. That seems to be the case with most people I speak to, short of a few acquaintances who are actually obsessed with/addicted to pot. To find out what other people are thinking, I checked out good ole’ reddit. I found a few posts from people wondering what to do because they have grown bored of pot’s effects. 

They asked if they should quit, smoke more, or move on to new drugs. The majority of commenters were suggesting tolerance breaks, which is pretty solid advice for someone who just wants weed to “feel like it used to”. Others suggested trying different products or strains, which are also great ideas. A very small number of people said they quit altogether because they just lost interest in smoking, which is also understandable – I mean, if you aren’t getting high, there’s no point in wasting your money on it… pot is expensive!  

Final thoughts 

So, is cannabis boring now? Or is it still the cool, carefree drug it always was? Honestly, who the hell knows! Supposedly teens are using it less now because they associate it with their “boring” parents, but I don’t know any teens so I have no point of reference to gauge the accuracy of this statement. We know that studies are not always correct or unbiased, and teens are not always forthcoming about illegal things they are doing. And with so many varying opinions in this world, even within the same population demographics, it’s hard to say what the vast majority of people think about a product, especially in such a subjective way as whether it’s “cool” or not.  

So, you can take this all with a grain of salt because what’s cool and what’s boring is very much a matter of opinion. However, when I meet someone else that smokes, regardless of how common that is in today’s day and age, there’s still a fun and exciting aspect to it. In my opinion, nothing bonds a group of strangers faster than a fun chat over a nicely rolled blunt.  

Welcome readers! Thanks for hanging out with us at Cannadelics.com; an independent publication that brings you new and ongoing stories in the cannabis and hallucinogen spaces. Come ’round regularly so you don’t miss out on anything; and subscribe to our Cannadelics Weekly Newsletter, to ensure you’re never late to get the news.

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The post Has Cannabis Become Boring? appeared first on Cannadelics.

The 14 best shows to watch high

January 6, 2022 Published by

A 2018 study conducted by a media and branding firm “discovered” something that cannabis consumers have known for a long time: cannabis can enhance the TV show watching experience. Colors become more vivid, dialogue is often funnier or more poignant, storylines that seem inconceivable in real life suddenly seem quite plausible, and everything on screen feels more “deep.” 

Whether it’s a sativa that gets you feeling creative, energized, and ready to laugh, or an indica that settles you into that relaxation sweet spot, here are some shows to watch when you’re high. 

The Great British Bake Off

It’s true that cannabis can give you the munchies, so why not get inspired by this British (and American) hit? Check out amateur bakers making cakes, breads, pastries, and desserts in a competition to win the title of the UK’s Best Amateur Baker. For a bonus, it’s always fun to pick sides in reality show contestant drama and listen to the hosts dish out equal helpings of snark and praise. But, of all the shows on Netflix, this is a must watch. 

Watch The Great British Bake Off on Netflix

Planet Earth 

There is nothing more soothing than the dulcet voice of naturalist, newsman, and narrator David Attenborough as he recounts the migration of monarch butterflies through the American continent, and many other instances of natural phenomena.

A nature docuseries could be a great fit for someone crossing into green out territory. For others, nature documentaries present an opportunity to sit back, relax, and appreciate the amazing wonders of our planet. 

Watch Planet Earth on Amazon

Cosmos 

If you’re sick of our planet Earth, how about a trip to outer space? Neil deGrasse Tyson is the Frederick P. Rose Director of the Hayden Planetarium at the Museum of Natural History in New York City, and his series Cosmos has been ongoing since 2014. 

Based on the 1980 series by American astrophysicist Carl Sagan, sit back with a blunt and contemplate the universe watching Cosmos: Possible Worlds or Cosmos: A Spacetime Odyssey.

Watch Cosmos: Possible Worlds on Disney+ (streaming December 18th)

Watch Cosmos A Spacetime Odyssey on Disney+

Tidying Up with Marie Kondo

With all of us spending a lot more time indoors, now’s the time to think about those home organization projects that we’ve been putting off. Next time you have some sativa for a jolt of creativity and inspiration, sit down with Japanese organization expert and consultant, Marie Kondo. Your place will be organized in no time. 

Watch Tidying Up with Marie Kondo on Netflix

Friends

More than 16 years after its final episode, millions are binge watching these still funny and timely episodes — perhaps in an attempt to just to forget the world for a while. 

Friends works well as both background comfort TV series or a means to kick back, light up, and let the day go.

Watch Friends on HBO Max

The Office

The Dunder Mifflin paper company led by hapless and clueless Michael Scott (Steve Carell) is the setting for this classic mockumentary. Like Friends, The Office offers a comforting sense of dysfunctional normalcy as the archetypal workplace characters comedically blunder their way from one awkward situation to the next. 

Watch The Office on Netflix until Dec. 31, 2020. Watch on Peacock starting Jan. 1, 2020.

Nicolas J Leclercq/Unsplash

Black Mirror

For something more contemplative than the comforts offered by The Office and Friends, check out Black Mirror. This dystopian science fiction series out of the UK delivers a thoughtful, if sometimes creepy, take on modern society and the potential unanticipated consequences of new and unexamined technologies. 

Watch Black Mirror on Netflix

Saturday Night Live

A comedy sketch show coming into its 46th year, SNL has never shied away from stoner comedy and regularly hires comedians and hosts open about their cannabis use, including Pete Davidson, Woody Harrelson, and Sarah Silverman among myriad others. 

Watch SNL on Hulu

High Maintenance

Interested in getting stoned and watching a show about other stoners and the guy who delivers their weed? Check out High Maintenance, a series from HBO that follows The Guy (Ben Sinclair) and chronicles his encounters with customers throughout New York City. 

