THE FLOWER ISSUE
THE 2022 OREGON LEAF BOWL WAS LIT... SO WHO’S READY FOR ROUND 2?
THE 2022 OREGON LEAF BOWL WAS LIT... SO WHO’S READY FOR ROUND 2?
28 grams of flower, 10 grams of concentrate, 10 units of pre-rolls/carts/ edibles/topicals
$420 per entry, with $20 from each entry going to supporting a nonprofit TBA. All fees to be paid in full at time of dropoff.
Accepting entries starting February 1, 2023. Deadline for entry is March 15th, 2023.
Enter based on how the flower is grown, then pick a category that best represents your flower’s flavor profile ... or put it in the Open Category for the ultimate head-tohead competition for a Leaf Bowl award!
FLOWER
PRODUCTION METHODS:
• INDOOR
• MIXED-LIGHT/GREENHOUSE/LIGHT DEP
• FULL-TERM SUNGROWN
FLAVOR PROFILES:
• FUEL, OG & CHEM
• EXOTIC FRUIT
• CITRUS & SAP
• PURPS & DESSERTS
• OPEN CATEGORY
• CBD-RICH (1:1 OR BETTER - NO HEMP)
PRE-ROLLS
TRADITIONAL INFUSED/ENHANCED
FECO/RSO:
• HIGH THC
• HIGH ALTERNATIVE CANNABINOIDS
HYDROCARBON :
• PULL ‘N’ SNAP / SHATTER
• DIAMONDS & SAUCE
• BUDDER / BADDER
• CRUMBLE / SUGAR
SOLVENTLESS HASH:
• FULL-MELT / BUBBLE HASH
• ROSIN
• TRADITIONAL HASH
CARTRIDGES:
• LIVE RESIN
• SOLVENTLESS
• CO2
• DISTILLATE
• GENERAL HYDROCARBON
• ALTERNATIVE CANNABINOID (CBD, CBG, CBN, ETC.)
EDIBLES:
• BAKED GOODS
• GUMMIES
• CANDIES / CHOCOLATES
• DRINKABLES / TINCTURES
• SAVORY / OTHER TREATS
• CAPSULES/TABLETS
• ALTERNATIVE CANNABINOID
TOPICALS:
• CREAMS / LOTIONS
• SPRAYS
• BEAUTY/SKINCARE
• TRANSDERMALS
• CBD
(Sponsorships available only to non-competing companies)
WES ABNEY CEO & FOUNDER wes@leafmagazines.com
MIKE RICKER OPERATING PARTNER ricker@leafmagazines.com
TOM BOWERS CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER tom@leafmagazines.com
DANIEL BERMAN CREATIVE DIRECTOR daniel@leafmagazines.com
AMANDA DAY STATE CONTENT DIRECTOR amanda@leafmagazines.com
MAKANI NELSON STATE SALES DIRECTOR makani@leafmagazines.com (808) 754-4182
MEGHAN RIDLEY COPY EDITOR meghan@leafmagazines.com
CORTNEY “BUBBLES” DONACA COMMUNITY & BRAND ENGAGEMENT COORDINATOR bubbles@leafmagazines.com
On a sunny summer afternoon in Humboldt County, CA, photographer Erik “Nugshots” Christiansen and breeder Nat Pennington discuss innovative ways to share the beauty of Cannabis andthepassionthatgoes into breeding at Humboldt Seed Company. The resulting image illustrates the birth of the Garlic Budder strain and all its potential. Erik has become well-known for his intricate macro photography of Cannabis flower and concentrates, and recently released a book of his favorite photographs. Be sure to visit our website, LeafMagazines.com, to see the other covers we released this month with Erik's work. As Lao Tzu once wrote, “To see things in the seed, that is genius.”
