Tuesday, August 3, 2010

San Diego Holistic Healing

858-412-3105

originally reviewed 07/27/2010

5.0 stars / out of 5.0 stars

SDHHC has some really nice BHO in at the moment..$45/gram BHO! And you can even split your gram! I got a half Lemon Wax, half Purple Lady Wax gram the other day. Both are extremely potent and can cause intense sensations that range anywhere from gnarley head rushes to a complete mind and body shut-down. The Lemon Wax looks like what Slimer would leave behind and almost feels like it has the consistency of applesauce. It's not stringy at all and is easily scooped up like a spoon full of pudding! The taste is straight Lemony Snickits! It really doesn't get any tastier than this. The Lemon is crazy expansive and will cause your heart to race after a fat hit and hold in, maybe even some brain bubbles..lol. The Purple Lady has more of a waxy consistency to it and is super sticky, stringy and stretchy to the touch. Its color is a darker military green and appears to have a marble finish to it. Its taste is not as pronounced as the Lemon's, but you do get a nice faint purp flavor..at least I do out of a bell with a titanium skillet. The effect from the Purple Lady was definitely more of an indica high. It calmed me down substantially after experimenting with the Lemon. This would be your PM wax verses the Lemon being more of an sativa AM medication.

I'm a hound for concentrates, especially BHO aka Wax! Unfortunately due to the growing demand for high-quality trim and the skyrocketing prices, clubs are forced to raise their donation prices to a less than affordable rate. It's good to know "Some Shops" like SDHHC are still making it easy for their members to get what they need.

Ps..The last time I was in they didn't seem like they had much left, so I'd go soon if you wanna get in on the action.

Monday, July 26, 2010

Frosty Farms Cooperative

(858) 279-8300

originally reviewed 07/24/2010

4.6 stars / out of 5.0 stars

Lately I haven't felt the need to venture outside of my regular medicinal pit stops, but after hearing all the hoopla about this place from my fellow weedmappers, well needless to say I broke the cycle! Frosty Farms is located in Serra Mesa, off of Balboa and right by the 163 freeway. They're up the stairs on the second floor of a large office building facing the street. The waiting room has a couple leather couches, some reading material, and the frostiest air conditioning in town ;). Other than that the place was very clean-cut and to the point. The verification process was fairly quick and after filling out a few sheets of paper, I was admitted into their Nug Room. It was there where I met with Craig and Mark, both of which were very professional, knowledgeable and extremely easy to talk to. Since I was the only patient in at the moment, I had the pleasure of being tended to by both of them. Just about every flower I saw had a noticeable shimmer to it. I now know why Frosty Farms doesn't have a lit magnifying glass to get a closer look...cause you don't need it! The gorgeous bulbous trichs are so well pronounced on the majority of their flowers, that they're easily viewed with the naked eye. Most clubs don't even have one strain that's comparable with what's glistening at the Farm. Frosty Farms offers first timers a $45 top shelf eighth or a free gram with the purchase of a $55 capped eighth. I ended up going with an eighth split of their Jack Herer, which is a remarkable example of the late great strain. I've only seen one other batch this year that could rival the beauty of the Farm's batch and after sticking my beak in the jar, I knew I wasn't going to leave without some. The initial taste is a tingly sweet and skunky sensation that falls off a bit upon exhale and bares a slight grassy flavor. The high is very upbeat and great for AM relief. I work in a fast-paced environment and cherish a med that allows me to remain my normal affable self without the antsy overkill that some sativas can bring. The Shaman Kush I picked up has a very different and offbeat odor that smells like a mixture of moldy cheese, stinky feet and a strong peppery mint. The flower itself appears to have a white sheen to it due to the abundance of the sugary trichs that reside on each leaf and pistil. When smoked, the Shaman reveals its kush side and bares more of an earthy/floral/fruity taste rather than the funky/minty/cheesy smell it packs. One bowl left me pretty toasted and I stayed that way for quite some time. All in all I'd have to say that Frosty Farms is a must visit and if a $45 eighth of bud that looks too good to even smoke doesn't entice you, then you really are missing out.

ps...They have some Tahoe OG in that looks absolutely amazing and the only reason I didn't get any was because I felt it still needs another 6-7 days of curing, but I'll definitely be back to sample some when it's ready.

Sunday, May 9, 2010

Farm Associated Collective, Inc.