Watch High Maintenance on HBO 

Big Mouth

To make you feel better about your own life as a 7th grader, check out this clever and edgy series that follows best friends Nick (Nick Kroll) and Andrew (Andrew Goldman) as they try to figure out how to manage the embarrassment and confusion of puberty. It also features helpful, if sometimes confusing, advice from ghosts and other inanimate objects like a talking pillow and  the Statue of Liberty.

Watch Big Mouth on Netflix

The Simpsons

From the comedic genius mind of Matt Groening, The Simpsons is the longest running American sitcom, now entering its 32nd year. Over 600 episodes, The Simpsons outlined a satirical portrayal of American culture and society and paved the way for other adult animation series to thrive, like Futurama and Bojack Horseman.

Watch The Simpson on Hulu and Disney+

Rick and Morty

This adult-science fiction comedy from Justin Roiland and Dan Harmon follows a mad and often drunk scientist named Rick Sanchez and his cautious, anxiety-riddled grandson Morty Smith. Rick and Morty is a stoner favorite because of its trippy visuals, intergalactic travels, wacky characters, tongue-in-cheek political references, and a not-so-subtle nod to stoner culture. 

Watch Rick and Morty on Hulu and HBO Max

Ultimate Beastmaster

If you’re interested in watching uber fit people from six countries attempt to master an incredibly difficult obstacle course, check out Ultimate Beastmaster. Similar to American Ninja Warrior, Ultimate Beastmaster differentiates itself by featuring six localized versions with local actors, comedians, and hosts acting as commentators as athletes compete to master “the Beast” (aka the obstacle course) for a cash prize. 

Watch Ultimate Beastmaster on Netflix

Trailer Park Boys

This Canadian mockumentary follows the misadventures of Sunnyvale trailer park residents and ex-convicts Bubbles, Julian, and Ricky as they sip rum and cokes, mess with local police, and grow weed. 

The creators of the series even created a Trailer Park Boys cannabis brand that recently hit shelves in Canada’s legal cannabis marketplace. 

Watch Trailer Park Boys on Netflix

Featured image by Gina Coleman/Weedmaps

The post The 14 best shows to watch high appeared first on Weedmaps News.

COVID-19 Productivity Anxiety: What Potheads Teach Us About Self-Care

December 23, 2021 Published by

“The past two years have pretty much been a write-off,” a friend said over Zoom, defeated and bored. Followed by: “I’ve been so unproductive.” It feels like the two staples of 2020 and 2021 are Covid-19-related productivity anxiety and Zoom. Everywhere, research about unproductivity has been cropping up as employers languish over the prospect of allowing their […]

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The Drop: Strains hitting menus in December

December 8, 2021 Published by

This month of The Drop, Dante Jordan’s column rounding up all the can’t-miss strains and dabs from the best brands and growers, looks at anticipated releases from Ridgeline Farms, Rhythm, and Ember Valley.

A new month and a whole new batch of strains you should be putting in your pipe and smoking. Here are the cannabis strains that are hitting menus in December.

I smoked the Green Lantern before a Friendsgiving and woke up two days later. That’s the type of fire we’re talking about here. That real deal outdoor of all outdoors, ya know? The type of weed that reminds you that it’s not just a profession, it’s a lifestyle for growers in NorCal.

Green Lantern has existed for eight years now, and this version of it is grown by Ridgeline Farms. It’s being released in collaboration with Cookies with Redwood Roots as the distributor. The genetics are a cross of OG Sour Diesel and Berry, according to Phylos Bio Science.

Green Lantern is extremely gassy, spicy, and peppery with a terpene profile testing high in caryophyllene, humulene, and limonene. Jason Gellman, Ridgeline’s owner, told me that Green Lantern is great as an appetite enhancer and for insomnia relief.

Available: California

Find Cookies

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Aster Farms: Purple Velvet

You gotta love when weed tastes like wine. Only a few strains have blessed me with those terps, and Purple Velvet from Aster Farms is the most recent of them.

Purple Velvet was bred by Heartrock Mountain and grown by Aster Farms. It crosses Purple Velvet with Aurora to produce a piney and sweet treat. To me, it tastes like a glass of merlot. The pine compliments the scent that we’ve begrudgingly come to call “purple” in a way that will have you smacking your lips.

In terms of effects, this is a great daytime smoke. It’s calming and potent, but mostly in an “avoid a panic attack from all the due dates that are piling up” kinda way. Check out Aster Farms’ Velvet Purple if you’re in California.

Available: California

Find Aster Farms

The Cure Company: Miami Fritz

When I touched down in Los Angeles as an official resident, The Cure Company was the first place I toured. While there, I was blessed with a few samples from its Fritz line. BOY. Fire. Especially that Miami Fritz. No hyperbole, it’s some of the best tasting fruity/sweet/dessert-like weed that I’ve ever come across. Shit is some real *chef’s kiss.*

Miami Fritz is a sativa-dominant cross of Zkittlez and Fritz. The Cure Company defines its taste as tropical mint candy — I can concur. Shit is so delicious, I want to make a smoothie out of its terpenes. This is some seriously great weed here, man. You definitely should not skip over it if you see Miami Fritz on a dispensary menu. Or the Biscotti Fritz, for that matter. Whew.

Available: California

Find The Cure Company

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Rythm: White Durban

Recently, I tried Sour Diesel from Rythm, and ya know what? It wasn’t half bad. I usually hate the Sour Diesel high because it makes me all buzzy and look-around, like when you’ve had a 64-ounce coffee on an empty stomach and everything is just way too stimulating. Rythm’s was nice though. Well grown, good nose on it, so I’d expect the White Durban it’s dropping in December to be just as good.

White Durban is a sativa-dominant cross of White Fire OG and Durban Poison that smells sweet and lemony with earthy diesel flavors. It was bred by Cannarado Genetics, who is responsible for popular strains like Sundae Driver, Pie Hoe, and Gushers.

White Durban’s terpenes are dominant in myrcene, ocimene, and limonene, and its effects are thought to spark creativity.