COVER & INTERIOR PHOTOS
ERIK CHRISTIANSEN @ERIK.NUGSHOTS
BOBBY BLACK, DESIGN + FEATURES
JOSHUA BOULET, ILLUSTRATION
TOM BOWERS, FEATURES
ERIK CHRISTIANSEN, PHOTOS
AMANDA DAY, FEATURES + PHOTOS
ALEX DUBS, FEATURES
STEVE ELLIOTT, NATIONAL NEWS
MATT JACKSON, FEATURES
RYAN HERRON, FEATURES
MIKE RICKER, FEATURES
MEGHAN RIDLEY, EDITING
RYAN SANETEL, FEATURES
BRIAN SCHOTTENHAM, PHOTOS
DIANA THOMPSON, PHOTOS
NATE WILLIAMS, FEATURES
BRUCE WOLF, PHOTOS
KATHERINE WOLF, FEATURES
LAURIE WOLF, RECIPES
We are creators of targeted, independent Cannabis journalism. Please email us to discuss advertising in an upcoming issue of Oregon Leaf. We do not sell stories or coverage. We can offer design services and guidance on promoting your company’s recreational, commercial or industrial Cannabis business, product or event within our magazine and on our website, leafmagazines.com. Email makani@leafmagazines.com to learn more about our range of affordable print and digital advertising options to help support Oregon Leaf, the state’s longest-running Cannabis magazine!
Thanks for picking up The Flower Issue of the Leaf!
Flower power might be a hippie concept, but it really hits the spot with a tasty toke of delicious Cannabis. How lucky are we as humans that our favorite plant has evolved to not only get us high, but feel better?
When you look at the natural world of plants and animals, most evolutionary traits have been developed to protect the species – usually at the expense of whatever unlucky animal comes along for a bite. From the poison dart frog to the stinging nettle, there are very few options that humans can eat and feel better from. This idea is especially prevalent in mushrooms, where similar looking fungi can either be edible or deadly. Thankfully, we have thousands of years of human development and experimentation to credit for our current ability to safely choose our plant-based medicines and recreational adventures.
Going back to Cannabis, it seems beyond lucky that the trichomes and terpenes the plant develops and expresses to keep deer and bugs away, actually light up the human endocannabinoid system perfectly. And if you really want to trip out, don’t forget that it’s the same limonene terpenes in Cannabis that are also in citrus fruits!
I feel very blessed to have found our plant beneficial to my health needs, so much so that I started the Leaf in 2010 to share that truth and fight the war on drugs. Back then we didn’t have advanced extraction methods or even the science to isolate THC, let alone the amazing developments of today that have taken the plant into so many uncharted territories. Walk into a dispensary nowadays and you’ll see a whole pharmacy of options that’ll get you high and well at the same time … but what you won’t see in most states is the plant itself.
That’s why we decided to revamp our strains/genetics-themed edition with the official Flower Issue of the Leaf – to talk about the plant, share beautiful photos, and reconnect with the gift that grows from the ground for all of humankind’s benefit. Thank you for reading and sharing the Leaf, and as we head into springtime, please consider planting your own flowers once the dreaded April showers have concluded. There are few greater joys in life than growing and consuming your own Cannabis – an experience every lover of the plant should have at least once. Flower power for the win!
“IT SEEMS BEYOND LUCKY THAT THE TRICHOMES AND TERPENES THE PLANT DEVELOPS AND EXPRESSES TO KEEP DEER AND BUGS AWAY, ACTUALLY LIGHT UP THE HUMAN ENDOCANNABINOID SYSTEM PERFECTLY.”
With the ability to throw a rock in any direction and hit a dispensary, it’s not hard to find products in the Portland Metropolitan area.
This collective with two locations has been one of the leading distributors of quality products for eight years and running.
WE SPOKE WITH DAVID ALPORT, the owner of Bridge City Collective, about how they started and what keeps them thriving during this economic strife. “This has been a difficult time for the Oregon Cannabis industry,” says David. “Given the landscape, we have managed this down cycle very well and are well positioned to continue forward for the community and our customers.”
Originally founded in 2010, Bridge City’s two current locations opened in 2014 as a mainstay among medical dispensaries. One is located on Grand Ave, just off of Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd, and the other on North Williams. Upon entering you are met with a clear, open lobby capable of comfortably catering to large crowds.
On the sales floor, Brace and Bit (operated by a friend of David’s), fashioned a treated Oregon walnut wood wraparound display. It creates a wealth of bold, lumber smells that couples nicely with the aroma of fresh Cannabis. You can find just about everything you need on these shelves –from solventless concentrates to Cannabis books, there is something for everyone.
