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Michigan Cannabis Tour

     After Montana, our trip became a lot less cannibasy. Besides a randomly placed and freshly packed bowl in the parking lot of our hotel in South Dakota (synchronistically on our wedding anniversary), and a session of scrapings with an old friend in Chicago, there was zero bud to speak of. That is until we got to Michigan.

     Michigan has an excellent medical program including reciprocity with other medical states that have reciprocity (although, we hear most will cater to a California recommendation). The first place we went to was in Grand Rapids called The Third Day. This dispensary seemed to be very popular with clientele both young and old . The interior was nice clean and professional. Their selection was extensive and all of it top notch. We sampled a few different strains: Bruce Banner, Cosmic Collision, Chem Valley Kush, and Snow White for our free preroll. The bud was superb here and went perfect with a few nights camping in the Manistee National Forest.

Bruce Banner 

   Next we went to one of the most notorious cities in the U.S.- Detroit. You may be surprised to hear that out of our entire trip, it is one of our top three favorite cities. Yes, it's dangerous to a certain degree, but the history coupled with a modern renaissance overshadow anything negative about Detroit. You can hang out downtown, do the coney dog challenge, and marvel at the architecture. Most people assume everyone there is poor because of negative news, but the reality is many very wealthy people enjoy a comfortable lifestyle in Detroit. Visit historic neighborhoods like Grosse Point and Indian Village to see what we are talking about. The city has plenty of safe and exciting things for visitors to enjoy.

     We visited Corktown Dispensary. It was an experience that we'll never forget. What we thought would be a routine visit quickly escalated into an episode of Scared Straight. They gave us a lesson on Detroit. To be clear, we did not go into this naively thinking Detroit was a safe place, but they spelled out the reality of life in Detroit in no uncertain terms. Here are some tips if you plan on visiting:

    1. Don't make eye contact or attempt to randomly talk to anyone. People will know you are from out of town and will target you.  We learned this one from experience.

    2. Have some sort of protection. We told the guys at the shop that we didn't have a gun (although we had mace and a 100 lb American Bulldog) and both their jaws dropped at the same time. They said the police station is across the street, and it took them 30 minutes to respond to a break in at the shop. Average police response time in the city is about 2 hours, so it may be a while before the first response gets there.

    3. Don't go into random neighborhoods. 8 Mile, as we understand it is the dividing line of the city. North of 8 Mile is generally safe, south of 8 mile seems to be where a lot of Detroit's reputation comes from.

    4. ALWAYS know where you are and where you are going. The atmosphere can change really quickly from block to block. Know where you are exploring.

Corktown showroom   

     Another thing they went in depth about was general dispensary etiquette. They said we were lucky to find them and don't know why  but everybody from out of town finds them first. They said most dispensaries you go to will pat you down for weapons before you come in. And don't think about asking for an Indica or Sativa, the only thing they know about weed is if it gets you “high” or not. Also, they said don't sound too smart at most places. The city has a lot of angry uneducated out of work people, if you make them feel dumb they might react in a not so pleasant manner. Keep these things in mind and you should be more than fine.

God Bud    

     Now, what were we talking about? Oh yes! Corktown Dispensary is located in the Corktown neighborhood of Detroit. It is a relatively safe area and the dispensary itself was top notch (as of me writing this Corktown Dispensary has been closed until further notice). They had one of the most comprehensive bud collections I have ever seen. You could not go wrong with any strain they had there. We got some super purple God Bud and some dank Madman OG. Overall Detroit was an exciting place and we can't wait to go back.

Bloom reception area   

     Our final Michigan stop was in the college town of Ann Arbor. Bloom is female owned, a point of distinction the staff was proud to mention. The waiting room has a yoga studio/spa feel to it, whereas the product room itself felt like a general store in heaven. The staff is highly knowledgeable on their product and it is apparent that they care deeply about their work. We tried out their Grape Stomper and their Blue Dream, both phenomenal like everything in Michigan!

Blue Dream  

   What more can we say? Michigan was a dream within a dream- beautiful nature, exciting cities, cool people, and some of the dankest top shelf medical this world has to offer. This is a must stop for anyone who can legally access their medical program, and wants to get a good overview of how cannabis varies from region to region in the U.S.