Available: Illinois

Find Rythm

Highsman: Ken Jiffy Jr.

Yo, that Jesus Zkittlesworth from Highsman, owned by NFL great Ricky Williams, is an excellent representation of Zkittlez. It had the nose, taste, and that powerful high that let me know, “okay, whoever is the lead grower at Highsman might know a lil’ something.” In December, it’s got another strain hitting shelves: Ken Jiffy Jr.

Ken Jiffy Jr. is an indica-dominant cultivar bred by Highsman and Cannarado Genetics. It is a cross of Do-Si-Dos and Lava Cake that Highsman’s grower, Nature, has been growing for nine months.

Ken Jiffy Jr.’s flavor is gassy and creamy, with subtle peanut butter and cake undertones, thanks to a terpene profile with high myrcene, caryophyllene, limonene, and linalool content. In terms of effects, Ken Jiffy Jr. is expected to have a relaxing, potent, pain-relieving type of high to it.

Available: California and Oregon

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Ember Valley: Dole Whip # 9

Another drop you should definitely have on your radar is Dole Whip #9 from Ember Valley. Bred by Exotic Genetix, Dole Whip #9 is a sativa-dominant cross of Tropic Truffle and a Cookies ‘n Cream IX3. The smoke has a strong fruity flavor and should hit your head and body with an uplifting high — that super-stoned and emotionally centered type of experience.

Available: California

Find Ember Valley

The Association: Bazquiat

I was at a party this past Halloween, and a friend of mine had this strain. It was super fruity, in this wild pink packaging, and immediately stood out once the Backwoods touched my lips. Couldn’t even taste the cigar over these sweet, gassy, cotton candy-like flavors that had me demanding to know what this flower was, and where I could get it. That strain was Bazquiat from The Association.

Bazquiat is a cross of Zkittlez and a mystery strain that came out smelling like a jawbreaker. Flavor’s just everlasting. The high comes on strong overall, leaving you with an intensely relaxed feeling, and overall, just stoned out of your mind.

Bazquiat isn’t necessarily new to menus in December, but I could not let this column exist without telling people about my newest favorite smoke. Grab it up at Green Wolf in California.

Available: California

The post The Drop: Strains hitting menus in December appeared first on Weedmaps News.

Grassroots vs Industry: Cannabis Culture Clashing with Big Business

November 22, 2021 Published by

For many people, smoking weed is not just a thing you do, it’s a lifestyle; and one that we take great pride in. I, for one, am always eager to share my knowledge and passion for all things cannabis. This attitude is rooted in a longstanding ‘stoner’ culture that is very intimate to the cannabis community and has been created and finetuned over the last few decades. But almost as soon as legalization started sweeping through the US, we started to see a shift.

Old pot culture gave way to a trendy, standardized, multi-billion-dollar industry. Today we see sleek, modern dispensaries that resemble apple stores, farm-to-table cannabis restaurants and caterers, some of the most potent weed products your heart could desire, and an overall change in how the world views all these products, and the plant itself.

It’s exciting to see how far we have come. But at what point does our homegrown, laid-back stoner culture that felt so down-to-earth and made this plant as popular as it is in the first place, become completely unrecognizable? Will it turn into just another ‘big business’ industry like alcohol, tobacco, wellness, pharma, and so many others. We’re already beginning to see a clash between business interests and grassroots activists, but the industry has room for both sides, and actually NEEDS as much diversity as possible.

The cannabis industry has changed a lot over the last few years, but fundamentally, we all want the same thing: progress, although that could have varying meanings for different people. For more articles like this one, and for exclusive deals on flowers, vapes, edibles, and other products, remember to subscribe to The THC Weekly Newsletter. Also save big on Delta 8, Delta 9 THC, Delta-10 THC, THCO, THCV, THCP & HHC products by checking out our “Best-of” lists!

What is stoner culture?

It’s hard to narrow it down to just a few attributes or social behaviors, but there are some are pretty characteristic of “stoners”, and we’ve seen it time and time again portrayed in the media. From Animal House or Cheech and Chong in the 1970s – an iconic time that many describe as the “golden era” of cannabis, psychedelics, and activism – to the 1990s which I personally remember as comedic haze of stoner movies and music that spilled over well into the next decade.

Although the image was tweaked a bit over time, a few constants remained – the portrayal of a “stoner” was upbeat yet unmotivated, quirky, below average intelligence, friendly, aaaaand usually sweet and personable in their own goofy type of way (think Travis from Clueless).

Over time, that harmless, loveable image (be it a huge misconception anyway) morphed in a few different types of personalities. For example, the lady-next-door ‘momtrepreneur’ that’s making a quick buck off a growing industry and broken system, like Nancy from Weeds. Or the casual modern-day smokers that do what they do and just mix pot use into their day-to-day lives, like Abbi and Ilana from Broad City.

It’s uncommon now to see that oblivious and totally unaware stoner from years prior. One of the few shows I can think of that plays into those tired old clichés is Disjointed on Netflix, which was met with overwhelming criticism from people are just no longer interested in seeing potheads depicted as idiots anymore. Today’s cannabis users encompass many different personalities, from the 30-year-old underachiever smoking weed and playing video games in their parent’s basement, to the 20-something-year-old researcher and CEO who just developed a state-of-the-art form of nano emulsion technology to bring cannabis medicine to thousands of patients… and literally everything in between.

Debunking Some of the Most Common Misconceptions About Cannabis

State of the industry today    

Despite federal prohibition and regulatory uncertainties, bottlenecked supply chains, an ongoing fight against the still-thriving black market, and let’s not forget, a global pandemic that has impacted so many different industries throughout the world – cannabis is still flourishing, in the United States and globally.

