Klaus approved.
Categories
Category: Reviews
Klaus infused cocktails
Klaus, a canned cannabis cocktail, is crafted for flavor chasers by mixologist Warren Bobrow. The intense flavor of their THC drink is absolutely cocktail-like and ideal to serve over ice, though you can enjoy it straight from the can as well. The tart, tangy, and ginger flavors would likely appeal to those who usually order margaritas or daiquiris. With 10 milligrams of THC in each can, it was fast-acting and provided me with a potent — but not overwhelming — high. Currently available in one flavor, the Mezzrole, with two more flavors coming soon, each $12 can is priced like a craft cocktail.
You can find Klaus cocktails at two Solful locations in Northern California: Santa Rosa and Sebastopol. So if you’re in Sonoma County, be sure to check them out.
Available: Northern California
The Apothecarium, with two locations in New Jersey, is open for business! That means fully recreational for those who are twenty-one years old or older. What are they like? Well, they are a study in simplicity, but two vastly different experiences completely.
Phillipsburg, NJ was my first stop of the day. Standing stout against the former industrial foreground, framed by an active freight line and the Delaware River beyond, The Apothecarium has a stately position in the town. The reinvigoration of the former bank building represents brilliant re-use of the space. With soaring three-story ceilings, one gets the feeling of being in a very important place, where the business of the day was commerce.
After waiting in the short line for just a little while, the security guard allows just three people into the space at any given time. You never feel disregarded though, the line moves along quickly, and people seem to enjoy talking to each other about what strains are in today and the like. Once inside the cavernous space, you check in with the security guard and pass into a series of roped-off lines toward the consultation space. This is a long counter with CSRs- customer service representatives- instead of budtenders, meting out advice along with possessing truly genuine smiles when discussing the individual strains. Medical cannabis is meted out from a different window within the operation, with no one feeling left out, or ignored. The wait time once inside is very short, maybe three minutes or less. The entire experience is very California-like as opposed to Denver-like, probably because Denver’s experience can be described as, somewhat overwhelming… New Jersey is just right. Just the right amount of flowers with just the right amount of vape carts, just the right amount of concentrates, and just the right amount of hardware.
Phillipsburg, NJ needs to have a consumption lounge, preferably down along the railroad tracks or the river, watching the freights lumber past on their way between here and there. I’d drive there to enjoy this entertainment and smoke cannabis in a nice environment. Phillipsburg has been described as a town, down on its luck, but I see it differently. Sure, there is little in the way of industry, but with the introduction of cannabis to the local economy, value will rise in the marketplace, and cannabis tourism may be introduced to a rough and tumble town. After all, Amsterdam was a pretty rough place before cannabis hit the scene and added much-needed capital to a generally cold-rain-soaked backwater in a place nearly forgotten by history. Consumption offers canna-tourism! There are historic train tracks nearby and the rich history of the Pennsylvania coal mines is very close to the whiskey business, which had roots in regard to rye whiskey and the Whiskey Rebellion, making cannabis another vice to enter the community. This time in a legal and tax-generating fashion.
Just on the other side of the bucolic Summit, New Jersey is the quaint town of Maplewood, New Jersey. Long a feeder community for residents from Newark, East Orange, and Elizabeth, Maplewood offers safe streets and unlimited growth opportunities for entrepreneurs. My father’s family came from Newark originally, then they moved to Maplewood, before moving to Verona. My trip to the Apothecarium in Maplewood was less like a visit to a new building within a familiar town, and more like a trip into my family’s history. Pretty nifty stuff for me.
Entering the low-slung building you come into a space reminiscent of Short Hills Mall boutiques. The style is very bougie, with sophisticated wallpaper and not overwhelming lighting. Staff members look crisp, more like people who work in banking for insurance over those who are bud-tenders. It’s remarkable for me to be able to purchase cannabis in New Jersey and The Apothecarium offers a truly unique retail experience within its four walls.
Onto the flowers. Because of a mix-up with my medical card, I did not purchase any cannabis in Phillipsburg, but I did in Maplewood, and what kind of herb it is truly wonderful plants.
Apples and Bananas- “Cookies Branded” grown in Boonton by talented, young growers, this strain offers bursts of citrus zest and black loam in every puff. When I think about the cannabis that I smoked as a young person, this was nothing like that ditch weed.
