Marijuana Review: Super Lemon Haze by Green Haven

August 8, 2016 By Fischer Campbell

August, the month of realizing that summer’s almost over – better make it count. This isn’t the time to get burnt out or tired, no sir. Super Lemon Haze by Green Haven is here with the coffee to give you that nudge you need, first thing. A true morning strain to help you ease into the day, or evening.

We picked up Super Lemon Haze for $30/3.5 grams from American Mary*, while catching Pokemon in Wallingford. Pro tip, someone’s often using a lure at Dicks (two blocks away).

There isn’t much to say about the producer, because they have no internet presence. No matter though, here’s what I’ve got: based out of Granite Falls, Washington – Green Haven was established in 2014.

Seriously though (in this author’s opinion) it doesn’t matter about tweets and websites. Give me affordable, decent marijuana and lord knows I’ll try it. I’m always looking for something to placate the voices (kidding), and certain times a heavy-hitting strain is too heavy. ♫ Well, that’s why Super Lemon Haze done me right, ‘cuz on her feet the high’s so light ♫.

Lay me some specifics:

THC A: 19.68%
CBD A: .03%
CBD: .02%
Total THC: 17.85%

Strain: Super Lemon Haze
Species: Sativa
Date Harvested: 07/03/16
Smell: Earthy + Bubblegum
Taste: Sweet + Citrus
Launch Point: Creeper (6 – 8 minutes after smoking)
High: Good Mornin’ + Pleasant + Light + Crisp +No Sedation

Born from Lemon Skunk x Super Silver Haze, this is a popular sativa – enough to win the Seattle cannabis cup (2014). This strain is typically (medically) prescribed for stress, and pain (headaches/migraines).

This particular iteration from Green Haven was super fluffy, and vibrantly green. The delicate buds were heavily cone shaped, bristling with kief and robust orange hairs.

Talking about smell, there was definitely a fruity bubblegum aspect. I could smell dirt too, like an earthiness; it worked, I can dig the duality of aromas. The taste was noticeably sweet, with perhaps a lemon-citrus thing going on (I say “perhaps” because sometimes the names get me, placebo effect and all that).

Getting high with Super Lemon Haze is a positive experience. I enjoyed it as either a morning weed, or an appetizer to bigger things (evening-wise). It’s nice to have bud to balance out your tolerance, and serve as a base to build upon (I’m talking about getting more high as the day progresses, without peaking before making the conscious decision to collapse into bed).

I can get up, smoke some of this strain, and go about my day in an efficient manner that it is also lifted. As a stoner, we all know that after a good night’s sleep, the first toke of the day is going to get you super high. Look at it as climbing a mountain, I’d rather start at an even pace as opposed to a sprint.

If you’re looking to give this strain a try, or other products from Green Haven – swing by American Mary* in Wallingford, or let us know in the comments section if your local pot shop carries products from Green Haven.

*American Mary advertises on High Above Seattle, which in no way influences the products we buy or our perception of enjoyment. We strive to find new names that we haven’t sampled before, and sometimes wind up with a strain worth talking about, but a dead-end on producer information.

Marijuana Review: 7-Way by Private Reserve

August 1, 2016 By Fischer Campbell

Here at High Above Seattle, I’d like to think we don’t mess around. Conventional traditions are out the window, we settle for nothing less then buds that are magnified by at least several proportions. A simple nug on nug on nug will not do (man, that sounds wrong – and it’s only the intro, jeez): we bring you 7-Way, by Private Reserve. You’re welcome.

Private Reserve is (surprise!) a NorthWest Cannabis Solutions brand. I got a quarter of 7-Way for $50 at Belmar, a small shop in Bellevue (though Private Reserve products can be found across multiple Seattle locations – check the bottom of the review for such inquiries).

We’ve checked out products from this producer before (see here, and here). The consensus seems to be most of the flower in the NWCS/Private Reserve/Legends-realm is consistent, highly affordable, and abundant. These are all selling points for the every-folk, like you and me.

Their website doesn’t indicate any methods of sustainable practice or growing, which is kind of a bummer (I don’t know the whole story though – you’d think that’s what a website would be for). A little more transparency would be nice on that front, regardless the strains from this producer I’ve tried have been enjoyable.

The specifics, you seek:

THC: 21.5%
CBD: 0.1%
Total: 21.6%

Strain: 7-Way
Species: Sativa
Date Harvested: 10/27/16
Smell: Gasoline + Funk
Taste: Floral + Cheesy
Launch Point: Immediately after inhaling.
High: Energetic + Euphoric + Relaxed + Functional

According to myth, 7-Way was born from only the best sativas. How many parents? Nobody knows. The secret is well kept (and lethally guarded) by men in dark-colored suits. Apparently the deal is that the strain is 100% sativa, and upon smoking imbues one with an energetic, relaxing and all-around lovely high. Medical prescriptions would be used for stress/anxiety, lack of appetite, depression and pain – a genuine Jack-of-all-Weeds (I’ll show myself the door).

