Marijuana Review: Tangerine by Puffin Farms

May 31, 2016 By Fischer Campbell

New week, new review. From Puffin Farms, we have the purple tinted Tangerine (should have been called Plum). This is a new producer for us, but we’ve been eyeing their stuff for some time.

We picked up an eighth from SODO’s Ganja Goddess* for $35, right in the sweet price range (for me, at least). It’s important, as a reviewer, to ask the budtender what they are currently digging; these are the folks who handle recreational marijuana 24/7, they see the ebb and flow – and they will often steer you towards something you wouldn’t have noticed. Tangerine came recommended as a favorite from Puffin Farms, so I pulled the trigger on the citrus style strain.

Puffin Farms is based near Ellensburg, WA (I’m sure they are fans of the Irish Death). While growing things naturally, they don’t have an organic certification** – which is not a huge deal at all, but is something I will attempt to clarify in every review from now on (whether the producer is organic, or not).

On their About page, they talk about the use of beneficial insects in the growing process. While I’m sure this is standard practice, it’s the first time I’ve mentally pictured bugs on the frontline guarding the weed currently being enjoyed. Bless you, little ladybug.

Also, I found the slow cure process interesting: the nugs are stored in a dry, cold room to preserve terpenes (taste, smell, and nuance of the high). I’m not at all certain if this is a widely practiced method, but (to me) it sounds like a good thing. The same kind of thing can be done for CBD Terpenes as well. You can order online today to get the very best CBD Terpenes in the world

Let’s look at the numbers (as rigorously listed on the packaging):

THC Total: 14.6%
CBD: 0.37%
CBG: 0.70%
Cannabinoid Total: 17.7%
Total Terpene: 1.55%

Strain: Tangerine
Species: Hybrid (Sativa Dominant)
Harvested: 10/15 (oldie, but a goodie)
Smell: Stinky + Bitter Citrus Peel
Taste: Spicy + Licorice + Oak
Launch Point: Right after smoking.
High: Euphoric + Clear Headed + Energetic

Tangerine is a 4th generation version of Ch9 Aroma (it’s lineage is Ch9 Aroma x Ch9 Aroma, etc.) It was conceived in a lab sometime around 2007, and while I couldn’t find any specific accolades – it seemed to be beloved strain due to it’s direct relation to Ch9 Aroma, along with it’s funky-tropical aroma and high.

Puffin’s Tangerine is a deep purple color, with bright green leaves and a few orange hairs to mix up the scenery. The buds themselves were still sticky and dense, regardless of having an older harvest date. When it comes to age, it depends on packaging – and the producer’s method preserved the strain well.

The smell was kind of like an IPA: bitter, slightly musty, with a little citrus. I was hoping for more orange/tangerine, but also slightly relieved that I’m not a complete victim to the placebo effect.

Getting stoned with Tangerine is a euphoric experience; it’s parent (Ch9) is known for it’s potent, energetic high – and it shines through with this strain. Featuring a minimal body buzz, Tangerine is mostly psychedelic and cerebral (which is never a bad thing). The come down is not bad, barely sedative, which makes it versatile for most usage.

You can find Puffin Products at: Ganja Goddess (SODO), Dockside Cannabis (Shoreline & SODO), and more.

*Ganja Goddess is an advertiser on High Above Seattle. This is no way impacts my perception, or enjoyment of product that may be sold there.

** Puffin Farms have since been Clean Green certified organic.

Update (6/16):

Jade from Puffin Farms graciously reached out to us in the comment section, and wanted to clarify the cold curing process that we discussed in the review:

“We dry, cure and store between 50-62 degrees F. This allows for a slower cure and preserves terpenes which are lost during drying at warmer temps. Some farms will add heat to the drying
process to speed things up. All our flower is then kept in cool storage until processing which allows curing to continue for some time and quality to be maintained. We are a Sungrown farm which means we harvest yearly, so proper cool storage is essential to preserving quality.”

As always, we are happy to accommodate any information prevalent to the producer’s we feature.