(619) 481-4111

originally reviewed 04/23/2010

4.6 stars / out of 5.0 stars

This was my first trip to the Farm and coincidentally their grand 4/20 re-opening. The Farm, until now had always been a private collective on a referral only basis. Now it is open to everyone! The Farm is conveniently located in Clairemont off of Balboa Ave., right behind Coco's and the Auto Zone. There's also a huge lot back there so you won't run into any issues with parking. The Farm itself is located upstairs and on the left hand side of a large office building.

Once inside, my friend and I were greeted by a friendly girl working the front who took our rec's and asked to see two forms of ID (be sure to bring two forms of ID), luckily I had my passport on me. The waiting room is fairly small, but still able to accommodate up to 3-4 members, comfortably. The room itself is very clean, organized and there's plenty of reading material to flip through. The paperwork I was given to fill out was more like a packet! I initialed my name more times here than any other club I've ever been to. Be careful not to initial the two highlighted rules without reading them first, as they are optional. After filling out the necessary paperwork, we had a brief wait before being admitted into the nug room. Once in the nug room, we were welcomed by the entire staff, handshakes and smiles all around. The nug room is also fairly small, but like the waiting room, it's big enough. Our BT Dave was very professional and knowledgeable of the strains he was tending to. They carry about 20 different strains now, which I heard is a lot more than they used to have. They've also now implemented a $60 cap, where it used to be $50. I don't have a problem paying $60 if the meds are up to par and believe me when I say that they Are up to par. The majority of the top shelf meds I saw were of high quality and I even saw some 55's and 50's that were nice as well. I actually ended up going with one of their 50 dollar options. It's been a while since I had some good Cat Piss and as much as I wanted to get one of their top shelf flowers, the Cat Piss with its sour stench and frosted light green coloring just completely won me over. The only flaw to this batch was that it was a little dry and crisp on the outside and that's probably the reason for the $50 price tag. I was still happy with my selection and in addition to my eighth, I also received a free gram, nice! I was pretty surprised when I got home and pulled out my gram freebie labeled B. OG. Most clubs usually give you the worst of the worst as a first time gift, but that was not the case at the Farm. The Banana OG was easily identified with its pungent banana carmex lip balm odor and sweet nutty OG taste. My buddy went with a gram of their Sour D X Chem which was out of this world. I too would've probably gotten some if I didn't already have a good amount of Sour D and other OG X's at my disposal, not to mention the lure of the Cat Piss. The Cat Piss I got ended up having a real tangy and earthy taste to it, which I like. It gave me a huge burst of energy that yanked me out of the sleepy-state I was in and helped me focus enough to actually finish this review! This strain is perfect for patients who medicate during business hours, but still need to stay alert and on point.

I really enjoyed my trip to the Farm and I'm looking forward to my next visit. The meds are top notch, the staff is easygoing and actually knows what they're talking about, unlike some clubs! My only gripe with the Farm is that they don't weigh out the meds in front of you. Instead, meds are weighed (maybe pre-weighed??) in another room and distributed to the BT through a small opening in the wall. I was also kind of bummed that they don't let you split eighths. I usually like to pick up at least two strains at a time and not have to spring for a quarter just to get some variety. Regardless of this, I know I will still be coming back for more, even if it is just a single strain eighth.

San Diego Holistic Healing

858-412-3105

originally reviewed 04/22/2010

5.0 stars / out of 5.0 stars

I had to work on 4/20 so I got a late start to all the fun and festivities, but the fellas and flowers at SDHHC made up for it. I walked in with a buddy of mine right at 4:20pm and Eddie had bowls ready for both of us to ring in the day at the right moment. They looked like they had had a busy day thus far, most of their jars were down towards the bottom of the barrel. Lucky for us, Ryan was in the process of refilling all the jars. Holistic Healing added a variety of yummy new meds to their menu for 4/20, like their $20/$60 Nixon OG and Fire OG, also their $18/$50 Band Master and Ogur Kush. The Band Master in particular caught my eye and is a steal at $50/eighth. These big, chunky, gooey buds reak of Sour OG. Its swollen, olive green calyxes take on a lighter shade of green due to the thick layer of trichs that overwhelm each bud. The trim job is adequate, but could use a little more love. I manicured a nug myself and was wowed by the inner beauty of this batch. Not only did I get a chunky $50/eighth of the Band Master, they also threw in a free half gram of their GDP Bubble Hash and two Indica THC Capsules as a 4/20 incentive!