The Soap Flower, another – decidedly soapy on the nose, but what a luscious high… I was thinking Irish Spring soap with a touch of gas added for humor, this hybrid strain offers a mind/body high that covers the awake and sleepy parts of getting stoned with aplomb. I like this stuff. How did they get it to taste as cilantro does to some people?
Kind Tree Slapz Flower- Gas upon Diesel gas, upon ammonia and more petrol…and sour skunky gas. the kind that says truck stop weekend. This is the kind, and it does the trick on my brain. I got pretty stoned, right away. Definitely as good as some of the good stuff from Denver or Oregon. The gorgeous nug in the mylar bag was just huge!
Gary Payton Flower- Gary Payton from Cookies speaks to the original New York Diesel I remember smoking in the late 90s. You remember it, because all the snowboarders had it up in Vermont during the winter, and you could smell it in the air around Madison Square Garden, especially when the Grateful Dead came to town.
New Jersey cannabis has really grown up. I’m definitely impressed.
I wish New Jersey offered home-grow, and I especially wish New Jersey allowed edibles and beverages. The cannabis program is basically backward in this regard, which makes me naturally less than optimistic for the future. But that’s not the point of this article and the argument for or against home-grow or edibles is so stigmatized that I cannot even strike a balance in my brain over the entire topic.
My suggestion is to visit the bank-like branch of The Apothecarium in Phillipsburg, NJ, or the high-style and sleek, Apothecarium in Maplewood, NJ. Both offer the same high-end products, shared in a fashion that introduces over-sells, some of the finest strains of cannabis around these parts of the country.
Thank you.
WB
Ever since I traveled to Holland as a boy, and saw how they grew flowers for the world, I was inspired by the concept of Dutch Greenhouses. Enter the current day — the concept of growing cannabis under the sun is more than just a possibility, it’s the reason companies like POSIBL exist in the first place. POSIBL is the cannabis farm of the future and engine for several of California’s leading brands. POSIBL is redefining what it means to produce the highest quality cannabis. Leveraging a state-of-art system that uses less to do more, POSIBL brings the best greenhouse technology and expertise from traditional agriculture into cannabis and pairs it with the best possible genetics to produce the perfect flower — grown in an ethical, sustainable, free of pesticide and cost-efficient way, year-round. The technology is as old as the greenhouses that I saw in Holland back in the 1970s. Growing cannabis in a greenhouse, using a mixed light supplemental system, is more than just intriguing, it’s the kind of cannabis that really gets me stoned. Not that I’ve tried the POSIBL brands yet, maybe I’ll have the chance when I’m out west again. It’s like that for me, making a laundry list of haves and have-nots. That is the question. And now, without further ado, may I please introduce Jesus Burrola, Chief Executive Officer of POSIBL. Cheers. WB
WB: Please tell me about yourself, what do you do for work? Where are you from? Live now? What did you want to be when you grew up?
Jesus Burrola: My name is Jesus Burrola, and I am the CEO of POSIBL, a grower and co-packer out of Salinas, CA. We operate a 12-acre mixed light greenhouse, and power 15 large brands in CA. I was born and raised in Mexico and lived there until I was 18. I grew up around distribution, since my father owned a distribution business, and was interested in how to streamline logistics and operations. This led me to pursue a career in supply chain management, and I ended up working for the largest building materials distributor in North America for 15 years prior to joining POSIBL. The desire to help be a part of this new industry and help shape its direction of it and help destigmatize the plant led me to join POSIBL two years ago.
WB: What are you working on right now? Do you have a six and twelve-month goal? What makes your company different from its peers?
Jesus Burrola: We have 2 big priorities.
1) The launch of our first B2C brand Humo, which is focused on representing the Latino community. Being Latinos in the space, we felt there was no brand in existence that really catered to our community, which makes up over 30% of the California population and a huge portion of the participants in the industry. We see this as an opportunity to help reduce the stigma of cannabis in our community.
2) The buildout of our new state-of-the-art greenhouses and processing facility. For the past few years, we have been working on getting a high-tech greenhouse project designed and permitted for expansion. We are, thankfully now, at the point where we kicked off construction. This project will take 14-18 months to be fully built out, but once it’s done it will be one of the most sustainable and tech-forward cannabis projects in the state.
WB: What obstacles stand in your way currently, and how do you anticipate removing them? Do you have a mentor or teacher who is valuable in your path?