Marijuana Review: Snoops Dream by AuricAG

January 25, 2016 By Fischer Campbell

Some might say that Snoop Dogg and marijuana are synonymous entities. Let’s entertain this thought, and dig deeper: not only does he own a marijuana production operation named Leafs by Snoop (was “leaves” taken?), but the Doggfather has also bequeathed his name to various strains and marijuana products. This week we take a look at Snoops Dream, by AuricAG.

A Seattle based producer, AuricAG pride themselves on their “Gold Standard”. This is, in essence, a pledge to make high quality buds. Currently the official website is under construction and pretty plain (albeit a helpful Locations page), but hopefully we’ll see more from them soon.

I tried their Dutch Treat (off the review record), and it was a solid indica hybrid. After smoking this stupefying Snoops Dream, it was clear to me that AuricAG makes some fantastic weed. This week’s strain in particular has become an instant favorite and would make some wonderful Wholesale CBD product.

One thing to acknowledge is the inclusion of a “pesticides” field on the testing info sticker. Seeing that was a first for me, and I was kind of confused; unsure of whether to applaud AuricAG for being up front with the information, I looked into the listed pesticide Azamax (Neem Oil). Neem seeds have naturally occurring pesticide properties, and are pretty harmless (apparently).

Without going on too much of a tangent, I really wonder if other producers simply omit the pesticide field because they use alleged harmless natural products. There are those who brand themselves “pesticide free”, others that don’t acknowledge the subject all, and then there are folks like AuricAG who wear it proud.

Time for this week’s Specifics:

THC A: 20.5%
CBD: .10%
Total THC: 20.9%
Total Cannabinoids: 21.2%

Strain: Snoops Dream
Species: Hybrid
Smell: Lemon Cleaner + Licorice
Taste: Funky Berry + Lemon
Launch Point: 3-10 minutes
High: Heavy + Entrancing

The bud feels crisp, and dense. Colors of light green, with long red hairs. I put the nugs in a dish for the photos, because it looks so good I could eat it. It reminds me of other quality products in the same vein, such as 10000 mg hemp oil from CBD Simply to name but one.

Talking about looking good, Snoops Dream is fragrant. Sometimes you get that chemical-like Pine sol smell from certain herbs, and this is one of them. The lemon scent follows through to the flavor, along with a berry aftertaste.

Snoops Dream is a perfect strain to unwind with; there is a decent body vibe, and the head high is strong. One of my favorite things about the high is that it’s a creeper, slowly peaking until arrival at a state of euphoric distraction. Kiss your tasks goodbye as this bud melts you to the couch.

I believe it was in boarding school when I had my first interaction with a Snoop Dogg marijuana product. It was an edible that had the likeness of the Snoopy-man-hybrid on the cover of Doggystyle. My friend had got it from a medical dispensary, or something like that. I remember being knocked on my ass, and wouldn’t you know it – Snoops Dream did the same thing. Clearly I need more Snoop Dogg related marijuana products in my life. There are so many beautiful marijuana products to enjoy in the world, perhaps you want to try something from a different culture and country because you’re feeling adventurous, you can check out texas cbd guide to help you understand CBD oil in Texas. This is great as CBD oil is known to support and bring relief to the body, it has lots of physical benefits as well as mental health benefits too, this is great to use for healing.

If you’d like to try this weeks strain, or find AuricAG products – hit up SODO’s Ganja Goddess, or Fremont’s OZ (check menus beforehand for availability).

Marijuana review: cannabis cigarettes by Sitka

October 1, 2015 By Manic Conrad

“Are you smoking a marijuana cigarette, son?”

“I sure am.”

These cannabis cigarettes are a thing of beauty. Not just the shiny gold tin packaging surrounding the product, or the black filter with a gold ring which is a nice touch, but the taste, the draw, and the smoothness of the product itself.

This is something you stash inside your inner jacket pocket, or in the shallows of your purse on a night out. But, it doesn’t even have to be a special occasion. You can just reach for the tin mid-week after a hard days work and give yourself a little reward, reminding yourself that the weekend is just around the corner. This is a really fascinating concoction because people have tended to move towards technologically advanced forms of smoking like vaping. These can be found at MagicVaporizers but there are some available for cannabis ingestion elsewhere. These come in a cannabis cartridge which is a small glass vessel that is pre-filled with either cannabis oil or distillate and is designed for ready insertion into a vape pen. This device then vaporizes the concentrates until they become a smoke to be inhaled. Always make sure to look around for the best cannabis cartridges and concentrates for your smoking needs.