According to data collected by Marijuana Business Daily and shared at this year’s MJBizCon in Las Vegas, legal cannabis sales in America hit $20 billion in 2020 and are expected to surpass $26 billion by the end of this year. Their projections for the future are that the US industry will explode to about $46 billion by 2025. Just a few years ago, multimillion-dollar deals were few and far in between but now they’re a regular occurrence.

“The nearly $46 billion in sales would make the cannabis industry larger than the craft beer industry, said Chris Walsh, chief executive officer and president of MJBizDaily. “And these are potentially conservative numbers with what we see playing out. Sales continued to accelerate at a record pace in markets across the US — notably in established states, such as Colorado, Washington and Oregon. You’re seeing the next phase of a maturing industry take hold here.”

It’s not at all shocking to hear, considering most Americans now live in a state where cannabis is legal in some capacity, be it medical, recreational, or both. In total, 36 states have legalized medical marijuana – 18 of which, plus Washington D.C., have also approved recreational adult-use programs. So, based on this rapid growth, not only do more citizens have access, but the cannabis is also creating tens of thousands of new jobs annually. By the start of 2021, roughly 321,000 Americans held employment in the cannabis industry either directly or through some ancillary company, and that number is growing steadily.

“Take a look around,” said Karson Humiston, CEO and founder of Vangst, which runs a cannabis industry-centric job recruiting site, gesturing to bustling crowds in the exposition hall. “People want to get out of their old-school, dying industry, and they want to move into cannabis. This is it. Now is the moment to get involved, because it’s never going to be this small again.”

Best Cannabis Stocks To Invest In This Fall 2021

Cannabis industry gentrification?

All this is not to say that I’m against legalization. I’m 100 percent pro-progress and vehemently against the War on Drugs that has torn communities apart with racist enforcement, widespread arrests, and mass incarcerations of citizens simply for possession personal amounts of pot. I think everyone can agree that we’re in a much better place now than we were 50 years ago.

The main problem people are having, as I see it, is the rush to corporatization and industrialism that’s slowly chipping away at the casual, unique, and authentic vibe that cannabis culture has always been synonymous with. I mean, even Tommy Chong is having trouble placing his strains in dispensaries because he’s “too stoner” for the modern cannabis connoisseur, or more aptly, cannasseur. “We represent the stoner image of Mexicans,” Chong said. “They don’t want that anymore. They can’t market that to millennials.”

Things certainly are different now from what I, and many of the people I grew up with, are used to seeing. “Someone who has always been in the mindset that (cannabis) is their alternative to a highball at the end of the night might not appreciate how cannabis is being used now on the medical side,” said Danny Mann, general manager at Modern Cannabis, a Logan Square dispensary. “Worrying about the counterculture being replaced by new cannabis culture is on people’s minds now. But it can also reek of nostalgia.”

He’s not wrong. The industry is in an amazing position right now, poised only to succeed even more. The main reason we resist many of these changes is simply because it’s sad to see the classic trends go. To think that the rasta-hippy-grunge-total stoner persona may one day be a thing of the past, is just a tad bit disappointing.

Think back to when our parents were growing up, the rallies they had, and the type of people who were truly advocating for cannabis legalization, promoting the therapeutic potential, pushing for safe access, arguing for the industrial benefits of hemp, and denouncing existing regulations and striving for reform – it was the potheads! Not businesspeople, influencers, celebrities, and so forth; it was your diehard, weed-smoking activists that were the heart and soul of cannabis advancement in the US; and eventually they became a sort of lifestyle-brand in their own rights, a symbol of indepence and rebellion, paving the way for changes in marijuana and psychedelics laws. In my opinion, everything about these past eras will be dearly missed but I welcome positive changes with an open heart and mind.

Celebrity Brands – Celebrities and Their Cannabis Companies

“Clash of the Titans”

According to five marijuana industry insiders, including CEOs and farms, discussed these issues during a panel at MJBizCon called “Clash of the Titans.” They noted that despite tensions between these two often opposing heads of the industry, when you look at the bigger picture, both sides play their own very important role for the “wider legalization movement”.

“Big business cannot survive without what cannabis culture has brought to the table,” said Wanda James, owner of Denver-based Simply Pure, a vertically integrated cannabis company. James lambasted much of the industry, arguing that women and minorities have had too hard a time getting a toehold in the business. She decried that as a disservice to the legacy of the marijuana plant and its cultural roots.

“Setting up this dichotomy of ‘Big Business versus cannabis culture’ is a false dichotomy,” mentioned another panalist, Ayr Wellness co-Chief Operating Officer Jennifer Drake. “There’s going to be plenty of room for everyone to succeed.”

Overall, the general tone of the discussion was that more direct effort needs to made to encourage alliance and collaboration between entrepreneurs who are focused on various financial interests like tax structures, banking access, business licensing; and advocates who are striving to improve policies regarding home cultivation, medical cannabis patient and caregiver rights, support for female and minority entrepreneurs, and so on.

Flower to the People: Getting Involved in Cannabis Activism

Final thoughts

If there’s one thing I’ve learned in going to different cannabis industry trade shows and talking to people from all over the world, it’s that the cannabis industry absolutely has room for everyone. New points of view keep everything fresh and exciting, and that’s one of the wonderful things about the industry that has stayed relatively unchanged over time, cannabis represents inclusivity and that needs to be reflected in business dealings as well as cultural traditions.

Hello all! Welcome to CBDtesters.co, your ultimate online destination for the most relevant and thought-provoking cannabis and psychedelics-related news globally. Read-thru the site regularly to stay on top of the constantly-moving world of legal drugs and industrial hemp, and sign up for The THC Weekly Newsletter, so you never miss a thing.

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8 of the best strains for focus

September 23, 2021 Published by

It’s 12:47 p.m. and you’ve got a whole heap of work that you’ve been avoiding. You know none of the tasks are too hard, but for some reason, you just can’t sit still and concentrate for long enough to do them. Still, sunlight is ticking, stress is mounting, and you know you’ll feel like hot garbage if you end the day with nothing to show for your time. You think, “All I need to do is smoke a little weed and I can zone in.” 