We asked the staff about their best-selling products and the answer was unanimous: flower. They also shared that not one of their producers is outdoor-based.
“Oregon has a rich history and unique density of
high-quality, small-batch growers. We make it a point to seek them out and feature them in our stores – which is one of the main differentiating factors here at BCC,” David explains. Creating an affordable standard across all flower choices gives each customer the ability to consume a quality product without having to sacrifice the harvest date.
After opening in 2014, the company has seen profitable increases year over year – leaving room for remodels and inventory expansion, as well as maintaining their locations during a time when many shops were closing or moving.
“We know most of our customers on a first name basis,” Kelly Brett tells us, after helping the fourth customer in a row. She also explained the wide and varying nature of their customer base.
“We have a very female-forward clientele that regularly shops,” says Kelly.
Consumers and patients alike can find a happy middle here at BCC, and after our visit, it is clear that David is not about to sit down for patient rights. Several farms on the market today had their start at this dispensary, including several still on shelves today.
Maintaining relationships between farms and extractors for almost 10 years now makes it that much easier to stay profitable, while still “feeding the machine.”
Originally founded in 2010, Bridge City’s two current locations opened in 2014 as a mainstay among medical dispensaries.
Do not operate a vehicle or machinery under the influence of this drug. For use only by adults 21 years of age and older. Keep out of the reach of children.
Our products feel different because they are made differently. We specialize in lipid infusions of cannabis. Inspired by a traditional herbalist method of steeping herbs in fats or oils, our proprietary process produces a sparkling-clear, golden-colored infusion that is mild tasting and highly bioavailable without using unhealthy solvents or gimmicky tech. This pure process captures the exceptional phytochemical diversity of Oregon’s best regeneratively-grown cannabis, preserving a full spectrum of naturally-occuring cannabinoids and terpenes.
Luminous Botanicals is proud to be the world's first Sun+Earth Certified manufacturer. Sun+Earth certifies cannabis that is grown under the sun, in the soil of mother earth, without chemicals, by fairly-paid farmers.
Exclusively distributed by
Take care of the planet while you take care of yourself.
You may be familiar with the name, but Kaprikorn’s new flower facility is set to impress the most seasoned of growers and weed aficionados. Even if you weren’t already aware of their trustworthy clone facility, their award-winning flower is quickly making waves across the state.
Tucked away in southwest Eugene, everything in their facility (roughly the size of an entire city block) has been planned with the utmost intention and attention to detail. It’s evident upon entry that this team has dedicated the necessary time, patience, and immense experience to create one of the most methodic grows we’ve ever seen. Co-owner Kahlil Niemeyer gave us a tour of the entire facility – from the dehumidified attic space down to the unused storage areas – offering consumers a glimpse of what they can anticipate in the months and years to come.
The crew at Kaprikorn originally built a name for themselves in 2017 selling high-quality, dependable clones – primarily sourced directly from breeders and cultivated themselves – to recreational Cannabis farmers throughout Oregon. The crew has seen hundreds of grows, clocked tens of thousands of hours, and had their hands on hundreds of thousands of plants during their many years in the Oregon Cannabis space. Using their immense knowledge and vast experience, it was finally time to show the other farms the true potential their clones and flower could offer.
Working with other grows is how Kahlil met Johnny, the head grower, and after watching him turn a grow around in just three weeks, he knew he had to have his expertise in their garden.
From Colorado to Oregon, Johnny’s 20-plus years of Cannabis cultivation experience was the obvious match for this new venture.
They acquired the keys to the new indoor facility in March 2021 and immediately began building their new teams and collective dreams. Together, they finally got the first flower room operational in April 2022, harvested that July, and became fully staffed just months later.
The main facility is split between two floors: The first floor consists of four flower rooms, two drying rooms and multiple office spaces, while upstairs the post-production team cares for each plant with dedication and intention – using first-rate equipment to process the flower or to prep for extraction.
“Everything our flower touches should be food-grade quality,” says Kahlil, and rightfully so. Integrated Pest Management (IPM) is a prodigious part of their regimen. They’re so serious about it that we had to stand in a cleaning chamber before we could enter the hallway to the flower rooms.