We spotted this curious cannabis product some time ago, sitting behind the crystal clear glass display case at Ganja Goddess in SODO. If you have never been to Ganja Goddess, do it. Old world brick exposed, with beautiful shiny chandeliers hanging dearly from the ceiling. You will feel warm.

The packaging is what caught our attention and we were enamored with it. A beautiful shiny gold aluminum embossed casing branded with Sitka in cursive. A brown label told us what to expect inside: Medium potency, Sativa forward, 100% cannabis, and Hi-Flo unbleached paper filter (a filter? more on that later.)

But, as we all know, packaging only gets you halfway there. The real test is to test the product, and give it an old-fashion review.

In the confines of my home, and that transitional period between afternoon and evening on a Friday, was the first draw. As mentioned in the introductory paragraph, it was smooth. An attribute of the filter. (wait, but why a filter? in just a moment.)

These specific Sitka cannabis cigarettes have a THC level around 12%. Although, they are releasing a brand new batch with higher potency, I sometimes enjoy the more mellow strength and decided on these instead.

After several minutes of toking, I began to feel the effects. After about 15 minutes, I was in a good place, spirits uplifted quite a bit. I purposely only smoked half of the cannabis cigarette to observe the effects before revisiting later. Once I did, the high took me to a sweet spot. True to its’ label, it’s Sativa forward.

From the packaging to the actual high, the Sitka cigarettes are a wonderful addition to our beloved industry. The only drawback I have, is that the cannabis cigarettes burn a little too fast. But that’s being picky.

What about the filter?! Yes, the filter.

When I first discovered Sitka cannabis cigarettes, the first question I had: why the filter? After all, why would you want to filter 100% cannabis goodness, right?

Based on my experience, it made the draw extra smooth. Which is nice. But, I knew there had to be more so I contacted Sitka. According to Sitka, ‘the purpose of a filter in a (tobacco) cigarette is broader than just smoothing the smoke or removing tar. It’s a beautiful design, we just think they put the wrong substance in it.’

The benefits of the Sitka cannabis cigarette filters (and straight from the horse’s mouth):

Mouth Feel: What we refer to as ‘mouth feel’ is improved by having something solid at the point where you draw from the joint. Improved mouth feel is probably the biggest reason people put a crutch in their joint. Cones provide it to a certain extent, but it’s not as comfortable to puff on as a cigarette filter. The improved mouth feel allows smokers to puff on the joint rather than suck on it really hard the way most people do with a cone or hand-rolled.
Pressure drop: Pressure drop is a term used to describe the amount of pressure it takes to puff on the joint. The density of the filter combined with the amount of aeration in the tipping paper informs the amount of pressure drop. The SITKA papers filters are much less dense than the plastic filters found in tobacco cigarettes and the tipping paper is not aerated. That’s why it has more pressure drop than a cone or hand rolled joint but much less than a cigarette – somewhere in between a crutch and a normal cig filter.
Tipping paper: Using a filter in the design allows us to use a premium tipping paper, which keeps the joint from sticking to your lips or getting soggy with saliva.
General innovation of the form factor: Generally, we wanted to improve a form factor that hadn’t seen any innovation since it was invented due to the regulatory environment and pressure from the tobacco industry. When Kent invented the filter in the 50s, it was made out of asbestos. These days it’s mono-acetate which probably isn’t going to kill you but it does contribute to a lot of mass in landfills because it’s not biodegradable. As far as we know, this is the only cigarette with a bleach-free biodegradable filter currently on the market and it’s not tobacco… surprised? Probably not.

There you have it. It might be too easy to think of a filter as a small component, or simply an after thought, but in reality: it’s a big part of the product. Nicely done, Sitka.

