A Night of Legal and Sega Genesis: Cannabis-Infused Soda Review

September 29, 2015 By Ellie Klein

This weekend I was pining for some old-school games and quality couch time. To help facilitate this relaxing evening, I ventured to my neighborhood cannabis provider, Stash Pot Shop in Ballard. I informed the personable and knowledgeable staff that I was looking for a relaxing body high in edible form and, after chatting about a couple of different Indica offerings, decided on a treat that I have been curious about for quite some time: Legal Lemon Ginger Soda by Mirth Provisions.

Once home I snuggled into some sweatpants, opened the Legal bottle, curled up with my miniature schnauzer and gathered all of the games for Sega Genesis that my fiance owns. Since I have been planning on making a trip to Full Tilt soon, I put in Battletoads as a warm up and took the first four ounces of Legal.

I really like that the Legal bottles come with measuring cups, for those (like me) who are particular about how much they consume. The bottle holds 11.5 oz. of beverage, with 20 mg of THC for the entire bottle. Two servings per bottle are recommended. I quickly took another ounce after the initial dose because it is so delicious. The flavor tastes hand crafted, like homemade soda found at some of Seattle’s farmers’ markets. The lemon is zesty and has a lingering tartness while the ginger is warm and slightly spicy.

This particular Legal soda is, according to the bottle, designed to provide a “super-relaxing body buzz and a smooth, freeing head high.” About the moment that I was descending my toad down the long tunnel with the snake-like monsters, I started to feel very relaxed. I would guess the timing to be a little over half an hour. I was at 5 oz. and extremely relaxed, trying hard to keep my toad alive. Battletoads is one of the harder old games I know of, so I made sure to revel in some bad-guy ass kicking when I was successful.

At about one hour into the high I was melted into the couch and it was creeping into my head. I am not a huge fan of heady highs, but this was so relaxing that it only added to my experience. I switched out Battletoads for my personal favorite hand-held device game, Aladdin. The high was the perfect accompaniment to a night of old-school gaming. I did not want to leave the couch, not even for food. I am definitely more fond of snacking when I am high (in general I am not a snacker), but this particular high was void of food cravings; odd, but fine by me! I had a large dinner before heading home with Legal anyway so that probably had a lot to do with it.

About three hours into the high and seriously bombing through Aladdin, I became quite sleepy. I feel there was a twinge of tired throughout the whole high, simply due to how relaxing it was. I ended up turning off the game and dosing off into a very restful sleep.

Legal was the perfect addition to an evening spent on the couch with old games. I highly recommend it! Let us know if you have tried Legal; if you have, what aspect of the high was your favorite? We would love to hear about your experience!

Marijuana Review: Bubble Bomb by Doc Croc

September 16, 2015 By Fischer Campbell

On any given day, there are many tasks to be done. Sometimes you really need an herb to help accomplishing the daily dues more efficiently, alternatively there are times when you need something to help you forget the duties that need doing. Your local CBD shop probably has so many choices that it’s hard to know which product will be best for you. Voila, along comes Bubble Bomb to give you it’s beguiling boon.

The bud at hand this week is (obviously) Bubble Bomb, grown by Doc Croc. This particular strain was purchased from the Ballard area Stash (a rustic pot shop close to some of my favorite breweries, and restaurants). They have a second location in Lake City, which we have yet to visit.

Doc Croc consists of a couple Australian cobbers who know their shit. When it comes to growing, the Olympia-based producer only uses water – no dirt required. This makes for a fantastically potent and scrumptious product, offering bright flavors and giddy highs. True that Washington has a bounty of prolific soil (we boast many harvests of varying types), but there’s something to be said for completely hydro grown nugs.

As the Doctor (Tennent specifically) said, “Water is patient. Water just waits. Wears down the cliff tops, the mountains. The whole of the world. Water always wins.” When it comes to dirt vs. water, I don’t have enough quantitative information to decide which always wins – but it’s certain that the differing grow styles produce unique results.

Considering water as a powerful element, it’s almost like harnessing something wild to produce a superior product. Let’s take a look at das specifics of said product:

THC: 1.57%
THC A: 20.4%
CBD: 0.16%
Total: 19.5%

Strain: Bubble Bomb
Species: Hybrid (50% Indica / 50% Sativa)
Smell: Lemon + Grape + Lavender + Skunk
Taste: Lavender + Freshness + Earthiness
Launch Point: Within two minutes, you will be high.
High: Relaxed + Social + Getting Tasks Done + Forgetting About Tasks

Cracking open a bag of Doc Croc has proved a festive experience, yielding multicolor inhabitants of proper proportion. In the 1 gram package of Bubble Bomb I received, there was just one big nug; it was quite fluffy, and displayed a keen palette of similar (but different) color. Talking about keef crystals too, this herb is covered with a layer of love (as you can see).