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Montana Cannabis Tour

       After a shockingly 99% cannabis free trip to British Columbia, we entered into one of the most unlikely places we thought we'd find cannabis in the U.S., Montana. Montana is unreal. The wildlife is truly wild and the scenery is breathtaking, to say the least. The culture is built around personal freedom and self-reliance, which is always a good combination for cannabis cultivation.

     Montana is not the first state most may think of for medical marijuana but they do have an evolving program. Since November 2016, a caregiver (grower) can now serve more than three patients. Before that time, a grower was limited to serving only three patients which made it challenging to provide quality medicine for patients. It is one of the few instances where having too much cannabis becomes an issue.  They do not have reciprocity so we did not get to experience the system firsthand, but we did meet some friendly patients who were more than willing to show us what Montana had to offer.

     We decided to go camping in the Kootenai National Forest. The site came complete with bathrooms and free range cattle who loved to trample anything you put in their way. There was one other person occupying a campsite nearby. His name was Hank and he was originally from Alabama  but had been living in the forest of Montana. He was a Vietnam Vet with a beard thicker and whiter than Santa Claus. He carried a .50 caliber pistol and called pants “britches”. It was obvious from first glance that Hank had been camped there for a while. After a short conversation about California, Hank interjected by asking “do you smoke?”  I said “smoke what?” He said “HERB!” Needless to say, the next few days we became great friends with him and his local family who were medical patients.

     Over the weekend we enjoyed some great hospitality with exceptional people. We sampled their herb and it was excellent. We are not sure of what strains we were having but it all looked, tasted, and smelled perfect. They entertained us with stories of their days with the Hell's Angels and life in their beautiful state. Hank told us of his plans at 77 years old to ride two horses from Montana to B.C. then down to Mexico. We haven't heard from him since we left, but we like to think he is puffin' sinsemilla with a group of senoritas.

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Cannabis Travel Tips

     For most smokers, having cannabis while traveling is as essential as a toothbrush. While cannabis has become more universally tolerated in the United States, it is still wise to exercise caution even in legal states. After having traveled extensively with cannabis, we have developed a few key rules for successfully enjoying it on our travels:

1. Never Carry More than You Can Eat

     This is probably the most obvious rule. Although having a large quantity of cannabis always sounds like fun, it can cause problems when traveling through not so green friendly areas if you get pulled over. A large quantity produces a stronger odor and usually comes with a bigger penalty. The best advice here is to carry no more than you can eat quickly. If you do get pulled over, you'll be able to ingest your flowers before the officer even gets to your window. You may lose your stash, but you'll avoid penalties and eating cannabis flowers has been shown to benefit your cardiovascular system, so it's a win win in the end!

2. Leave Your Paraphernalia

     Grinders and glass should be left at home. Most people don't clean these items and the residues left behind in both can be incriminating. If you do carry them, make sure to clean them thoroughly. You can check out our tutorial if you want to know how to do it. Carry a pack of papers and a roll of tin foil instead. Yes, making a smoking device out of tin foil is normally a little bit jenky, but it's better than getting reprimanded for carrying paraphernalia. It is a multi use item and can be easily disposed of when you are finished. Just don’t bust it out in front of anyone you are trying to impress, unless they are into MacGyver!

3. Keep Walking

      If you are in a public place smoking cannabis, don't just stand around and blaze. This makes you an easy target for law enforcement. Instead take a walk, especially if you are in a crowd. It will be much harder to identify where the smell and smoke are coming from. By the time anyone starts looking, you will already be a block ahead tossing your finished joint.

4. Don't Hot Box Your vehicle

Image from MemeAddicts.com

      This goes in line with the carry small quantities rule. When you smoke in your car with the windows up the smell will linger much longer. If an officer pulls you over, they will have probable cause to search your vehicle if they smell marijuana. Although hot boxing is a blast, it is better to smoke with all your windows down, and best if you do not smoke in your vehicle at all. We smoked in our vehicle with all the windows down before crossing the Canadian border, and they were still able to smell it in our car. Luckily, cannabis is legal in Washington so they did not have much to say other than they smelled it.