Which strains are you picking?

There are plenty of cannabis strains that can help you focus. And with so many constant distractions in the world, I wouldn’t blame you for wanting to try them all. While I could never name every single one, here are eight that might help you block out the noise for long enough to get shit done.

White Fire OG

White Fire OG, also called WiFi OG, is a cross of Fire OG and The White. The nugs are light green and frosty with trichomes, and the smoke tastes like gassy pine needles — which is perfect for anyone that loves chemmy diesel flavors. On the high side,  WiFi OG is great for people whose thoughts are always moving at 744 mph. It’s potent yet manageable high can help clear your mind of anything that’s not immediately in front of you.

Find White Fire OG strains

Lemon Thai

Most strains with Thai genetics are good for a clear-headed high that can help you defeat procrastination. Lemon Thai is no different. A cross of a Thai landrace and a Hawaiian sativa, this citrusy strain is great for anyone who’s been caught with that middle-of-the-day lag that makes even simple tasks feel the most daunting. If you’re the type of consumer that likes to puff on a vape pen throughout the day, Lemon Thai is a great cart to have handy.

Find Lemon Thai strains

Jack Frost

When you’re talking strains that help you focus, it’s only right that we bring Jack to the table. A cross of the famed Jack Herer, Northern Lights #5, and White Widow, Jack Frost is for those who need to get dumb stoned to focus. It hits you with a potent high that’ll have you knocking out the day’s to-do list without issue. Like most strains with Jack genetics, it usually has a citrusy and earthy aroma, however some people report that it may also have a somewhat fruity smell to it.

Find Jack Frost strains

Dutch Treat

Believed to be a cross of Northern Lights and Haze genetics, Dutch Treat pushes out strong piney terpenes that alert your senses in the same way walking through the forest on a hike does. 

The delicious flavor is followed by a potent, clear-headed cerebral stimulation that many describe as the “hybrid high.” Old school and tasty, , Dutch Treat is a perfect suggestion for the dabbers.

Find Dutch Treat strains

Canna-Tsu

As your cannabis knowledge bag gets deeper, you’ll learn that not every desired effect comes from THC. There are plenty of CBD strains out there that can help you focus too. 

Canna-Tsu is a CBD-dominant cross of Cannatonic and Sour Tsunami. It has sweet, earthy flavors, and the effect is relaxing in the body. I get a little anxious sometimes, and anything with Cannatonic genetics usually chills me out in a way that smoking too much THC doesn’t. If you’re looking for something light and manageable, this (or either of its parents), are solid options.

Find Canna-Tsu strains

Jah Goo

A lot of times, being able to focus isn’t about energizing yourself or clearing out your mind, it’s about relaxing your body. Jah Goo is a great strain for doing just that.

This cross of Goo and Purple Jasmine produces colorful flowers with purple hues and pink hairs, and a somewhat sweet and woody flavor. The strain’s stoney high may be a little much for inexperienced consumers, but the vets may find it just right for that 10 am smoke before flipping the Go switch.

Find Jah Goo strains

Bay Dream

If you love Granddaddy Purple then you might love Bay Dream too — it comes from the same breeders. Bay Dream, or GDP Bay Dream, is a cross of the beloved Blue Dream and a Bay 11 hybrid. Like Blue Dream, it has a sweet flavor profile, but also features woody and piney attributes. The cerebral high provides a nice, long-lasting euphoria that helps people get active for everything that needs to get done before 5 p.m.

Find Bay Dream strains

Harle-Tsu

Harle-Tsu is another CBD strain for consumers that don’t want to get high, but still want the benefits that come with smoking weed. As its name suggests, it is a cross of Harlequin and Sour Tsunami, two of the most well-known CBD flowers. If you’re here for taste, look elsewhere, as Harle-Tsu is pretty earthy and bland; but if you’re here for effects, this strain usually makes people feel relaxed in the body and focused in the mind.

Find Harle-Tsu strains

Find thousands of strains on Weedmaps

Featured image by Gina Coleman/Weedmaps

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American Stoner – Comparing Cannabis Culture in Legal vs Prohibited States

August 10, 2021 Published by
As a real, through and through stoner, California is one of the best states you could possibly live in and I feel blessed to have grown up there. Sure, the golden state’s industry has some flaws, but as a consumer, you can find literally anything pot-related, and usually with great convenience and for a fair price. However, as journalist stoner, I’m also lucky (if you want to call it that) to be able to experience life in a fully prohibited state – my new home for the time being, Indiana – where I get to learn more about how the market works in states that don’t offer adult recreational products.

Cannabis culture is an interesting subject in the United States and the entire world, and it varies so much based on where exactly you are located. Your stoner experience will be completely different in a state like Colorado as opposed Alabama. Same with comparing Canada to Israel. To learn more about cannabis around the world, make sure to subscribe to The Medical Cannabis Weekly Newsletter. To learn more about the new exotic cannabinoids, such as Delta 8, Delta 10 THC, THCV and THC-O, subscribe to the Delta 8 Weekly newsletter.

Cultural and Societal Differences

When it comes to personal views on cannabis use, I’ve noticed a huge discrepancy between what the citizens of Indiana feel, and what our politicians enforce. Nearly everyone I have met either uses cannabis products or doesn’t care if other people use them, point being that most people would support legalization as it would improve quality of life for many and bring a lot of money and industry to the state.

As a matter of fact, regional surveys have found that 84% of locals support new and more lenient cannabis regulations. Approximately 39 percent of Hoosiers favor allowing cannabis to be used for any purpose, while 42 percent medical use only to permitted. Regardless, only 16 percent of Indiana residents support the current laws so suffice it to say, even in Indiana I’m a stoner among stoners.