I’ve actually bought this strain several times over the weeks, and each iteration has looked pretty stellar. A camouflage of bright green and orange, dusted with crystal kief. Yada-yada, it looks good! Check the pictures for more proof.

When snapping a bud apart, the strain has a Super Glue™/jet fuel smell to it, almost like a martini. The flavor is floral and skunky, pungent out of a pipe or vaporizer.

7-Way has an inherently chill high. It’s easy to function, get some stuff done, little bit of this/little bit of that. “Well balanced” is a good way of putting the experience into words, a solid half ‘n half of ♫mental stimulations and body vibrations♫. Some sort of mixture between being super blazed yet perpetually in control, it’s kind of like it looked into my soul (the weed, 7-Way, I’m talking about). Yeah, it’s good.

This was a get-up-and-go kind of strain, for me. Like a cuppa coffee – after a bowlski or two, I’m ready to roll with whatever savagely-crushing tasks the day has in store. Come here life, you’re a little bit easier with my good friend 7-Way.

You can find Private Reserve, and other NWCS products at: American Mary (Wallingford), Belmar (Bellevue), Clutch Cannabis (Renton), Have a Heart (Greenwood/Fremont), among many other locations.

Marijuana Review: Jack Skellington by Lopez and Orr

July 25, 2016 By Fischer Campbell

Any day, we can all feel out of place; some sort of brooding cartoon character hybrid harnessed to a reality that is, saying it simply, off-putting at times. You do your best to sing, and dance – but after a certain point you hit f*** it. Jack Skellington by Lopez and Orr is here to answer your existential troubles, and possibly that meta-holiday-identity crisis we’ve all been dealing with (thank God).

I picked up the strain from Have-a-Heart (in Fremont) for $35/3.5 grams. It was the budtender’s recommendation in my preferred price range. On top of being a new producer to review, there was the whole “used to watch Nightmare Before Christmas after school every day” thing, so I was sold.

Based out of Spokane, there isn’t a ton of information available on Lopez and Orr. They’ve got a website with information about their products (conveniently not the strain at hand in this review), but I’d like to know more in terms of their process and ideology – when it comes to growing/processing herb, I mean.

Let’s talk about the herb:

THC: 0.1%
THC A: 22.4%
CBD: 0.1%
Total THC: 19.6%
Total Cannabinoids: 22.4%
(this math doesn’t make sense to me, it’s probably rounded numbers)

Strain: Jack Skellington
Species: Sativa
Smell: Lemon + Cheese
Taste: Banana + Christmas + Halloween
Launch Point: 3-5 minutes after smoking.
High: Chill + Balanced +Refuge from the Storm

The proud child of Killer Queen and Jack the Ripper, Jack Skellington “promises an intensely psychoactive experience that brings creativity and introspection to a new level” (according to Leafly). Typically this strain is medically prescribed to fight anxiety and stress, it could help with headaches and migraines too!

Jack Skellington looks like it was kissed by the sun, all glistening with trichomes and kief. The buds were delicate, and smoked smoothly out of a pipe. Harvested in May, the nugs still were fresh – not dry, or harsh.

Popping open the lid, a combo of fruity lemon and funky cheese emerged from the container. A stinky strain is often a good sign, praise pungency. Oddly enough, the taste was all banana. Go figure.

Getting high with Jack Skellington is like being stuck in a rainstorm, and suddenly a roof appears above your head – sheltering you from the storm. I’m not a stoner (cue the Half Baked “stoner” stamp on my forehead), but it’s easy to escape with this strain packed in your pipe. Plenty of things in this world are worth fretting over, but worrying/bloviating gets us nowhere – action is the only way forward, and maybe getting stoned will push things forward.

I’m not suggesting turning to intoxicants when feeling down; more so, when the troubles of whatever you’re dealing with are too much, it helps to get a little abstract for perspective (it may be just me who feels this way). For what it’s worth: do what you feel like, smoke weed whenever, wubba lubba dub dub, etc. I’ll see you next week.

Marijuana Review: Mango by NWCS

July 18, 2016 By Fischer Campbell

Picture yourself on an island, surrounded by tropical exquisitries . You there? Okay, now add some nugs named after fruit. That’s the concept of this review, featuring Mango by NorthWest Cannabis Solutions (or NWCS for short). For $10/gram, this is a potent strain that is surprisingly a full sativa (contrary to it’s lineage).