      These are just a few of the guidelines we follow when blazing trails on our travels. We hope this helps you put a little more planning and preparation into your travels. Cannabis is nothing to be ashamed of, but definitely something to be smart about when traveling.

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Washington Cannabis Tour

Exterior of Cascade Kropz      

     The next stop on our tour was a state named after one of America’s greatest hemp enthusiasts - George Washington. Washington is incredibly beautiful. It has lush forests, sandy coastlines, dramatic mountains, and an abundance of blackberries everywhere. Try not to miss the opportunity to spend some time out in the forest. If the outdoors is not your thing, the cities will not disappoint as they have something for everyone. Just like the state itself, the cannabis is excellent and well worth the trip.

         The first town we stopped in was Kelso. The hotel we stayed at made us sign an agreement that we would not smoke marijuana on the premises, which would have been cooler if they didn’t. Nevertheless, we had a great time. We went to The Freedom Market for our first WA purchase experience. Immediately you see the difference in sealed packaging. It plays with your mind at first like, “How am I going to smell the dank if it’s sealed?” but you quickly get used to it. Most of the cannabis in Washington we experienced was absolutely top notch. The store was well stocked and the staff very friendly. This is an excellent place to pop in especially if it is your first time purchasing in Washington.

         After Kelso was Seattle. Seattle was a highlight on our trip. Be sure to take your time and really enjoy all that it has to offer. We visited Herban Legends near the Seattle waterfront. This shop has a parking lot right out in front making the visit very easy. When we first walked in it felt like a candy store with brightly packaged goodies everywhere. The budtenders were very helpful and got us hooked up with some great products.

Paraphernalia store in front of Cascade Kropz       

       Further up north we checked out Cascade Kropz. This was a cool shop with an inconspicuous location. The interior had brightly colored handwritten and very busy menus that are a little intimidating at first. An added bonus if you are looking for paraphernalia is the head shop that is roadside in front of it.

Popcorn nugs may not look photogenic but are still excellently dank!

       Cannabis stores are everywhere and many times in very convenient locations like next to gas stations. Cannarex was one such shop. They had a sweet deal on grams of Blue Dream popcorn nugs for $6! These were top shelf quality flowers for below bottom shelf prices and well worth the try. Another gas station spot we popped into was The Joint. This was at a gas station right off of the I-5 in Burlington on your way to the border, a location we are sure generates a lot of business.

       Trove in Bellingham deserves an honorable mention. It is a great business all around with something to fit anyone’s taste. The store itself is very modern looking and has a relaxed atmosphere. Although there were a few more shops on our trip, we feel that these give a good range of what to expect when trying out Washington cannabis.

         Now this may be a tip for the more adventurous but it is well worth mentioning. We were told the locals call it “Easter Egg Hunting”. Here’s how to do it: go to the Custer Rest Area on the I-5 North just before the Canadian border and look around for weed. The idea is that most people who are about to cross an international border don’t want to do anything that may jeopardize their trip so they stash their legally purchased Washington cannabis. Stoners hate the idea of wasting weed, so they place it in the shrubs around the rest area for others to find. Much of it is completely sealed and unopened. On the weekends they have a free coffee program. With one quick pit stop you can get free cannabis, coffee, cookies, and fresh wild blackberries. It’s amazing how you can always find the necessities in Washington, even if you have to get a little creative. Washington is the definition of abundance.

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Hash Hero: Frenchy Cannoli

       Frenchy Cannoli is a master hashishin. He is a writer, consultant, and educator in the cannabis industry. You may recognize him from the video for Mendo Dope’s “I’m From the Mountains”. He is the dude with the think French accent in the beginning. Cannoli shares his knowledge and expertise in both producing and judging quality hash. Check out some of his videos. If you are not familiar with him already, this is a name you will want to remember.

  We like to think of him as the Jacques Pepin of hash:

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This is King Mohammed VI of Morocco and this picture is worth a trillion words, so no need for further comment.     

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Cannabis Notes: Chemdawg

Name: Chemdawg (29.1% THC, 0% CBD)

Classification: Hybrid- 55% Indica 45% Sativa

Grower: Noble Farms by Spinning Heads sold by Cascade Kropz

Look: Light orange hairs with lighter shades of green leaves covered in a dusting of crystals.