Unfortunately, the laws are not in favor of what most people here support, they actually happen to be among the most restrictive in the entire country. Many attribute it to Indiana’s reputation of being extremely conservative, more so than other states. Others believe it’s because the state is basically bought and paid for by Eli Lilly Pharmaceuticals, a known enemy of cannabis reform who has spent hundreds of thousands of dollars lobbying against legalization.

CBD / Delta 8 / Delta 10 THC / THCV / THC-O Wholesale Opportunities

CBD / Delta 8 / Delta 10 THC / THCV / THC-O Wholesale Opportunities

There are some obvious repercussions to prohibition, the main one being that cannabis possession is criminalized so anytime you have it you run the risk of getting arrested. And the penalties are pretty steep here. A first offense, possession up to 30 grams, is a class B misdemeanor punishable by a fine of up to $1000 and up to 180 days in jail. If you have priors, you’re looking at class A misdemeanors and even felony charges.

That aside, there are some more subtle differences to living life in one of these states, things you don’t necessarily think about until you experience them. For example, I noticed this when I recently took my elderly aunt to the doctor for a pain management appointment. In California, I could be very candid with doctors about cannabis use and we could have a real discussion – like adults – about the benefits of cannabinoid therapy for different conditions, if it could possibly interact with any prescription medications, and if there are any risks. In Indiana, we had to stay quiet on the subject.

Another area of concern is worrying about what my kids might say that could get me in trouble. A lot of people in the industry remember the story of Shona Banda, the mother from Kansas who got arrested and lost custody of her child after he mentioned at school that she was using cannabis medicinally to treat her Crohn’s Disease. The school contacted authorities, who went to her house and turned her world completely upside down. This is definitely something that has crossed my mind, being in the cannabis industry I’m pretty outspoken with my opinions on the subject, and the fear of my kids accidentally repeating something about it at school and causing an uproar, well, it’s making me seriously consider homeschool.

California’s Cannabis Industry Is In Trouble – $100 Million Bailout Approved

Product Comparisons

Product quality and availability is a huge downside to living in a prohibition state. Of course, people can still get weed, and usually, you can find good weed in every state, but being a cannabis consumer can be much more challenging in a state like Indiana. Going from having the ability to walk into a licensed dispensary and choose from any number of flower strains, concentrates, edibles, and even specialty products – to being stuck scrambling for buds is a bit of a culture shock. Back home, if a store I went to was out of the product I wanted I simply went to another store; out here, if my dealer is out of bud then I’m out of luck.

But ease of access is not the only discrepancy. I have definitely noticed a difference in taste and freshness of some strains that I’ve purchased. One in particular that I bought had a perfumy smell to it, I have legit never smelled pot like this before except one time in my life and that was in Texas, and other very strict prohibition state. There are numerous different reasons why it could have this aroma, from natural (albeit uncommon) terpene combinations, to pesticides, synthetics, and other contaminants.

One thing I find pretty interesting about the market here is that there seems to be much more demand for alternative THCs and synthetics like Delta 8, Delta 10, and THC-O. While most people in California don’t seem to know much about these products, or have any interest in trying them, they can be found at head shops and smoke shops all over the state. Here you’ll find entire racks full of 3Chi vape carts containing all these different, barely legal or not-yet-on-the-radar cannabinoid compounds.

DIY Cannabis Products: What Can Really Make At Home?

Price Points

For me, this is the big one. I have a few people that I can get good quality flower from (except for the perfumy bud guy but that was a one-off purchase), but I pay quite a bit more here in Indiana than I did in California. I used to pay $120 per ounce for high mid/low top. Most people can expect to pay an average of $240 per ounce for the same quality. I’ve been lucky and found someone who I can buy from for $175/oz, and I’m sure many other people are finding good deals as well. But across the board, it is usually $200 or more for an ounce of decent flower. For really high-quality stuff, the top-of-the-line strains, you’re looking at well over $300 per ounce.

As far as pricing goes, the way it changes by weight is a bit different too. What I’m used to is that when you buy more, you get a prorated price; so the more you buy the less you pay per unit. For example, a half would cost $75 whereas a full ounce would be prorated to $120. This is pretty standard in California whether you’re buying from a dispensary or a dealer. That is not the case in Indiana and I have yet to find a single dealer that prices this way. I can be annoying at times, but there is a plus side to this, if you’re low on funds are stuck buying less than your normal amount, you don’t have to worry about paying extra for not getting a full ounce.

As far as concentrates go, those are hard to find and way more expensive than on the west coast. I typically by it by the gram and have been quoted double for live rosin, sugar, and shatter than what I was spending in California, which was about $15-$20 per gram.

U.S. Cannabis Price – Which Is The Most Expensive State?

Final Thoughts On Being a Stoner in America

You can see the contrast is striking. On one side, you have a flourishing consumer market with every product option and price point your heart desires, with no legal ramifications; and on the other side you’re limited on products, sneaking around and worrying about getting arrested while overpaying for average bud. It’s not ideal, especially being a true stoner coming from a completely unrestricted state, but it’s certainly educational. I know the comparison is focused on California verses Indiana, but it’s safe to assume the differences apply to any legal vs illegal state. And the silver lining here is that no matter where you are in the United States, and regardless of what the laws are there, you can guarantee that it’ll still be relatively easy to find decent flower, even if you have to pay more and work a little harder for it.

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TAGS: cannabis, cannabis industry, stoner, stoner nation, medical cannabis, indiana, california, united states

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Blackberry Kush’s potency is on a whole other level

July 26, 2021 Published by

Every now and then you come across a weed strain that is too high to handle. It hits you with effects that make your body say, “No thanks on this one ever again.” For some people, those strains are the super racy sativas, like Super Lemon Haze, that make them anxious and hyper; for others, they’re the extremely sedative strains, like 9LB Hammer, that make it hard to even function as a human. All of them teach us a lesson about what types of strains we should and should not be smoking in the future.