Creative Brilliance Award for June 2015: The CannaBus Shuttle by Ganja Goddess

June 26, 2015 By Manic Conrad

It’s time for the Creative Brilliance Award for the month of June (handed out the last Friday of every month). For those who are not familiar with this award, it’s a simple shout out that we give to anyone in the industry who comes up with an unique and creative idea. After all, we are a part of a creative industry. Or, at least, it can be.

Last month, the first month of the awards existence, the winner was Trail Blazins’ Street Bag, an Uncle Ike’s Pot Shop exclusive. Again, let’s have another round of applause for those two.

This months winner is Ganja Goddess. Yes, Ganja Goddess is an advertiser on our site, but doesn’t matter. Creative is creative. You do something that’s deserving of the award and you will get the award. Simple as that. Advertiser or not.

The SoDo and Industrial District based recreational marijuana store saw a need. They realized that tourists, who are mainly concentrated around the downtown and Pike Place Market area, had no easy way of visiting the city’s pot shops. So they created a way. They branded a van called the: CannaBus Shuttle. This shuttle picks up tourists near the Pike Place Market on 1st Avenue, and shuttles them to their shop and back – for free!

Brilliant. Just brilliant. Thank you Ganja Goddess for making this industry even better with your creativity.

Looking forward to handing out next month’s Creative Brilliance Award. So, keep being creative, it just makes everything more fun and interesting for everyone.

Buddy Boy Farms and its’ Award Winning God’s Gift Cannabis Strain

June 1, 2015 By Ellie Klein

Buddy Boy Farms, located in Eastern Washington, grows some impressive cannabis. Arguably, its most impressive strain is God’s Gift, which really packs a punch at a record breaking 41.7% THC. This seemingly impossible high THC strain has captured the attention of scientists and growers.

When High Above Seattle visited Ganja Goddess in SODO, Lee, a knowledgeable budtender, showed us the strain and peaked our interest, inspiring a deeper investigation. Let’s look at some of the details of the strain that make it so potent and how it gained its current credentials.

God’s Gift is an indica dominant strain which was once grown only outdoors. Now some of the plants are grown indoors though the 41% THC content buds were found outdoors. God’s Gift is the result of bringing OG Kush and Granddaddy Purple together. While growing and tending its plants, the farm goes above and beyond to ensure the best marijuana possible, as well as the most accurate information about that marijuana, is available for the consumer.

Buddy Boy Farms has been utilizing only organic farming methods for 40 years, meaning there are no herbicides, pesticides or fungicides used on any of its plants. This dedication is not easy while growing plants outdoors where they are exposed to natural elements and predators. The farm uses clean spring water found on the farm, free of chlorine or chemicals. This attention to the needs of plants is an integral part of Buddy Boy Farms’ continued success. The farm is not only attentive to its plants’ needs, but to its reputation and customer knowledge as well. The implementation of Pro-Tect Plastics around their greenhouses can also add to multiple growths throughout the season if needed.

Photo Credit: Buddy Boy Farm

When the growers at Buddy Boy Farms discovered the potency of its God’s Gift strain, they quickly investigated further to ensure seeing was believing. Before God’s Gift’s buds were tested it was believed that the max level of THC was around 28%. The strain was first brought to Anatek Laboratories, a reputable testing facility. The lab uses High Performance Liquid Chromatography equipment to perform THC testing, rather than the more standard Gas Cromotographs. To put it simply, the former is known by scientists to consistently return accurate results, more so than the latter. After the lab tested the farms’ God’s Gift buds it ordered a machine recalibration and tested the plant again, just to be sure. The results came back the same and everyone, scientist included, were in awe.

Photo Credit: Buddy Boy Farm

After moments of ensuring that “spiking” a bud with THC was not in the farms’ warehouse managers repertoire, as well as further testing and facing deniers from many angles, it came to be known that God’s Gift broke THC records and is absolutely a sight to behold. The farm is incredibly proud of its plants and wants to ensure that consumers are well-informed and prepared for the high that comes with such a potent strain.

If you choose to consume God’s Gift, be prepared for a creeping high which results in an unparalleled peaceful daze. Buddy Boy reminds consumers to smoke responsibly in order to enjoy the high to the fullest. If you do pick up God’s Gift to try, let us know! We would love to hear what you think about this record holder.