As we walked through the site, we could feel the general air of comfort that complements the meticulous attention to detail.
In the open, windowed trim room the crew remained professionally focused on the project at hand. But a small joke from someone quickly filled the room with giggles and a sense of commonplace camaraderie. Johnny and fellow grower Travis were constantly smiling and laughing as they showed us the most mature of the four flowering rooms, and it was immediately obvious to see the special relationship they maintain with the plants. They listen to each individual one, taking the time to dial in the little details at this beautiful home to 40 strains (currently) in the flowering stage.
Each 2,200-square-foot flower room has five rolling benches with two strains per bench – totaling 10 strains per room. They use seven-gallon tall pots, four wide in each row, and fill them with Organic Matters soil. Since every cultivar uptakes nutrients and water differently, they mix their own organic amendments to optimize the growth of each cultivar.
Upstairs, each room is climate-controlled to perfectly cure and store the flower, with each batch and cultivar organized with diligence and care.
You won’t find anything older than what they would personally smoke themselves.
Kaprikorn is a family-owned and financed company with more than just award-winning buds.
This Oregon company even pays full employee benefits – including dental, vision, and out-of-pocket costs (like copays). It’s a refreshing take and holistic approach to creating happy Cannabis – from the plants to their people.
“AS WE WALKED THROUGH THE SITE, WE COULD FEEL THE GENERAL AIR OF COMFORT THAT COMPLEMENTS THE METICULOUS ATTENTION TO DETAIL.“VISITORS AIR-BATHE TO PREVENT PESTS. MAC1
WITH A FLURRY of fresh flavors on the horizon, we were fortunate to find this new blend of Ice Cream Cake #5 and Grape Cream Cake by Tokyo Starfish going by an appropriately frosty moniker: Purple Ice Water. Available in flower, pre-roll, and as a clone, consumers have the option to grow their own or simply smoke it. The genetics come from Bloom Seed Co. and were hunted in house. But for an extra special twist, the team at Tokyo Starfish ran a company contest with this cultivar –giving all of their employees the opportunity to grow and submit a cut –with the winner chosen at the employee holiday party. The team tells us it’s, “part of an intended learning process of how difficult it is to grow good weed.” Several hues of bright lime and mint alongside dark forest green contrast against white trichome heads covering the entirety of the nug structure. As the second sense takes over, smells of fresh, crisp grapes with a cake-like sugary dough find their way towards the back end. It’s as if a pie is cooling in a nearby window, while the smell wafts from a distance. In this writer’s opinion, combusting through a clean pipe gives one of the most intimate experiences when testing for flavor, but we were also tempted to try this in joint form. The first thing that tickles your taste buds is a grape and berry-like sweetness, engaging the palate to be met with a tidal wave of vanilla and dough reminiscent of an elephant ear. It burns clean and is gentle on the lungs, with little to no coughing through to the end. Needless to say, it’s clear that this pheno was hunted for flavor as well as smoothness.
With consumption of flower still making up over 50% of the market sales in Oregon (according to several independent studies), we can expect to see more new and enticing flavors taking the state by surprise. Tokyo Starfish’s Purple Ice Water is one to watch out for.
“Several
We can’t think of another plant on earth that is more coveted or revered. Its practical uses are too numerous to mention, due at least in part to its biodiversity. What other plant inspires devotees to wait in lines longer than city blocks just to sample new variations in its genetic potential? At the same time, stalwart stewards care for individual living genetics for a quarter century or more, just to preserve the legacy and exact breed that may one day prove to be the elixir, flavor, or antidote we always needed.
All of this magic springs from the simple, sexy act of Cannabis copulation. In the wild, this birds and the bees story might seem pretty traditional.