That said, here’s why I am absolutely terrified of smoking Blackberry Kush.

What is Blackberry Kush?

Blackberry Kush is a cross of Afghani and Blackberry, according to Leafly. It is an indica-dominant hybrid, classified by its short structure, intense effects, and Afghani-derived genetics. 

Afghani genetics and Afghani landrace strains are considered the backbone of modern day indicas. So with Blackberry coming from a mix of Afghani, Mexican, and Vietnamese landraces, and then being crossed again with Afghani, it’s easy to understand how the indica designation came to be. Across many websites, you’ll find Blackberry Kush listed as a great aid for sleep disorders and pain management. The original breeder of BBK is unknown.

Blackberry Kush flowers are often so darkly colored that they appear black. On the nose, the Blackberry Kush terpenes kick out a sweet and gassy profile. On the taste, much of the gas is sent to the background, as sweet berry flavors dominate the strain’s flavor profile. 

It grows best indoors with a 7 – 8 week flowering period that produces a medium-to-low yield, which is probably why you don’t see Blackberry Kush flower too often on dispensary menus. Thus, if you want to try it, you may have to grow it at the crib. 

How it feels to smoke Blackberry Kush (to me). 

Cannabis tolerance plays a huge part in how powerful the effects of weed can be. The more you smoke, the more THC your body will need to get an intense high over time, which is why you see frequent smokers elevate to frequent dabbers over time. 

As far as my tolerance goes, on a daily basis, I smoke three to four .75 gram joints and a dab or two, with a healthy dose of continual vape pen use throughout the day. This means that I can smoke pretty much any time of weed all day and be completely fine and productive. Except Blackberry Kush. It’s an absolute showstopper for my endocannabinoid system.

I smoked Blackberry Kush for the first time ever back in June 2018. It was after a trip down to Oregon to tour the facilities of what was then LTRMN, and has since become Korova Unrivaled. During the visit, I caught a few product samples on my hashtag weed journalist shit. One of those samples was a one gram Blackberry Kush Cabana preroll, which is a line of luxury pre-rolls from the aforementioned companies. Its high absolutely kicked my ass.

Have you ever smoked some weed that immediately you know is too much for you? Like, you’ve been facing blunts back-to-back for years, but for some reason, this high has hit your whole body with the Stone Cold Stunner? That was Blackberry Kush. 

Within three hits of the joint, I felt my eyelids get so heavy that I immediately knew my day was over and whatever was on today’s to-do list had just been moved to tomorrow’s. It’s the type of high that makes you understand people who say they “don’t like indicas because they make me too sleepy.” To make sure it wasn’t just a fluke based on my body’s state and mood that day, I smoked another one of the BBK Cabana prerolls three days later and had the exact same experience.

Two years later, in November of 2020, I found myself in possession of a Blackberry Kush vape cartridge from AbsolutXtracts (ABX) during a road trip through California. I figured that the flower from years prior was just not a match for me, but maybe some oil would be a more relaxing, less overwhelming experience. I was wrong. A few puffs and I immediately got that wicked sleepy feeling. It taught me that while Blackberry Kush is simply not the strain for me, it may be the strain for consumers who do want some help passing out for the night.

Why I think Blackberry Kush is great for sleep

Sometimes you get so high that the only thing you can do to reverse it is go to sleep. That’s what Blackberry Kush does to me. And that’s exactly why I always recommend it to anyone who asks me about sleepy or indica strains — the for-now standard term that the industry uses to describe sedative effects. 

Blackberry Kush is the perfect example of a couch-lock strain. In fact, sites like Pot Guide, CannabisNow, and Way of Leaf that have ranked sleepy cannabis strains have all named Blackberry Kush as one of the best. 

So what makes Blackberry Kush so great for sleep? Perhaps its terpene profile. According to Cali Terpenes, who produces cannabis terpene profiles in liquid and spray formats, Blackberry Kush’s main terpenes are: caryophyllene, myrcene, limonene, pinene, linalool, menthol, nerolidol, and cineol. 

Caryophyllene is expected to have relaxing effects, myrcene is expected to have calming, sedative qualities, and limonene is thought to be uplifting. Combine these perceived effects and it’s easy to see why Blackberry Kush can be such an overpowering, sedative strain for even the most seasoned stoners. For more information about the relationship between cannabis terpenes and effects, peep this article about why we should be smelling weed before we buy it.

Featured image by Dre Hudson/Weedmaps

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The best summer movies to watch while high

July 12, 2021 Published by

It’s summer y’all, which means it’s time to cozy up with some sungrown bud and indulge in the great tradition of summer movie watching. Whether you’re hitting the vape and venturing into a cool, dark theater to escape the heat, catching a cult classic at a retro summer evening drive-in, or just throwing a classic summer comedy on your TV at home while nursing an indica from your favorite bong, there’s no summer-movie experience you can’t successfully augment with a little cannabis. 

Now, the “summer movie” is sort of a nebulous idea, encompassing movies that have big summer releases, movies that are actually about summer, and movies that simply take hold as “summer movies” in the zeitgeist because they capture summer vibes in some way or another. 

Last year during quarantine, my best summer-movie experience was doing fat dabs on 7/10 and letting Stanley Kubrick’s ultra-slow-burn costume dramedy Barry Lyndon melt into my eyeballs. But listen, I’m also self-aware enough to know that’s not the optimal summer movie experience for everyone  — minus the fat dabs part. So for the purposes of drafting the best movies to watch when you’re baked, we’re gonna cast as wide a net as possible, though the chill summer vibes will undoubtedly reign supreme. 

Here’s an eclectic set of 10 great, hazy movies to vibe on when you’re stoned this hot, hot summer.