Jesus Burrola: The largest challenge is the broken regulations and taxes that exist in California for cannabis operators. These in turn have created a very difficult market, where the heavy tax burden and added costs of the regulations make it extremely difficult to transition consumers to the legal market and have led to extremely low pricing for growers.
WB: Greenhouse, indoor or outdoor grown cannabis? Favorite strain right now? When you enjoy cannabis, do you have a favorite food that you prepare? What about your favorite restaurant?
Jesus Burrola: I am biased, but I would have to say greenhouse. I feel greenhouses with supplemental light are the best of all worlds, since you can incorporate the full spectrum of the sun and natural elements, but at the same time control the environment to give the ideal conditions for the plant to thrive and produce year-round. Sustainability is also important to us, and growing in a greenhouse environment allows us to reduce our carbon footprint.
My favorite strain right now has to be the Limonada. It is an energetic sativa with a citrus and sweet terpene profile.
To me, there is no better meal than authentic carne asada tacos. Being from Sonora, we take big pride in our claim to having Mexico’s best carne asada tacos. There is not a trip or visitor that doesn’t involve bringing freshly made tortillas to pair with some nice ribeye tacos and a cold beer.
WB: What is your passion?
Jesus Burrola: Apart from my family, I would say my passion is learning. I am naturally curious and coming into cannabis from the grower side has been an incredible experience. Cannabis is a fascinating plant. I get to work with a team that is extremely knowledgeable and passionate about the plant, and I learn new things every day. I am extremely grateful to be able to work with such a great group of people that truly care about growing the best possible flower.
—
This was the pitch. I’ve included it here because it offers the framework for a topic that I used to write about but stopped. Why? And what was it? It was CBD derived from hemp.
The reason is pretty simple. Most CBD sold around the globe is no more than snake oil; quack medicine sold in gas stations as a cure-all. This topic is really not worthy of my time. Thus, I stopped writing about health products and got rich, quick CBD multi-level marketing scam products that may or may not do anything.
I turned down pitch after pitch because there really are no rules in CBD.
Why are rules important?
Well, look at the alcohol industry for an example. There are no rules in rum, for instance. You can do almost anything to it, from adding a hundred grams of sugar to caramel coloring that fools the drinker into thinking that dark rum is old rum. It’s not old, only colored and sweetened.
When was the last time that you saw an ingredient label on a bottle of rum or any spirits for that matter?
Wait, that sounds like the CBD business! No transparency.
Where was it grown, and what kind of nutrients were used? Is it toxic when smoked? All unknowns.
Here’s to transparency in CBD testing. Cheers!
Hi Warren,
After reading a few of your CBD-related articles, I think you’ll find this research interesting. Could you believe that 1 out of 4 CBD products was NOT tested for microbial content, pesticides, or heavy metals?
Leafreport.com reviewed 2946 CBD products from 136 CBD brands in terms of purity and potency testing. It turns out that what is advertised and what CBD products actually contain are completely different.
Here is the full research.
Some interesting findings:
Only 13% of brands tested almost all of their products for purity testing, checking for microbial content, pesticides, or heavy metals
25% of brands reviewed didn’t carry out any purity testing at all.
84% of potency-tested products didn’t measure within the acceptable variance of up to 10%.
Only 42% of brands test almost all of their products for potency (90%-100%) and share their third-party lab results with consumers.
Spokesperson Gal Shapira, Product Manager at Leafreport, says, “Lack of transparency in CBD industry is a real issue for consumers. They are being fooled on a daily basis by brands and advertisers. This is the reason we invested $25,000 in this market research to bring more clarity to the CBD industry and protect consumers from false CBD products.”
Is this something you would be interested in covering?
If you need more information, feel free to get in touch.
How could I say no? Knowledge in CBD? Good luck with that until recently.
Please tell me about yourself? Where are you from? What brought you to the cannabis (CBD) space? Curiosity? Health?
I was born in Russia and moved to Vancouver, Canada, when I was 12. I’ve always been interested in writing and started doing small online freelance writing gigs in 2010. I have an Associate of Arts degree in Creative Writing and a Bachelor of Arts in History and Geography.
After finishing university in 2015, I decided to go into freelance writing full-time. I got an ongoing gig writing articles about dietary supplements based on published research studies. It was a good fit because I’ve always been interested in health and have tried many supplements.