Smell:  Fruity evergreen and earth. Not very strong.

Taste:  Underdeveloped compared to other sampled Chemdawg flavor profiles. Tasted synthetic most likely due to poorly drained soil

Effect: Really calming and relaxing. Great for enjoying the scenery or creating it.

Notes: Harvested barely a month before we purchased it which means it was dried fast with little to no cure. This may explain the lack of smell and underdeveloped flavor.

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RIP Franco Loja

        Franco Loja passed away today. He was a worldwide cannabis innovator and liberator. You may know him from the Strain Hunter videos on Youtube. He was Arjun Roskam’s right hand man and business partner. The duo have been traveling the world for some years now seeking out the purest landrace genetics in some of the most remote parts of the world to use in the Greenhouse Seed Co. breeding program. Although it has not been officially announced, some are speculating the cause of death to be Malaria contracted while recently traveling in Congo. Our thoughts and prayers go out to his family, friends, and the cannabis community at large. Thank you, Franco, for everything you did and for living your life with determination and pride. Rest in peace.

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The Potency of Washington

    The major difference between Washington and other cannabis states is their packaging. Washington's cannabis is all prepackaged for commercial sale. This means you don't get the traditional open glass jar bud inspection.  Although smelling and inspecting is recommended when available, Washington never disappointed us with any product we purchased. All of it was top notch.       Their packaging is actually where Washington may gain their advantage in the potency department.  The sealed packaging seems to act as a curer. It lists chemical analyses results, harvest date, and  sometimes package date. Harvest date and package date are two of the most important pieces of information when buying Washington cannabis. Harvest date lets you know when the plants were removed from their soil. Package date is when the plants were actually put into packaging. It wasn't on every sample we purchased, but it was on some. We look for a minimum of two weeks between harvest and package. The theory is the larger gap between the two, the more likely the grower is to have cured the plants before packaging them. Regardless, any cannabis needs at least two weeks to properly dry before being packaged, hence the two week minimum. If you are purchasing cannabis that has a harvest date less then two weeks before the date you purchased it, it most likely was not allowed the proper time to dry and should be avoided.        We tried many different samples with different time frames listed on them. The ones that had the longest "cure" time were always the most potent and flavorful. Follow our upcoming Cannabis Notes on the Washington strains we tried and you will see the data with the impressions that each sample left us with.

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Cannabis Notes: Jack Herer

Name: Jack Herer (.37%CBD, .88% THC, 21.2% THCA, 24.10% Total Cannabinoids)

Classification: Hybrid- 45% Indica 55% Sativa

Grower: Delta 9 Growers sold by Freedom Market

Look: Light and dark green crystal covered leaves with orange colored hairs that almost look like flames.

Smell:  Lemon lime soda pine tree

Taste:  Fruity

Effect: An all time favorite strain for it’s consistent characteristics no matter how it’s grown. Always fun, uplifting, and creatively as well as socially motivating.

Notes: Not organic. Nice early harvest date of 6 months means 2 weeks of drying and 5 1/2 months of curing.

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Merry Christmas!

Hope you are all having a perfect holiday with your fires burning bright!

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How to Roll a SPJ

      Julian from the Trailer Park Boys attempts to roll one of Ricky’s famous six paper joints. Don’t know if this is a how to or a how not to. Enjoy!

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(via Fleurish Farms: Perfecting Indoor Sungrown Cannabis)

     This is a great podcast with Fleurish Farms founders Dr. Jonathan Cachat, the CEO and Dr. Joshua Earlenbaugh, the COO and Director of Production. They discuss their experience with growing cannabis indoors using directed sunlight. 

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Ride With Larry

   This is an inspiring documentary about a former cop with Parkinson’s disease. In a desperate attempt at alleviating his debilitating symptoms, Larry turns to medical marijuana and the transformation is miraculous. The film follows his journey including a 300 mile bike trip across his home state of South Dakota. Check out the clip below to see the first time he uses cannabis. 