Caddyshack

We’re starting off with a classic stoner comedy that’s aged relatively well, though it probably kickstarted the tradition of cocaine-fueled summer blockbuster productions in the ’80s. 

Caddyshack oozes with the hazy counterculture vibes from which the National Lampoon-born cast and crew emerged. Stars Chevy Chase, Bill Murray, and Rodney Dangerfield set an anarchic sativa-leaning tone that bleeds through every corner of every antic frame. Pair with a generously rolled fatty and let the chill summer vibes and cool laughs roll over you. 

Do the Right Thing

I was mad late to the game on this one, but finally got around to watching Spike Lee’s classic joint of American racism and class struggle during a brutal Brooklyn heatwave. And it couldn’t have been more appropriate and felt more tragically evergreen during the summer of COVID and George Floyd. 

Like most of Spike’s films, Do the Right Thing operates on a hazy, cinematic dream logic that will open itself up to you and just hit right, both emotionally and intellectually, if you’re watching it under the influence. It booms with perpetual life and a type of understated, human psychedelia that only Spike Lee can pull off.

Miami Vice

Michael Mann’s movies are dank as fuck. Thief, Manhunter, Heat … take your pick, any of ’em will make a hyper-sensory feast after a fat dab or edible high. By the mid-2000s, Mann was the premiere champion of making early “standard-def” digital look immaculate, and Miami Vice — a feature-length update of Mann’s style-defining series from the ’80s — is almost all vibes. 

A clean head high and mild body buzz from a reliable edible is just the thing to experience the deep ocean blues and icy-cool cyberpunk cityscapes for all their worth. 

The Trip

As director Allan Arkush puts it in the clip above, “What movie could be bad if it has a 360° shot that starts with Dennis Hopper passing a joint?” 

Released near the end of the Summer of Love, Roger Corman’s The Trip captures the psychedelic vibes of Los Angeles circa 1967 and still makes for a great high watch today. Written by Jack Nicholson when he was still in Corman’s early-indie repertory company, the film stars Peter Fonda as a commercial director whose dissolution with his life leads him to take LSD for the first time. Director Corman famously took acid before the shoot so he could better adapt Nicholson’s experimental script. The charmingly low-budget results on the screen, while certainly of their time, evoke a visual palette that’s sure to please the modern, stoned summer viewer.

Once Upon a Time… in Hollywood

Quentin Tarantino is in the generation of filmmakers whose films were deeply influenced by the weed culture of the ’90s, borrowing heavily from the stoner-flick tradition and infusing their own genre-mixing, pop-culture-obsessed joints with stoned hangout vibes at every turn.

Tarantino’s latest — and the movie that owned the summer of 2019 — Once Upon a Time… in Hollywood, uses the psychedelic late ’60s as a springboard for a hazy, emotional journey through time, space, and LA mythology, which really cooks when you’re nursing a joint all the way on through to the other side. 

The Burning

No summer movie playlist is complete without a little horror, especially for those of us who are well versed in the art of smoking weed and watching horror films. 

The Burning is one of the absolute best summer-camp horror romps to come out of the post-Halloween/Friday the 13th slasher boom of the early ’80s. It’s got dank cinematography, an effective masked killer, a bunch of teen assholes who meet a series of satisfyingly gruesome ends, and an early cameo from a pre-famous star (George Costanza himself, Jason Alexander, which I suppose makes this film the first “Summer of George”). Next time you’re looking for a campy late show as you wind down with your final tokes of the night, take The Burning for a spin.

The Nice Guys

A welcome addition to the canon of summer movies that take place at Christmastime (Gremlins, Die Hard, Batman Returns, Iron Man 3), The Nice Guys is another retro-LA hangout movie with a hazy noir plot and killer comedic performances from co-stars Ryan Gosling and Russell Crowe. I’ve toked up and watched this one several times now, and the laid-back, heartfelt, stoner-logic charm of it becomes more apparent to me every time. It’s a funny, low-stakes buddy comedy with a loose, prismatic sense of time and place that goes down smooth with a couple of evening bong rips. 

Nashville

From the hazy mind of Robert Altman, the patron saint of stoned cinephiles, Nashville is an experimental time-capsule epic that follows the interweaving lives of musicians, politicians, socialites, movie stars, and regular folks over a few days in Nashville, Tennessee during the 1976 presidential election. 

All of Altman’s films have a kind of delayed effect that mimics the headspace of a cannabis high. There’s a sort of indescribable communication of images, ideas, and satirical humor that’s quite rewarding to pick up on when you’re high, even if you can’t describe or translate it to someone else.

Mad Max: Fury Road (Black & Chrome Edition)

Is Mad Max: Fury Road the greatest action movie of all time? I won’t make a definitive statement on that here, but I will say you can’t do much better than the clear, frenetic visual pleasures of this immaculate post-apocalyptic crystalline joint, especially if you’ve got a weed product around that offers up a clean, powerful head high. 

And if you really wanna crank this shit up to an 11, I highly recommend the Black & Chrome edition, which is somehow an even danker strain of cinema than the Fury Road OG.  

Everybody Wants Some!!

A spiritual sequel to Dazed and Confused, Richard Linklater’s 2016 sports comedy/college-hangout movie offers up the same vibes as its predecessor, drawn from ’80s stoner comedy classics like Fast Times at Ridgemont High, infused with a hazy Gen-X sensibility, and made sharper by the more mature eye of a more mature Linklater. 

Set over the course of the last weekend before a freshman pitcher’s first day of college, Everybody Wants Some!! captures the blink-and-you’ll-miss-it vibes of the end of summer and the beginning of an exciting new chapter in a young person’s life — all with a stoney, half-lighthearted, half-melancholy ambiance of a time and place both long gone and frozen in the amber of vivid memory. Pair this one with your favorite vintage strain on a Saturday afternoon in August.

Featured image by Gina Coleman/Weedmaps

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