That’s how I discovered CBD in 2017. It was a new supplement that had a lot of hype around it but not a lot of good information. I tried it out and was impressed by its anxiety, sleep, workout recovery, and overall health effects.
I started reading studies about CBD, writing articles, trying products and decided to specialize in writing about CBD. I’ve written dozens of evidence-based CBD articles for Leafreport.
Please tell me about your philosophy on clarity and transparency in the CBD industry. What are the best practices? Why is CBD sold in gas stations?
Although the FDA has sent warning letters to CBD companies that make unsubstantiated health claims or sell substandard products, by and large, the CBD industry is unregulated.
That’s why third-party testing done by independent, accredited laboratories is so important in the CBD industry. It’s essentially a form of self-regulation that assures consumers that CBD products actually contain what’s advertised and are free of potential contaminants.
The first thing I always check when reviewing CBD products and brands is third-party testing. Are the tests publicly available? Are they up to date? Are they done by a reputable lab? Are both potency (levels of cannabinoids) and contaminant (pesticides, residual solvents, etc.) test results present?
This gives you a pretty good idea of whether the CBD brand is reputable and trustworthy. Of course, there are many other best practices as well. For example, it’s always best when brands are vertically integrated, meaning they grow the hemp, extract it, and make the finished CBD products themselves.
CBD is sold in gas stations because it’s a popular health and wellness product. But these products tend to be of low quality because they’re often made by shady companies that don’t provide third-party test results or even have a website.
Who is responsible for policing the labeling of CBD products in the United States? What is permitted on the labeling?
The FDA is responsible for regulating the labeling and packaging of cannabis products. But technically speaking, the FDA doesn’t currently consider CBD products as dietary supplements and doesn’t allow them to be sold as such. That’s because CBD is used as an ingredient in a pharmaceutical drug approved by the FDA (Epidiolex). So, this creates a strange situation where CBD products are obviously being sold as dietary supplements even though the FDA is technically against that.
As far as I’m aware, the FDA has not released any specific labeling requirements for CBD products. Instead, CBD product manufacturers are following the established labeling rules for dietary supplements, which include showing the amount of the active ingredient, ingredients list, name and location of the manufacturer, supplement facts panel, and so on. Another rule is that they cannot make any health claims that their product can treat any disease or related symptom.
I hear it all the time that CBD is a cure-all, yet there is very little in the way of regulation on what can and cannot be stated on the label; who is the governing body?
CBD is not a cure-all. But the reason it gets that reputation is that over 9,000 studies of CBD have been published to date, suggesting a myriad of potential benefits for everything from inflammation and pain to neurodegenerative conditions such as Alzheimer’s. But most of CBD’s potential benefits need higher-quality evidence (placebo-controlled clinical trials) before we know for certain.
In terms of health claims, those are regulated by the FDA and FTC. The FDA mostly regulates claims on product labels, while the FTC regulates claims in advertising. Dietary supplement manufacturers are not allowed to make claims that their products can help with any health condition or disease (with the exception of approved health claims, which require high-quality research and official authorization from the FDA).
Even though the FDA does not currently consider CBD products to be dietary supplements, it still treats them as such in terms of health claims. That’s why the FDA regularly sends out warning letters to CBD companies that sell misleading products or make unauthorized claims that their products can treat symptoms of related conditions, like saying that their CBD oil can help with cancer or treat insomnia.
What is your passion?
I’m passionate about improving my health and helping others do the same through safe, natural, time-tested methods. That’s why I was immediately drawn to CBD — it’s natural, non-intoxicating, has little to no side effects even with daily use, and has been used for its health benefits for thousands of years as a component of cannabis.
I exercise and practice meditation and intermittent fasting daily, in addition to taking herbal supplements like CBD and ashwagandha. I’ve read thousands of studies about CBD and other supplements and enjoy breaking down what I learn into simple language that helps others improve their health naturally.
Warren Bobrow: Please tell me who you are. What you’re working on right now?
John Bayes/Mike Abramson: We are the Dharma Police. However, on an average day, we are known as John Bayes of Green Bodhi and Mike Abramson Of Brothers Grimm Seeds. We are working on bringing awareness and intention back to the industry. Intentional Horticulture, coined by John, is a way of life cultivating Dharma from within to apply to the plant, but more importantly, to apply to every aspect of what you do. Another one of our focuses is bringing back the Brotherhood/Sisterhood atmosphere to the culture. Pre 2005, there wasn’t the amount of hate and shade thrown towards any cultivator or breeder. We have decided to team up on a number of projects and invite those with true Dharma into what we are doing. With our current obsession with social media, there have been plenty of keyboard warrior trolls harassing people for literally anything and everything. We are here to stick up for those being bullied.