The Band Master I got ended up tasting just like it smelled. Real sour inhale with earthy and citrus OG undertones on the exhale. Great expansion, but at the same time was still smooth and easy on the throat. The effects are of a strong indica high that left me heavy-headed, lazy and stuck watching shows on TV I normally wouldn't watch..lol. The GDP bubble has a pliable dark brown exterior with a lighter brown inside. I smoked it on a screen and though it doesn't melt down, it does bubble a bit and produce a thick sweet white smoke that gave me an awesome head change and left me lit. Not the best tasting bubble I've gotten from SDHHC, but hey it was free. I haven't had a chance to try the THC Pills yet, but when I do I will update my review. I was actually thinking twice about posting this review so soon because I wanted a chance to go back and pick-up some more of the Band Master before it's all gone. If you're into Headband or other sour/citrus tasting strains, then this is the bud for you! Don't forget to go on Sunday's and get $5 off your eighth, up to two eighths. That means $90 for a quarter of the Band Master!

Light the Way

(858) 550-0450

originally reviewed 04/22/2010

3.6 stars / out of 5.0 stars

So finally! The long awaited and highly anticipated practice run of our first legit quest, complete with confirmation. I really wish there could have been more of us present to bask in all of its glory!

Light the Way is located in Sorrento Valley near El Camino Cemetery. It does get a little tricky once you pass the Cemetery and to tell you the truth, if we had not been with Malibu, a returning member with a GPS, we probably would've never found the place. The upside to this secluded club is that there's plenty of parking. LTW offers a spacious waiting room, complete with couches, flat screen, reading material, and my personal favorite..weedmaps stickers! The verification process was fairly easy and after signing 2 or 3 sheets of paper, HBFan, Malibu and I were admitted into the nug room. Mr. Nice joined us soon afterward. When we walked into the nug room, I was a little put off by the large boarded up windows. That was until Christina explained what had happened. Apparently they were burglarized over night and the assailants had smashed like 3 or 4 of their windows!! Incredibly they got away with nothing. I think it's pretty cool when a club undergoes such a travesty and still has the gumption to open their doors for patients, so hats off to LTW for that!

The staff at LTW seemed very chill, especially our BT, Christina aka "The Machine". She was very down to earth, extremely talkative and eager to light the way for us. LTW carries around 25-30 strains that range from their bottom shelf $30/eighths to their $55 capped top shelf flowers. Buds are not pre-weighed, but kept out of reach, so they operate on a "ask to see" basis. Nevertheless, Christina brought out jar after jar for us to inspect, I only wish they would've had a lit magnifying glass to allow us a better look at each flower. I felt the room was dimly lit for a "nug room" and without any real concentrated source of light, I found myself using the sun shining through one of their still standing windows. While inspecting their strains, I witnessed one of their BT's who was transferring buds from a larger jar into a smaller one, actually smashing them down to make more room! When we said something to him about it, he said that they have to do that because members are always coming in wanting ounces and they they need to keep a lot stocked?? I would rather wait 10 minutes for the BT to get my fluffy ounce from the back room, than get an ounce of crushed and manhandled meds in a couple minutes. The majority of the strains I viewed were pretty leafy and unsavory anyway, even their "Private Reserve" options lacked the pop that earns a batch that particular title. I actually told Christina that their SFV OG smelled like a Ultra Wide Magnum 44 Permanent Marker!! Now we all know that OG's don't smell anything like that. That strong licorice odor reminded me more of a Durban Poison that any OG. Even the other OG's they had smelled a little off in one way or another. It really came down to two strains for me and even then I only opted for a gram. Their Blackberry and Green Crack were both decent flowers with good smells and good coloring, but $20/$55 still seems a little steep for a decent flower. I ended up going with the Blackberry because I figured if I was going to pay that much, it might as well be on an indica right? As a first time freebie, Christina weighed me out a 1.6, which is cool, but I think I would've rather just gotten a discount on my gram. LTW doesn't carry edibles, tinctures or any real concentrates for that matter. They had some hash, but I don't think anyone knew what kind it was. The Blackberry is extremely dense/tight with purple hues and sugary trichs, it really doesn't look that bad at all under a light. Its berry/purp smell was a little faint and can't truly be detected without a squeeze. I went with a clean glass pipe for the taste test, just to make sure I'd get the full flavor and effect. On the inhale you get a pinch of something that makes you think you're going to get a berry taste...and then then you don't. What you're left with is a harsh smokey taste in your mouth and the feeling of being robbed of what you could have had...something tasty! The OG Kush HBFan got was even worse! Mildly sluggish highs on both of them.