NWCS is an operation we’ve covered before. They have several brands that are dominant in the recreational market. On a large scale, I’ve been impressed with the consistent quality. The producer boasts over 150 employees, whom churn out the buds, oil and edibles we all enjoy.

According to their website, NWCS is “one of the largest recreational marijuana producer/processors in Washington”. They’ve constructed some sorta all-encompassing Death Star™ facility full of growing areas, kitchens with bubbling pots, and extraction laboratories.

Let’s talk about the marijuaña:

THC: 26.2%
CBD: 0.9%
Total: 27.1%

Strain: Mango
Species: Sativa
Date Harvested: 03/29/16
Smell: Gasoline + Fruit + Funk
Taste: Black Lemon + Spice
High: Euphoric + Relaxing + Deep + Good with Music

Mango was created in the 1960’s, it was revamped in the 90’s and crossed with KC33 to produce a more potent iteration. All the info I could find pointed to the strain being an indica, although it’s obviously a sativa (according to the testing info, and the high). A little more research showed that Mango Haze was a variant of the initial strain that was a sativa. It’s known for a cerebral and euphoric experience.

The smell was apparent when first opening the bag: a mix of gasoline and tropical funk. True to it’s name, Mango had a fruity floral flavor with a hint of spice. Smoking of a pipe, and using a vaporizer yielded a strong taste.

Getting high with Mango is a positive experience. It’s immediately noticeable after exhaling, not a creeper. This is a great “get up and go” strain; generously gifting waves of energy and good vibes. Some folks may find it a bit strong for the morning, but I honestly like a solid slap in the face to kickstart my day.

So, yeah this an “anytime” kind of weed. My favorite type, in fact. Minimal burnout, easy to move on and not get stuck. We got stoned and checked out Bite of Seattle, spent most of the time catching pokemon and hanging out in the craft beer area. Fun times with the old Mango, here’s to good cheap weed! <clinks glass>

You can find NWCS products at: American Mary (Wallingford), Clutch Cannabis (Renton), Have a Heart (Greenwood), among many other locations.

Marijuana Review: Thai Girl by Jackpot Seaweed

July 5, 2016 By Fischer Campbell

Fireworks, beers, BBQ’s, and buds – that’s what my July 4th weekend is all about. Even a Mariner’s game, what a country. Only a functional sativa could be the correct accompaniment, something that makes life brighter. Our patriotic pick goes to Thai Girl from Jackpot Seaweed.

Jackpot Seaweed is an offshoot of Liberty Reach, whom we’ve covered in the past. This specific line focuses on providing consistent product at a decent price ($10/gram). I was looking for an upbeat experience, Thai Girl answered the call.

Both brands are owned by BMF Washington LLC (subtle), who were recently in a little hot water for using unapproved pesticides. Conversely, they were the #1 Washington Producer/Processor as of May 2015 (I tried to find more recent figures but came up short).

Let’s talk about the weed:

THC: 25.4%
CBD: 0.1%
Total: 25.4%

Strain: Thai Girl
Species: Hybrid (Sativa Dominant)
Date Harvested: 05/26/2016
Smell: Lime + Moss
Taste: Earthy + Citrus
High: Giddy + Euphoric + Wild

Thai Girl is somewhat illusive in terms of Googling, the meat of it’s information coming from Leafly. Originating as a sativa hybrid from Thai Stick x Tres Dawg, it’s famed to have been produced in the 70’s. The strain is known for it’s hyper-energetic attributes.

Little buds, little crusted nuggets. Usually the shape or size of the strain doesn’t impact my perception, I know inner beauty when I see it. Thai Girl was cultivated recently, so the flower itself was fresh and sticky. No qualms there.

The smell was earthy, kind of like moss; a tropical whiff of lime followed. Flavor was similar, lots of citrus. I tried the flower out of a pipe, and a vaporizer – both yielded a clean taste.

Not knowing what to expect in terms of the experience, I can say now that this strain is smooth: getting high with Thai Girl feels like an island breeze. Upbeat, relaxed and versatile. Not much weighing you down, and super limited sedation. This bud won’t tire you out, in fact I’d suggest smoking specifically to pair with activity, or creativity.

Another noticeable aspect of the high is that it’s just right. It’s not overpowering in the head, it’s got some body vibes. Non-paranoia, and seeking out good times seem to be the heading attributes. I wouldn’t recommend this strain to any couch potatoes out there, though.

Well – the grill needs a-cleanin’, and there’s only one guy to do it (I’m talking about me). Time to crack open a brew, light a flame, and celebrate ‘murica. You can find Jackpot Seaweed/Liberty Reach products at: American Mary (Wallingford), Green-Theory (Bellevue), and other various shops in the Seattle area. Happy 4th!