WB: As far as philanthropy goes, what are your six and twelve-month plans? What are you working on right now?
JB/MA: This is our favorite thing outside of our families that we prioritize heavily. Currently, we have two main philanthropic endeavors, the first being the #WaterForLife. This is a purely intentional project, no 501c3, no tax-deductible letters. India has some of the worst living conditions with a lack of access to clean water. Most villages are drinking and bathing in the same water animals frequently relieve themselves in. Bodhgaya, which is in the state of Bihar, is the holiest of cities for Buddhists and where the Buddha attained His enlightenment. This area is one of the poorest regions in India, “3rd world” would be a compliment here. So, John decided to work with two friends over there and challenged them to come up with an idea that could help the locals and feed their families. In short, when telling Mike about it, he had to be in. We are currently at monies raised for over 50 wells, with an average of 3-5 a week being donated and the 29th being installed soon. For $700, a village gets access to clean water, thousands of lives are changed instantly.
Another big project we are working on is raising funds for “His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s Library and Learning Center,” which will be located at Namgyal Monastery in Ithaca, NY. This is the only seat of His Holiness the Dalai Lama in the western world, and currently His only seat outside of India. John has been a student of Namgyal monastery for 10years now and has been appointed as the “Outreach Coordinator” for the project. We both hold the highest regard and reverence for His Holiness and His compassionate commitment towards all beings of the world. Beyond just raising funds, we have ventured into a collaborative philanthropic breeding project where all proceeds will go to the center. We are currently working on a 3-way breeder collaboration, Brothers Grimm, Green Bodhi, and Bodhi Seeds. This will officially drop at the Harvest Cup in Worcester in November.
WB: Favorite cannabis strain right now? Developed by whom? What is it, sativa? Indica? Who developed the genetics?
JB: Purple Hindu Kush. I got the cut from @MrBobHemphill, a legendary strain collector and legacy breeder, the other half to the genetics company “Crickets and Cicada Seeds.”
MA: The Dumpster Diver a Cali Super Skunk x Hazmat OG bred by Covert Genetics. Which is a sativa leaning hybrid.
WB: Favorite food when on the road spreading the word?
JB/MA: Noodles. Spending a lot of time on the road and at the monastery, we have discovered that any composed noodle dish is the fuel we need. Ramen, Pho, Pad Thai, it’s literally a whole meal. Spice is a requirement; the hotter, the better.
WB: What is your passion?
JB/MA: Our families, friends, living a life of intention and compassion. We also love to “Send It” with everything we do, from surfing to hitting the mountains in the winter.
I was just out at the Hall of Flowers held yearly at the Sonoma County Fairgrounds in Santa Rosa, California. While there, I had a chance to taste the fine flowers offered by fumé, and without even being patient and getting some at the show, I bought some from a dispensary. I knew that there would be no shortage of fine flowers available to me, but if I wanted to capture any tasting notes, I was forced by necessity to do them early in my day’s work. Such is the life of a cannabis-tasting notes aficionado. At least it’s not like doing a rum tasting. The hangovers from the sugar were insurmountable sometimes. Cannabis offers no such experience, especially not cannabis, from companies such as fumé. They offer such an elevated show. It’s refreshing to smoke their offerings early in my tasting routine, which this year was no disappointment.
Please enjoy the following interview with Ian Hackett, Napa Valley Fumé CMO, and Head of Compliance. Did I say that their herbs are deliciously different?
They are.
Warren Bobrow: Please tell me about the new brand.
Ian Hackett: We created our new brand, fumé (pronounced foo-may), in an effort to showcase what we believe to be some of California’s best cannabis strains. We developed this premium line with the educated cannabis consumer in mind; those who seek out unique strains with complex terpene profiles and are grown by farmers who honor the plant and go the extra mile to grow responsibly in order to protect the planet. The fumé consumer understands that terpenes are key players in their experience, and they have a passion for sustainability and giving back to the cannabis community, two key components of our brand. We evaluated dozens of strains–held blind sensory panels for aroma, taste, and experience–and met with the growers in person to hand-pick the strains. To complete the experience, we coupled them with premium smoking accessories that allow people to experience the true flavor of these terpene-rich cultivars. We wanted to push the envelope in terms of cannabis packaging. I have an issue with the number of single-use plastics that, due to regulations, we can’t really avoid. So, I worked with an amazing packaging supplier, and my designer and I came up with a stunning, child-resistant certified, plastic-free solution for our king cones, pre-roll packs, and flower.