A male plant pollinates a nearby female plant, usually with the help of the autumn
necessary for breeding “super plants” was possible, Cannabis was illegal. Pioneered by brave stoners over the past 60 years, the legacy of guerrilla breeding is unprecedented and the heritage and oral history should be studied. No other plant has ever been bred in thousands of garages and basements all over the world, each breeder having their own easel of local genetics, working with the canvas of their regional terroir and the demand of their local Cannabis enthusiasts. Conventional plant breeders might not view the work of our outlaw community over the past 60 years as a real breeding program, but there is no denying that the sheer number of participants, the love for the plant, and traditional breeding practices are responsible for almost all of the major advances in Cannabis genetics. Popular strains known the world over have come
breeze. But for Cannabis, sex is actually the exception of the plant kingdom, not the rule. Only six percent of plant species have separate male and female individuals, so most plants can just take care of themselves when they’re in the mood. Sounds a bit lonely (and boring). With Cannabis, the amazing diversity and fast transformations breeders see can be attributed to having two parents – while most plants often have just one. Beyond the two sexes, Cannabis coitus and evolution have been influenced by humanity. We know for sure that people have used Cannabis medicinally for at least 5,000 years. It’s more than likely that plants with better qualities were selected for survival and propagation and over time, were shared by nomads around Asia, Europe and Africa.
Humans have been self-motivated matchmakers for millennia, and the evolution of the alluring Cannabis flower progressed slowly for eons through both natural and human influence.
Ironically, prohibition may have actually saved Cannabis from the monoculture we see in today's “Big Ag” settings and helped preserve landrace varieties. As we all know, weed has been vilified by racists and greedy businessmen since the early 20th century, so by the time transcontinental world travel and the communication
from unwitting hobbyists, a random seed in a bag of bud, or an overlooked male plant that turned out to be a blessing in disguise. After all, anyone who plays can win the lottery, and judging weed is a pretty subjective effort – with conflicting opinions on what's dank happening as often as consensus. More often than not, if a specific terpene profile or cannabinoid ratio doesn't speak to you, it's just that you haven't tried it in the right context. Who knows? Maybe having the best kind of Cannabis is as simple as having a lot of different kinds of Cannabis…
We think that the smartest breeders would seek to preserve just as often as they create. Just a few years ago, nobody wanted purple flowers … now they're the bee’s knees, fetching top dollar. Suddenly those purple strains stashed in the back of the seed vault are pretty important. Breeding techniques could easily take Cannabis in the direction of corn and soybeans (where one variety makes up 98% of the market), but if we choose a different path and embrace variety, we can use these powerful tools to create an economy that’s diverse – while protecting the individuality of the plant, as it speaks to each of us.
They say happiness held is a seed, but happiness shared is a flower. And it turns out, love is just like wildflowers – often found in the most unlikely places.
One of Oregon’s most famous Cannabis brands and the creators of the Moonbow (Zkittlez x Dosidos). Smokers outside the Beaver State may recognize them from their partnership with Connected and Alien Labs. Archive has an unnatural talent for breeding stunning pairings that bring out the best in their parentage. In 2022, they caused heart palpitations by dropping their newest hit, Oishii. Essentially a Moonbow backcross, they described it as “a Damascus blade of candy gas.” Watch out for the next big advancement, as they work on a whole line of hybrids involving Oishii pollen, including a Zkittlez x Oishii cross. archiveseedbank.com @archiveseedbank
Mike from Exotic Genetix started breeding after seeing the medical patients at the grow shop he worked at having to deal with round after round of substandard, or worse, tainted genetics. The journey that began in a tiny hydroponic store in Tacoma, Wash. has given rise to a brand that’s put out a non-stop playlist of hits like Purple Lambo, Buckin Runtz, Whipped Cherries and Red Pop. That first one was the strain behind California Leaf’s last concentrate of the month. On the future horizon, expect to see people tripping out on new Falcon-9 crosses like Lazer Fuel, Red Rager, Neon Sunshine and Yikes. exoticgenetix.com @exoticgenetix_official
