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Leafly Buzz: 14 best weed strains of February

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Remember your New Year’s resolution to smoke better weed? Leafly remembers. 

This month’s roundup of the hot-hot new-new in the multi-billion dollar West Coast cannabis flower market includes the debut of Cookies brand “Worms”-shaped rosin. TropCookies’ famous Oni Seed Co. flower hits California dispensary shelves. We also serve up new GMOs and Chems, plus a trippy, new Cap Junky cross. The following flavors are popping in shops, events, and on our experts’ dashboards—they’re our favorite buds in the review bin and beyond. Here comes Leafly Buzz for February 2023.

Data grinder

(Sasha Beck/Leafly)
These strains are on the move in Leafly’s 6,000-strains database. (Sasha Beck/Leafly)

Permanent Marker

⬆ 10.8%

Permanent Marker. Hybrid. (Courtesy Doja Pak)
Permanent Marker. Hybrid. (Courtesy Doja Pak)

Leafly Strain of the Year 2022 Jealousy hybrids continue to make their mark in 2023. Strain page visits climbed 10.8% month over month for Permanent Marker—(Biscotti x Sherb Bx1) x Jealousy F3—with its sickly sweet Sharpie-like fumes. It’s $80 per bag from Doja Pak in California dispensaries, proving the thesis that if it’s good enough, people will drop $80 an eighth for it. Share your Permanent Marker head stash with a select few on clean glass, or in a big joint. Clones of Permanent Marker are just getting under cultivation and we can’t wait till everyone can sniff ’em.

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Agent X

⬆ 6.8%

Agent X. Hybrid. (David Downs/Leafly)
Agent X. Hybrid. (David Downs/Leafly)

Look out for Agent X lurking on the top shelf in California—up 6.8% from last month. Alien Labs’ small-batch, AAA-grade indoor cross of Atomic Apple and Xeno #1 keeps abducting all our money. Agent X expresses genes from both the Apple Fritter and Kush Mints line, making for a gassy Zkittlez mint. We continue to see flawless work coming from Zkittlez and Kush Mints projects and the whole world is watching. 

Oregon in-depth

6 best Oregon cannabis brands to try in 2023

Peanut Butter Breath

⬆ 6.7%

Peanut Butter Breath. Indica hybrid. (David Downs/Leafly)
Peanut Butter Breath. Indica hybrid. (David Downs/Leafly)

Michigan’s best breeders keep influencing what we’re doing out west with Thug Pug’s Peanut Butter Breath. It chugs along in the western US—up 6.8% in strain page visits from the West Coast thanks to its nutty, potent stank. PB Breath mixes Dosidos (Leafly Strain of the Year 2021) and Mendo Breath F2. The nut strain dates to at least 2016 and has become a commodity crop, but when done right, it’s irresistible. Get acquainted with all the Breath crosses: Gorilla Butter, White Truffle, and Bulletproof Genetics’ smoky line of Deep Breath crosses.

Blue Dream

⬆ 6.6%

Blue Dream. Hybrid sativa. (David Downs/Leafly)
Blue Dream. Hybrid sativa. (David Downs/Leafly)

Something is happening with Blue Dream, readers. Like a huge blip on the sonar screen, this top 10 whale of strain is again on the move on the West Coast, up 6.6% in strain page visitors month over month. We’ve seen top-shelf brands like Korova do throwback Blue Dream with primo results. Smoakland delivery promises a $99 Blue Dream this month that’s “beloved” and hits 32% THC. Blue Dream’s tide appears to be coming back in, and we’re getting out the big jars.

New in the Leafly strain database

(Sasha Beck/Leafly)
The last new-new of ’22.(Sasha Beck/Leafly)

Rainbow Cheddar

Rainbow Cheddar x Peppermint Agave. Hybrid. (David Downs/Leafly)
Rainbow Cheddar x Peppermint Agave. Hybrid. (David Downs/Leafly)

‘Where the Cheese strains at?’ they ask me. Best I can do is Rainbow Cheddar. It’s a Z x Cheese project at Compound Genetics. We’ve tasted crosses from it with that charcuterie plate mix of jellied fruit and brie. Hybridization compounds each parent’s loudness—a clever move. Compound’s new drop Perzimmon (Rainbow Cheddar x GastroPop) furthers the project. But who else grows some real Cheese? UK Cheese? Big Buddha Cheese? Who claims that stank? Let’s make a Cheese wave, Leafly Nation.

The Doggy Bagg

The Doggy Bagg stays popular. Hybrid indica. (David Downs/Leafly)
The Doggy Bagg stays popular. Hybrid indica. (David Downs/Leafly)

You gotta hand it to Snoop Dogg—his strains don’t miss. In the heat of battle, they don’t miss. The Doggy Bagg is a fire Project 4516 x Zkittlez #18 project from Grandiflora of Oakland, CA, marketed, grown, and sold through Cookies. The Doggy Bagg debuted to crazy lines in 2021 and has simmered down to a more sustainable hype level. The Doggy Bagg gives the streets what they need, an improved Runtz analog: Fruity, candy, earthy, fuel that’ll set you back nicely after a frustrating day stuck in traffic.