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Oregon Cannabis Tour

    Our first stop in Oregon was a shop called Madrone Cannabis Club in Ashland.  When we entered we immediately realized the quality of atmosphere difference from California. The shop itself felt very modern with it’s minimalist industrial decor. It was as clean and professional as a doctor's office.  They checked our ID at the front desk and put it in a computer database. Before you even enter the showroom the budtenders already have your information, but they still check your ID a second time. We tried their Durban Poison and Chemdawg. The Durban was excellent and the Chemdawg was a higher mid range sample compared to other Chemdawg grows. Madrone has won a Cannabis Cup for their indica Madrone OG, so prepare to be impressed with what they offer.

    Our next city stop was Portland. We checked out The Green Planet. The front of the store is all paraphernalia for sale - from screens to vaporizers they have a wide selection. Once you are let in to the back room, there are LED screens displaying menus that are seemingly infinite. Their bud was high quality and they had a strain for every taste. We tried the 21.92% THC Mango and the 25% XJ-13. Both were excellent samples and seriously dank. Their budtenders were incredibly friendly and knowledgeable. This is a great place to visit for first timers as well as life long connoisseurs.

    Our final stop in Portland was Stone Age Farmacy. A very flashy exterior is contrasted with an inside atmosphere that's half doctor's office, half yoga studio. We tried their Skywalker OG which was a good, mellow sample of that strain. The staff was very friendly and the dispensary itself had a strong female vibe, This is a very relaxed and comfortable store, even though the outside looks like a cartoon.

     Oregon is an amazing place with plenty to see and do. It is a great state to relax and enjoy all that life has to offer, and we hope that you do. The people are friendly, the scenery is amazing, and the bud is top of the pops.

     In our next installment we’ll be talking about cannabis in Washington.

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Youtube Growers: California

Mendo Dope, Mz. Jill and Subcool picture via BigBudsMag.com

      Growing your own cannabis is rewarding in so many ways. Although it is pretty simple with enough effort, many people automatically believe that it is something they cannot do. This is most likely because something or someone at some point caused them to believe this is true. The truth is, like any other skill or craft, it can be learned through study and perfected through practice. With the access that most have to Youtube, the process can be much simpler than say 20 years ago. There are many top growers who have created how to videos teaching their knowledge gained from many years of trial and error. 

Schwag or dank? California has both and everything in between

Photo via CannabisCulture.com

              California has long been seen as one of the best cannabis producing areas in the world. While it has been a major trailblazer in all things dank, a large majority of growers are stuck in their ways still growing with synthetic nutrients. When someone is an expert in growing with synthetics, the results can be excellent, albeit not natural. The challenge is that most people growing with synthetics are not experts, even though many will argue that until they run out of air. Just as there are many who refuse to change, there are as many top growers in that state producing primo organic cannabis.

      Subcool and TGA (The Green Avengers) have been ahead of that curve for some time now. Subcool produces online videos with his partner and fellow upper echelon grower Mz. Jill. They are the founders of TGA Subcool Seeds which has bred such legendary strains as Jillybean, Jack the Ripper, and Chernobyl. Their plants grow and breed in organic super soil, but I believe still use synthetic pesticides (which may have even changed). Nevertheless, they are without question legendary growers who grow proper flowers. Check out his show called “The Weed Nerd” on Youtube.

           Subcool regularly showcases other amazing growers on his Youtube show. Another one of our favorites is Mendo Dope, some of the most productive people on this planet. Based out of Ukiah, Mendo Dope are not only great musicians, but also master cannabis cultivators. They post many videos on how to grow and their knowledge is incalculable, just like TGA’s. They grow mostly TGA strains from what I’ve seen and their crops are unbelievable. Their outdoor trees (yes they are that big!) are flowered in 1000 gallon pots. Like Subcool, they are meticulous about their process and the results show it, Mendo Dope is releasing an all organic how to grow DVD called “How To Grow” on January 1, 2017.

         California now has legal cannabis with the passing of Prop 64. Their number one cash crop has gone from gray market to mainstream commercial. It will be interesting to see how things develop for these growers as they expand into an entirely new economy for them and their crops. TGA has now gone into the Oregon market with an entirely new facility being built for cultivation. These are definitely some legends and innovators in California cannabis culture to follow closely in the coming years.