A Michigan grower who’s been lighting up the Pacific Coast, Tiki’s been breeding for the last decade – but he popped his first seed when he was only 13 years old. The brand has a reputation for its own outstanding work and collaborations with other legends Cannabis Corey and Mosca Seeds. Tiki Madman has always had a focus on growing for developing strains instead of bag appeal. One of their major heaters is the Devil Driver (Tiki’s Cut Sundae Driver x Melonade). In June of 2022, they dropped the Devil Driver Fems collection, mixing it with Snowman, Lazy Lemon and Toaster Strudel. Tiki Madman has always had a focus on growing for developing strains instead of bag appeal. tikimadman.com @tikimadman
Few breeders are out on the scene like Compton, California’s Masonic. When not running his shop, recording an episode of a podcast, or helping out at an industry event, he’s hard at work in his backyard tending chicken and breeding new hits. Famous for creating Wilson (Banana OG x Papaya) x Tropicana Cookies, his newest accolade is Banana God – a Banana OG x Wilson that’s been gaining attention after winning the gold at Ego Clash 2022. On April 15, he’ll be hosting his third annual Free Seed Day in L.A. Last year saw 1,000 people gathered together to share the joy of cultivation. masonicseeds.co | @masonicsmoker4.0
This nonprofit collective is all about being the most authentic and reliable source for heirloom and landrace cultivars from around the world. As more and more hybrid strains come onto the market, this group wants to make sure some of the unique strains that are part of our history aren’t lost to time. One example of this is their Pure Magic, a Himalayan cultivar from Northern India which is bred for Charas production. LPS lines are primarily bred and acclimatized in Oregon’s North Coast and Willamette Valley regions. Selected over generations, their genetics “strive to recreate the mystery and magic of the Cannabis world of the ’60s and ’70s.” landracepreservationsociety.org @landrace_preservation_society
You can’t put out a Flower Issue without talking about breeders. And you can’t talk about breeders without mentioning the following heat seekers responsible for some of the biggest breakthroughs in Cannabis genetics.
ICE CREAM CAKE #5 × GRAPE PIE × WEDDING CRASHER
INDICA LEANING HYBRID
THC: 23.83% CBD: 0.00%
EFFECTS: HEAVY HITTER, NUMB, SLEEP
CULTIVATOR: LEFT COAST FARMS
BREEDER: BLOOMSEEDCO
PHOTO: TOM MIDAKJ
Five of the most dynamic voices in Oregon Cannabis gathered together for the first time in one limited-edition box set. The J&S Donut Co. proudly presents smokers with a collection where each star has created the perfect pairing of their flower and rosin. Think of it like a supergroup – but each one has a whole track instead of just a solo in the song.
PACKED IN A SIMPLE BLACK BOX, the gold foil label on the front and the handwritten number on the back create an impressive effect before you pop the lid and reveal five golden tubes with sparkly tags. What is it about hand-numbering something that gives it that gotta-have-it feeling? Whether it’s a ring of power, a pair of shoes or a box of hash holes, it makes it so much sweeter when you know you’re one of the chosen – and with only 500 of these boxes in the state of Oregon – the race is on to see who will claim one of these before they’re gone forever.
Each of these Donuts, or Hash Holes if you prefer, was hand-rolled by Sebastian from B.A. Botanicals (the S in J&S). They feature a glass tip, Elements papers and are one-gram rolls with a 70/30 split between flower and rosin. Fresh off of their win for Best Infused Pre-roll at the Oregon Growers Cup, Sebastian and Jake (owner of The Potland dispensary and the other half of J&S) were inspired by the rapid rise of rosin-filled joints and the lack of their presence on the Oregon retail market.
The B.A. Botanicals Donut in the set is the same mixture of Z flower and Gelato 41 rosin that kicked off this whole project and secured the win that inspired them to create this group collaboration. Wildly different, the various flavors have impressive dry pulls and the consistency of the burn is beautiful. None of the five had any issues … and that rosin circle was right in the middle every time. What’s cool about their size is they are perfect for one or two people, instead of the usual session cannon. You almost don’t want to share when you light up one of these Mini
BA Botanicals
Z w/ Gelato 41
Archive
Gelonade w/ Melonbreath 15
Grape God
Diesel Dough w/ Melon Fizz
Nelson and Co. Rare Dankness x Triangle Kush w/ Crem De La Chem
Eastwood Gardens
Pink Elephant w/ Greasy
Runtz Rosin
“Withonly500 oftheseboxes inthestateof Oregon–the raceisontosee whowillclaim oneofthese beforethey’re goneforever.”