In conclusion, I feel like LTW is just too far off the grid for a club that offers nothing more than a chill BT. Like a high guy once said: "If you don't have a pot of gold or somethin' at the end of that rainbow, well...what's gonna keep me coming back??" pssss...That high guy's me. It really is a shame too, cause if Christina were to budtend at a club with real, high quality meds, I'd probably go there all the time.

San Diego Discount Caregivers

619-280-7332

originally reviewed 04/16/2010

4.0 stars / out of 5.0 stars

The last stop on a tour I did last Sunday with Headbandfan, Mr.nice215 and Malibu91 was San Diego Discount Caregivers, aka "The Bank". They call it "The Bank" because it actually used to be a bank. They're conveniently located off of University and in the very heart of North Park. Parking is not an issue because there's a huge private parking lot behind "The Bank".

Malibu being the only one of us who's already been, had the pleasure of referring all 3 of us. Once inside, we were greeted by a girl working the front who had us verified and off to the nug room fairly quickly. Now this is where things got a little hazy..I had a powerful cannabis infused concoction earlier in the day and it was at this time that it really started to take its toll. I mean, I remember them having a nice sized nug room and all, but I don't remember anything about the set-up or the BT. Nothing really stood out to me as far as the staff or the way the club looked from the inside. What I do remember is that they had a nice variety of flowers that ranged from their lower end $40/eighths to their $60 cap. The majority of the top shelf strains I viewed were decent, but the only one that really caught my eye, was the 707 Herojuana. It packed a pungent odor that was similar to that of a Kush and the calyxes on these dense gooey buds were just exploding off the stem. Though I wasn't really planning on getting anything, I bit the bullet and ended up splitting an eighth of it with HBFan. As a first time freebie, we were all given free gram samples of their BlackBerry Diesel, which was on the lower end, but I guess I can't really complain right?. I haven't gotten around to sampling it yet and I can't say that I'm in a hurry to. When we got back to my house to split the eighth, we were all a little surprised to see that the eighth was actually short by a point or two, which is not the end of the world, but I do expect to at least get what I paid for, even if it is just One Point. I guess that's just the chance you take when the meds aren't weighed out in front of you. To top it all off, after sampling the Herojuana, I found it to be bland and tasteless. It got me irie, but it's just not what I'm looking for at that price.

I hate judging a club on just one strain and would love to come back and check out some of their other top shelf options, but unless I use that coupon from the City Beat or they lower their cap, I can't see myself dishing out the ends for another gamble with my meds.

The Green Door Collective

(619)-584-buds

originally reviewed 04/15/2010

4.6 stars / out of 5.0 stars

The next stop on a tour I did last Sunday with Headbandfan, Mr.nice215 and Hashley, was The Green Door. This was my first visit to the Green Door and since they're a private club, I have HBfan and Hashley to thank for the referral. We all know parking can be a little hectic on Adams Avenue, so if luck isn't on your side you'll probably have to find a spot on one of the side streets and walk a little. The club is really easy to find though, just look for the all black front with the big green door!

Once inside the waiting room, I was given some easy paperwork to fill out and verified soon after. Pretty quick process! The nug room is huge and has a real comfortable vibe to it. There's just so much to look at, the place is really quite unique. They have a bar with vaporizers and other smoking devices you can use to sample your purchased meds. On top of that you've got one of our very own, Drewballz as a BT! You really can't beat that and it was great to finally met the guy. He was very laid back and instead of having to ask him to see every jar, he just started showing us the best of the best, one after another and we passed them each around for a good inspection. I was very impressed with the quality of the flowers we were shown, even at 60 bucks a pop, I saw some strains that looked and smelled worthy of their donation price tag. Especially the Green Door OG, which is what HBFan and I ended up splitting an eighth of. The stench from this batch of OG is a very robust mix of citrus, pine and earthiness that causes the eyes to flutter when smelled. The buds were left a tad leafy, but this is ok when they're wearing a thick coat of trichs. The taste was very similar to its smell with an earthy and piney after taste. The high left me pretty light headed at first, then worked its way into my neck and shoulders allowing some deep relaxation.

No first time freebie, but Drew graciously tipped the scales in our favor when it came to weighing our meds. I ended up with a 2.2 for $30 and that ain't bad at all! I would really like to see this club implement some sort of special, like a day when you can get 5 or 10 bucks off your eighth. This would give me a great reason to walk thru that door again.