WB: Why cannabis?
IH: I want to help people. It’s simply part of who I am. I believe that the cannabis plant–with all of its healing properties–can help people fix themselves. The positive results have been demonstrated time and time again. From the medical perspective and how critical cannabis was in helping those suffering from HIV/AIDS and cancer starting in the 80s to how it’s used today to treat PTSD for our Veterans, and it is helping so many people who suffer from anxiety and depression with real results. We should try and heal ourselves, not mask or medicate with opioids that have been overprescribed and subsequently abused for many decades. That said, I also see the massive opportunity that the cannabis industry brings to the economy. I was lucky enough to be part of the e-commerce boom, and to me–aside from space–the cannabis industry is the next frontier.
WB: Indoor or outdoor grown? Why?
IH: I believe that outdoor is the ideal growing style for cannabis. It’s the most natural and cost-effective method. I just love the idea of the cannabis plants basking under the California sun and swaying under our big blue skies. That said, I am a big fan and love a good greenhouse grow. You can take advantage of the sun’s energy, maintain a hospitable environment when mother nature is having a bad day, and you can have multiple harvests per year. We have one sun-grown strain in the fumé lineup called Dank Fruit, and it recently took third place in High Times’ NorCal Cannabis Cup in the sun-grown category. It’s a cross between Purple Papaya Punch x Blue Dream. I dubbed it an introvert’s paradise, and it’s my current go-to weekday strain because it delivers such a well-balanced high, and it smokes super smooth. The other two strains in the fumé line are absolute stunners. Our Double Chem OG (Light Dep) is a heavy-hitter and delivers that body buzz before taking you into a calm, relaxed state. And, our Cherry AK (Mixed Light) has an incredible nose—I get goosebumps whenever I smell it. It’s sweet and piney, and it packs a burst of energy right out of the gate; it’s a cerebral banger, and you’ll want to move around.
WB: Favorite let’s get stoned food, where?
IH: Gimme the salt all day. Pretzels, pizza (duh), and olives. This is why I really love an overflowing Mezze platter when I smoke with friends. I like the freshness of a Mezze platter and how savory the items are—the olives, feta, eggplant, tzatziki, and the warm flatbreads just hit the spot for me. With a loaded Mezze platter, there is something for everyone so we can just settle in, listen to music, talk, and graze and blaze.
WB: What is your passion?
IH: I am honestly just in love with the cannabis community. I have never felt so protective, engaged with, and proud of a group of people. I want to help people find healing with the plant and bring joy to others through recreational use. So, to combine my passion for helping and healing through the plant with my professional desire to build things, I have found an industry and community that gets the best parts of me. I have used cannabis since high school recreationally and medically after my first panic attack about eight years ago. But, being able to work with the plant, develop products and brands, and collaborate with some amazing growers, marketers, retailer buyers, and my awesome team makes me very thankful for the opportunity I have been given to work in this industry.
*Unique, high-quality cannabis, grown responsibly
fumé strains are uncommon as they are small-batch cannabis with complex cannabinoid and terpene profiles that deliver a full-spectrum experience. The strains are visually appealing, have vibrant colors, and produce enticing aromas when squeezed. Each large bud was cured to perfection and hand-trimmed with care.
The flower is sourced based on the sustainability of the grower’s cultivation practices. The brand showcases the growers, many of whom are heritage growers who have honed their craft of growing small-batch cannabis sustainably and responsibly. That means no run-off from their grow, no chemicals or toxic chemicals are used, and they don’t import water.
*Elevated packaging and smoking accessories
fumé strains are offered in three formats–Flower (3.5g), King Cone (1g), and Pre-Roll Pack (3.5g). The flower is beautifully packaged in a premium UV-resistant, air-tight flower jar that preserves the flower five times longer than any other jar on the market. The King Cone and Pre-Roll Pack include custom cherry wood smoke tips created by a small wood accessory maker in the US and an organic beeswax hemp wicks to remove the taste of sulfur from a matchstick or butane from a lighter, allowing to taste the flower in its truest form. fumé packaging is totally sustainable, 100% recyclable, and child-resistant certified–to open the King Cone and Pre-Roll Packs, you simply insert a credit card to expose the snug-fit tray where each cone joint is housed in a glass tube with a cork for freshness.