Smell is exquisite – sporting a menagerie of fruit, floral, and funky tones. Truly a bud that must be smelled to understand, but centrally boasting fragrance of lavender and grape.

The taste is surprisingly earthy for a strain that wasn’t grown in the earth. There is also a hint of lavender carrying over from the perfume-like aroma. The flavor seemed to be more intense when hitting from a vaporizer, as it often seems (I imagine it’s because smoke overwhelms the palate).

This, my reader, is a versatile strain. As I touched on in the opening paragraph, Bubble Bomb is there for when responsibility calls – whether that means meeting the challenge, or escaping into a cavalcade of pleasant headiness, away from this mortal world.

I can’t quite recall what I did specially while smoking Bubble Bomb, but I do remember having fun. There was grilling, hard cider, good people, and gold weather. “Days off should be spent among such things”, I remember thinking. Time can be controlled with a good strain, and this particular bud helped me absorb that sun bleached afternoon if only for a moment.

If you’re into totally hydro, or just interested in experiencing the difference – swing by Stash and check out some Doc Croc product. You won’t be let down.

Stash Pot Shop: Bringing Ballard’s Community Closer

August 31, 2015 By Ellie Klein

Ballard has gained an incredible community addition in Stash Pot Shop. The shop incorporates its motto–Community, Culture, Cannabis–into every aspect of its business. Located just off of Ballard Ave. and in the midst of popular businesses like Shelter Lounge, Hilliards and Cafe Mox, Stash Pot Shop adds to the inviting yet sophisticated atmosphere of the area. The shop’s quality product selection and its welcoming ambiance are definitely worthy of repeat visits.

Photo Credit: Stash Pot Shop

Stash Pot Shop had its grand opening on Saturday. The shop was hopping all day with 19 vendors and tons of excited patrons. The energy emitted on opening day showcased the vibe that Stash Pot Shop is intent on bringing to the area. A key component in relaying that vibe, the budtenders are friendly, observant and knowledgeable. With smiling faces, they knew exactly which products to suggest to all levels of cannabis users. They are an interesting mix of people who were sought after for their positions. Thousands of people applied to be a budtender at Stash Pot Shop, but only a handful made the cut. They are artists, analysts, customer-service experts, cannabis users… they are a huge part of what makes Stash Pot Shop so great.

Now, let’s speak a bit about Stash Pot Shop’s extensive product offerings. Their opening day selection was eclectic and all-encompassing, to say the least. The spacious glass display cases (submerged in gorgeous cherry wood) currently feature cookies from Winterlife Cannabis and The Goodship Company, among others. Ethos products are currently available, as well as High Altitude and Doc Croc. There are many pre-rolled options to accompany an impressive flower selection. The selection will change often to highlight many important aspects of the industry through numerous cannabis products. All the shop’s offerings are listed on three large television screens which display the selections of oils, flowers, edibles, etc.

Each product offered is hand picked by Shea, the mastermind behind the product selection, and his dad. They drove countless miles to find the best flower producers and vetted each option to provide only the best. You can be sure that the quality here is top-notch.

Photo Credit: Stash Pot Shop

The product is kept in cherry-wood drawers behind the counter. The shop’s creative design is definitely efficient. As I observed budtenders locating products for customers, I realized how well organized the shop is and how fluid everything was operating. KC, the shop’s owner, was a treat to chat with while he relayed his vision: a beautiful space, attention to detail and helping cannabis become approachable.

Stash Pot Shop is a great outlet for tourists and locals who are still not quite sure how they feel about legal cannabis. The people involved in this shop intend to negate the taboo which has clung to cannabis for decades and welcome everyone with high-quality products, a sophisticated shop layout, and friendly faces. Stash Pot Shop wants to represent the artistry and quality that is often underrepresented in the recreational cannabis industry. I’ve gotta say that, if my short time spent in the shop thus far is any indicator, they will have no problem accomplishing their vision.

Do yourself a solid and make a trip to Stash Pot Shop in Ballard. There will be a Lake City location opening shortly as well, so be sure to check out that location. Tell us about your experience! We would love to hear it.