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Mango Fruz

Mango Fruz. Hybrid sativa. (David Downs/Leafly)
Mango Fruz. Hybrid sativa. (David Downs/Leafly)

Grab some five-pound weights and crush some freaky deeky aerobic dance moves. Mango Fruz will rocket you to the tropics for a sweaty beach workout. Seed Junky Genetics’ Mango x Pineapple Fruz exudes an enticing, mango smell, and a sweet Zkittlez exhale with bright, electric effects. Mango Fruz smalls went for a bargain from Posh Green Boutique in San Francisco. The term ’smalls’ refers to smaller-sized buds, but small stays mighty with these frosty, tropical fuel nugs, grown in Northridge, CA under the breeder’s Farmacopia license.

Jigglers

Jigglers hybrid Twizzle Dance. 2022. (Courtesy Exotic Genetix)
Jigglers hybrid Twizzle Dance. 2022. Get well, Mr. Stimmy! ❤️‍🩹 (Courtesy Exotic Genetix)

Attention, America. We are tracking several radar signatures of the Red Pop strain loitering in the upper levels of the hyposphere. High-tolerance forces have attacked the strain Red Pop with fire and report back that it is indeed, zaza, and part of a sortie of sweet hybrids that includes Falcon 9 x Red Pop, Cherry Cosmo (Red x Baker’s Dozen), and Jigglers (Gelato x Red Pop). Washington breeder Exotix Genetix bred Jigglers along with a slew of phenomenal, high-THC, candy-forward cultivars. The Jigglers strain smells and tastes sour, fruity, funky, tart, and sugary. Its indica hybrid effects relax the body and mellow the mood. If you see Jigglers or any more Red Pop crosses—do your duty and attack them with fire.

Picks of the dispensaries

(Sasha Beck/Leafly)
(Sasha Beck/Leafly)

New

Zeluga from Oni Seed Co., CA

Oni Seed Co. Zeluga. Hybrid. (David Downs/Leafly)
Oni Seed Co. Zeluga. Hybrid. (David Downs/Leafly)

Come out of winter hibernation mode with Oni Seed Co. Zeluga— Kush Mintz x (Zkittlez x Zahiti Lime). This hybrid party and chill strain wants to make friends, offering a sugary, minty, floral soapy smell. Grind it up and notes of lime, pine, grape Smarties powder, and raspberry might pop out. Oni Seed Co. made its name with Tropicana Cookies found in current hits Trop Cherry and Super Boof. Now the Oni brand sells in at least 11 California shops with excellent flower, bred and grown indoors under Binske’s Southern California license. The Zeluga stands on its own, but Oni throws in a 5-pack of Oni Seeds for $1. Oni Seed Co focuses on hash-optimized strains that yield maximum resin and fragrance for extracts. The still-in-development Oni rosin and hash holes we also tasted do justice to the name.

Hot

Z Cap by Floracal, CA

Cyberpunk rock: Z Cap by Floracal (David Downs/Leafly)
Cyberpunk rock: Z Cap by Floracal (David Downs/Leafly)

Skip the magic mushrooms: Z Cap offers a heart-pounding, brutally introspective, 90-minute trip. Z Cap combines Zkittlez x Cap Junky, which is pretty wild since the parent Cap Junky is just starting its wave. Floracal brand indoor-grown Z Cap cannot be beaten for twice the price. Expert cannabis smokers will easily get over their skis on this icy, pungent, high-energy beast of a strain. A thin candy shell of bergamot Z jelly aroma cracks open to reveal a noseful of bite from the Alien OG in Alien Cookies. Sweetness precedes a dank fuel that blows out your palate, and max-THC bites on your chest. Half a rip brings a buzzing numbing psychic stone. A full bongload challenges the doors of perception while tasting much better than shrooms. 

Related

Leafly Buzz: 13 top cannabis strains of ’23

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Ballin out

Garlic Blossom by A Golden State, CA

A Golden State brand Garlic Blossom. (David Downs/Leafly)
A Golden State brand Garlic Blossom. Leans really Baccio Gelato. (David Downs/Leafly)

A Golden State brings adventurous fine dining to your weed bowl with Garlic Blossom—GMO x Baccio Gelato in a deep, purple, fragrant bud. The mix of savory and sweet genes adds complexity to each other and brings on relaxation and appetite. A Golden State grows indoors in Shasta County, CA, and runs on hydroelectric power from the Sierra snowpack. Just up the freeway from Sacramento—Shasta’s main city Redding, CA offers superb spots for indoor grows, with Ember Valley and others there as well. With the snowpack running 200% of normal, A Golden State should stay gold in 2023.