Oregon growers have been busy behind the scenes popping seeds and sourcing exclusive genetics to stay ahead of the market. We highly recommend keeping the following flower on your radar the next time you’re stocking up.
APPLE MAI TAI
GRIM BASTARD
“PASSIONFRUIT,
Bred by Clearwater Genetics and selected at PDX Organics, this Mai Tai #4 crossed with Apples and Bananas is enough to make your eyebrows pop at the first whiff. Rich tropical fruit notes dominate. There’s a light apple scent once you tear into the bud but passionfruit, guava and marshmallow are all at the forefront, layered over a pronounced petrol. Busting these nugs is an absolute joy as well – dense and dark but also colorful, they’re expansive once broken down. Relatively sticky, rolling a gram into a generous joint is just as easily said as done. Ideal for zoning out at home or relaxing with friends. Keep an eye out for this tasty treat.
26.9% THC | pdxorganicfarms.com @pdxorganicfarms
What a welcome surprise to open a jar of herb labeled “Grim Bastard” and get a nose full of dessert. There’s nothing ‘grim’ at all about this Biker Kush and Black Banana cross bred by Solfire and selected from seed at Verdant Leaf. Even better, it smells like you just tore into a strawberry donut fresh off the line (thanks to its 3.1% terpenes). Buttery bakery scents dominate at first sniff. Once this herb takes a spin in the grinder, we get a bouquet of berry notes, graham crackers and warm sugar. After a quick joint, the effect is long-lasting, light and elevating. Be ready to tackle a lingering project or crank the volume on that new favorite record.
“BUTTERY BAKERY SCENTS DOMINATE AT FIRST SNIFF.”
31.52% THC | verdantleaf.com @theverdantleaf
While it’s hard to improve on a classic, there’s no harm in trying. This Chelato (Gelato x unknown) from Slim’s Top Shelf adds nuance and strength to the Gelato profile we’ve been digging for years. It’s got every bit of those rich and creamy dessert notes we know and love, bolstered by intense burnt rubber and nose-wrinkling gas. That balance of big funk with fresh and clean aromas makes this one stand out in a crowded dispensary. If you don’t see it at your local shop, ask for it, stock up … and stash away a jar for a rainy day.
“IT’S GOT EVERY BIT OF THOSE RICH AND CREAMY DESSERT NOTES WE KNOW AND LOVE...”
23.80% THC | 0.34% CBD | slimstopshelf.com @slims_topshelf
GUAVA AND MARSHMALLOW ARE ALL AT THE FOREFRONT...”
HAVE YOU EVER HEARD THE PHRASE “FOR LACK OF A BETTER WORD?” It means that you’re searching your vocabulary to find the most applicable language that best represents what you’re trying to convey. Sometimes you don’t have the exact word, but by using this phrase, you make it known that your intention is to communicate your thought effectively. And it’s totally cool. Because it is understood by the person with whom you’re interacting that although you don’t currently have the best articulation, you are also not trying too hard to impress.
And that is what’s wrong with how the word “perfect” is wielded today. People overuse it believing they are demonstrating wisdom by applying it where a less fabulous word would normally go – thinking that it boosts their ability to elocute “perfect” words. Which makes sense. Because the current “me” society that displays their filtered flawlessness on the internet as a quantified representation of who they are, is hiding from the word “imperfect.”
That’s one you won’t hear them use.
It’s absurd. A trigger. How dare you!
The overplay of the word “perfect” is an encapsulation of this artificially intelligent future we are doing “The Robot” into. Perception is largely reality, and the word accentuates the image people pretend to possess. There’s this idea that if you say something “perfect,” then “perfection” will materialize – which realistically doesn’t happen. Just because you use the word to describe something as “perfect,” doesn’t make it “perfect.”
So, when the woman who answers the phone in customer service gleefully uses the word more than twice for the figurative cherry on the sundae, she is in essence informing herself that not only did she resolve the issue, but it couldn’t have been handled any more “perfectly.”
But no, I’m sorry … the last four digits of my Social Security number are not perfect. They are just OK. You know what’s perfect? Cannabis. And Agnes, my pet gerbil.