Jeff Sessions be damned.
Pot smokers aren’t bad people, and neither are those who sell it legally in California.
That said, the whole tie-dye-and-pachouli aesthetic that permeates dispensaries and head shops has long been due for an overhaul.
Below, we take a look at nine California companies at the fore of the great cannabis rebranding project, from all-natural farmers to gourmet candy merchants to the fanciest water pipe we’ve ever seen.
Happy harvest season.
Flow Kana
Flow Kana is essentially the Juan Valdez of Mendocino County, where the best cannabis is grown in California. They do the legwork to ensure that the farmers they represent are working responsibly and sans pesticides. They can’t yet call their buds and pre-rolled joints “organic” — but only because that’s a federally regulated term, and cannabis is still federally illegal.
Lowell Herb Co.
Unlike Flow Cana, which is a collective of farms, Lowell Herb is a single farm in Central California. Their buds are fresh and natural. They did a bud bouquet last Valentine’s Day that was, er, kind.
Professor Snooks
Remember the days of lodlum, aka, the go-to opiate of bored cowboy wives in the ol’ west? Professor Snooks is a similar method of consumption called a tincture. The cannabis is soaked in alcohol or oil to extract the THC or CBD, and you then use a medicine dropper to add it directly to your tongue or to whatever liquid you want it dissolved in. Of all the tinctures we’ve tried, Professor Snooks is the best. We know folks with Parkinson’s who find the CBD version extremely helpful, and we use the AC/DC, which has a low dose of THC and CBD, to relax before bed after a stressful day. It works like a charm.
Lord Jones
Gumdrops aren’t our go-to sweet, but Lord Jones’ aren’t overly potent, so they won’t make you bug out (unless you go with a higher dose). Their salted caramels are delightful as well.
Cannadips
Similar to the snus packets that Scandinavian tobacco dippers favor, only with 10 mg of THC. Billed for hikers and active people who don’t want to smoke or fill their lungs with harmful smoke, this is a healthy and discreet method.
Beija Flor Farms
Kind of like Flow Cana and Lowell, Beija Flor is as organic as a cannabis farm can be. Their pre-rolled joints come in small cardboard boxes like a pack of smokes, and have a friendly design aesthetic similar to Warby Parker’s.
Summerland Ceramic Stonerware
Summerland makes elevated versions of two dorm-room staples: the bong and the apple pipe. These things look like bookcase art — not the sort of paraphernalia that you hide in the cupboard.
Défoncé
Défoncé makes fine chocolate by any standards. That they do so while adding small doses of THC and CBD is all the better. The packaging looks like something you’d find in a boutique coffee shop. The pieces can be broken down to make for smaller doses.
Hakuna Supply
There are three things to consider when storing your grass: Is it out of reach from children?; Is it going to stay fresh?; And is it stylish? Hakuna makes charming safes and discreet book boxes that’ll keep your buds fresh and hidden from your little ones.
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