*Giving back to the cannabis community
In 2020, Napa Valley Fumé partnered with Last Prisoner Project to free people who are currently incarcerated for a drug that is no longer illegal. The company continues to be an active partner with continued support in its ongoing efforts with recurring monthly donations. Napa Valley Fumé is proud to be long-standing supporters of Last Prisoner Project.
fumé is now available throughout California on Eaze.com, Sweet Flower in Los Angeles, and select High Times dispensaries.
To learn more, visit www.enjoyfume.com or Instagram www.instagram.com/enjoyfume/.
About Napa Valley Fumé
Napa Valley Fumé is a vertically integrated cannabis company based in Napa, CA. The company’s mission–Planting Trees for Future Generations–comes from its vision to plant seeds to grow a brighter future for cannabis by bringing the most innovative products and experiences to market. Its first brand–LAKE GRADE–entered the market in July 2019, and its proprietary strains quickly became one of the most popular sun-grown cannabis on the market. In August 2021, Napa Valley Fumé launched its flagship brand–fumé–for those who seek an elevated cannabis experience.
To learn more, visit www.fumebrands.com.
s
Warren Bobrow has been a dishwasher, the owner of the first company to make fresh pasta in South Carolina , a television engineer and he even worked at Danceteria in NYC, then a trained chef which led to a twenty year career in private banking. A cannabis, wine and travel aficionado, Warren is a former rum judge and craft spirits national brand ambassador. He works full time in the cannabis business as an alchemist/journalist. Cocktailwhisperer.com Drinkklaus.com Instagram: warrenbobrow http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Warren_Bobrow
Categories
Leira Cannagars
I’m fortunate to have enjoyed a very special gourmet cannagar, made all by hand for a captivated party. Myself!
Why do I call a cannagar gourmet? Because experiencing a hand-crafted Leira Cannagar is an other-worldly experience that surpasses the appreciation for the finest cuisine and wines in my opinion. How does a humble plant raise itself to the pinnacle of ultra-high end food and wine? When you experience the kindness of a Leira Cannagar your overall experience will approach the studied depth of fine cuisine. And the appreciation of fine wine. You just have to try one! This is cannabis raised to a “higher” level, one ebullient puff at a time.
Baker’s Cannabis offers a premium cannabis experience within your budget.
Iknow cannabis is expensive. Every time that I visit a dispensary it’s very difficult to leave without spending many hundreds of dollars on the good stuff. That’s right, I hate to skimp when it comes to cannabis. That’s exactly why Baker’s Cannabis Company offers something different than the fray. It’s less expensive than their peers.
What do they do well:
What they offer is creativity, something not everyone can do. I think they do a great job and I want to tell you why.
Baker’s talent involves the agility to build a product that’s different than their colleagues. Baker’s is much more than just a sum of its parts. They use really funky strains rolled in cannabis oil and kief. Like a well-made bowl of Andalusian gazpacho soup, each heady pull from their fat, kief dusted pre-roll joints reveals different flavors and a myriad of lavish effects.
It’s really remarkable what Baker’s has created in the cannabis realm for less money than their peers.
Baker’s offers a uniquely creative solution to this vexing cannabis purchasing difficulty.
How to acquire something that gets your really stoned for less money and something that doesn’t suck.
Baker’s really surprised me. Each one gram joint lasted me several days because it is that convincing in effect. I would take a hit or two and let the joint go out. It’s only me smoking, so I can make a joint last quite a while.
Each experience was delightful and the money I saved… At the end of the day that really matters too. I believe this is part of their overall marketing strategy. Make something really good for less money. A consumer’s win/win, and a smile to the universe.
What it is:
Baker’s Cannabis Company is more than just a company that uses esoteric cannabis strains. None of the varieties I’d ever heard of prior. They utilize strains like Meat Breath (l love this name), Garlic Breath, just as it sounds and Peach Ozz. Which is, quite literally like biting into a juicy summer peach, the way the warm, sun-drenched liquid drips down my chin. That is the experience here, but more of the descriptions in the tasting notes…
What it is not:
Expensive. Baker’s is not an expensive, nor is it a pretentious cannabis brand!
This is carefully grown and most importantly gently cured flower. They do their technical job very successfully. Each of their pre-rolls come gently filled. These joints burn evenly and very slowly, each one lasting a long time. Smart and savvy!
Tasting Notes:
Meat Breath is a pre-roll, kief, oil and flower.
Some say that meat breath smells dank, like soil and earth. I’d definitely agree with this accurate description. I’d also add descriptors like bursts of lamp oil, turned loam, diesel fuel, dried Mt. Rainier cherry skins and crushed, salt-slicked stones to the mix. Meat Breath is not for the cannabis beginner. I’d take my time smoking this whether you are a neophyte or even a seasoned toker. The high comes on slowly but with great resolve. If you are having trouble sleeping or if pain needs to be gone, may I please recommend this strain to you.
Sure, it’s got a strange name, but smoking the Indica leaning Meat Breath really works the magic of the plant upon your healing experience. I love it!
Tasting Notes:
Garlic Breath is a pre-roll, kief, oil and flower.
If you’ve ever peeled and crushed garlic with the palm of your hand, then you’d be very familiar with the first whiffs of Garlic Breath. It’s the literal description of oily Gilroy garlic, the way it melts against a slice of sourdough toast. That is what I smelled when I opened the pre-roll tube. Garlic Breath is Indica in derivation and the pleasure that I got when I smoked this doobie was deeply amusing. Darkness envelops the outer space with the vernal equinox well past, yet the inner space was stimulated at first, then the persuasive aromatics and flavors slowly oozing through the synapsis of my brain into that deeply mesmerizing couch-lock experience that I seek. Garlic Breath takes your hand gently and leads you down to the river where ducklings are frolicking peacefully in the cool water. Try some and experience this phenomenon.
*Just my impression*
Tasting Notes:
Peach Ozz is a pre-roll, kief, oil and flower. If summer peaches are your thing and you seek cannabis strains that remind you of opulent stone fruits, perfectly ripened by the sun. This is California cannabis personified. The peach juices that drip down your chin are warm and sensory in volatility. Each pull of the Peach Ozz preroll captivate the consumer, but don’t let your guard down too much. This is a Sativa strain. You may find yourself doing things that you haven’t done in a while, like cleaning the entire house top to bottom. Peach Ozz is reminiscent of that first burst of cool fall air when you throw open the windows. You are refreshed, full of energy and ready to smoke this joint with fervor. It’s that good and what a mind-stimulating high. Chock-full of all the reasons why we smoke cannabis in the first place. To heal what ails us, even if there is nothing wrong with us at all. It helps us with all life’s problems. Sure, that sounds incredibly intimate, each person perceives the buzz differently. Always keep firmly in mind that healing with cannabis is well rooted in history.
Peach Ozz unlocks that creativity in my brain in a peaceful, yet pertinent manner without putting me to sleep afterwards.
And in my opinion, this means: Class Act!
Categories
Artisan Cannagar
Last month was my sixtieth birthday. And with this said, for my birthday I enjoyed a particularly wonderful cannagar, one completely hand-made by Artisan Cannagars. It was a six gram version, all flower and no extracts. I smoked it over several days, it was that succulent. Patience is a virtue with a cannagar, especially if you smoke it without the assistance of another person. Artisan hand-crafts their cannagars using the finest ingredients available. I’m particularly happy to announce that I had taken a break from smoking for a week or so because I had some work done in my mouth. My dentist told me to stop smoking for a bit. When I finally started using cannabis again, the first thing that I smoked was the six gram Artisan Cannagar. Impressive to say the very least. They do amazing work with the plant. There is something really sophisticated about smoking a luxury cannagar. There is no mistaking what it is and what a cannagar represents. Pure indulgence!
Artisan Cannagars from California.
For all Cactus Approved, click here.
Warren Bobrow is the CEO of Klaus Apothicaire, a 6x Author, Chef, Barman, Cannabis Alchemist, Master Mixologist. Some of his cannabis awards include: SXSW Cannabis Disruptor 2018, Berlin Bar Convent-Cannabis, and Moscow Bar Show-Master Class-Rum. He is the author of Cannabis Cocktails, Mocktails, and Tonics, Available in Indie Bookstores, Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Indigo Books. See his cannabis creations on instagram.