Ballin’ on a budget

Garlotti by Burr’s Place, CA

Burr’s Place-grown Garlotti. Chem D x Gelatti. Indica hybrid. (David Downs/Leafly)

It’s time to start the Ugly Weed movement. Sure, this Burr’s PlaceGarlotti might not look dramatic, or spectacular. Stop judging ganja solely by how it blings. Lots of “ugly” weed smells, tastes, and feels straight-up better than Instagram weed. Ask Zkittlez. (And it’s not even ugly by historical standards.) Anyway, Cannarado’s bred Garlotti is Chemdog x Gelatti grown organic-like outdoors and crushing it at a blistering 34.53% THC. Set aside the score. The nose knows: The savory, garlic funk warns of the deep-bodied, disabling indica hybrid stone. A total counterpoint to the Garlic Blossom above. Trust your nose and join the Ugly Weed movement.

High Note

(Sasha Beck/Leafly)
High note: Do not mix with alcohol. Do not drive. (Sasha Beck/Leafly)

Worms by Cookies

(Courtesy Cookies)
We always end on a high note of outrageous THC maximalism. Like Cookies Worms. (Courtesy Cookies)

You buy sliced lunch meat and stick it in your sandwiches, right? Now you can buy sliced hash and stick it in your joints and blunts.

Cookies Maywood in Los Angeles facilitates the rosin and hash hole movement with the debut of Worms—a Cereal A La Mode strain hash rosin worm. You buy one, roll it into a joint, and boom—your whole clique goes to flavor town. Then Taco Bell. There will be munchies.

Worms come in 0.3-gram and 0.5-gram sizes for $20 or $30,—a value considering some rosins go for $90 a gram. The hand-shaped and hand-packaged run of Cookies Worms totals several hundred units. More artisanal hash delicacies in 2023, please.


And that’s it for our high-res, real-time snapshot of the exotic pot landscape west of The Rockies. Check-in with Leafly’s high-altitude weed weather station in March. We’ll keep watch.

About Leafly Buzz

So good they steal it—the popular, monthly strain review roundup Leafly Buzz is in its third year. We report independently on the connoisseur cannabis conversation, focusing on strain and branded flower of the US west. Reporting includes:

  • review samples
  • dispensary shopping
  • grow visits
  • cannabis events
  • Leafly search data
  • staff and reader tips, and more

Read back issues of Leafly Buzz

What are you smoking on, Leafly Nation? Comment below.





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acapulco-gold

Best St. Patrick’s Day cannabis strains for 2024 and more

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St. Patrick’s Day is fun and all, but you can hold the hangovers and regret, thank you very much. We’re gonna stay Cali Sober, super-green, and deliciously rainbow-esque with legal ganja across North America.

With 24 legalization states, 40 medical ones, and fully legal Canada, it’s never been breezier to tap the Leafly app, put the buds in the basket, and order the more healthful alternative for pickup or delivery. 

Here’s some seasonal, new, and charming buds from California to New York, and Florida to Ontario, courtesy of our cadre of experts.

Gold Ca$h Gold

Gold Ca$h Gold. (Matt Jackson for Leafly)

Everybody wants a little taste of gold on St. Patty’s day and for cannabis, there’s nothing that fits the bill closer than this strain from 3rd Coast Genetics, the breeder that brought us Oreoz (now called Oooze to avoid the lawyers). Gold Ca$h Gold—a cross of Oreoz #1 x Pure Michigan—has the thick, sparkly coat of resin glands we usually see on Oooze buds and the deep purple interior that’s indicative of Pure Michigan, a popular strain in Oregon and Maine that 3rd Coast created with Thug Pug. The result is a grape jelly crustable that has a gassy smell locked inside of buds so dense, you’ll weigh the eighth just to make sure it’s 3.5 grams.—Matt Jackson

Related

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Pot Roast

A purple and icy nug against a black background.
Pot Roast. Indica hybrid. (photos by Focus North Garden)

What would St. Patrick’s Day be without sitting down to some corned beef & cabbage or a good bowl of Pot Roast? A hit with fans in Colorado and California over the last couple years, Pot RoastGMO x Meat Breath—is another savory strain from well-known Michigan breeder Thug Pug who’s also responsible for the Meat Breath used in its creation. Even the smaller buds on this strain come out with a thick armored-looking surface that shows off flecks of purple and army green. While looking at the lineage you’d expect something super pungent and corpse flower-esque, the aroma on this more of a rich savory feeling with an exhale that’s almost peppery. —Matt Jackson

Acapulco Gold

Jonny Chronic, Canada

A horizontal photo of a light green cannabis bud with orange pistils. Acapulco Gold. Sativa. (Courtesy of Jonny Chronic)
Acapulco Gold. Sativa. (Courtesy of Jonny Chronic)

If you’re in search of real treasure, skip the pub and follow the rainbow to a pot of Acapulco

Gold. Originating from Central America, this legendary landrace strain has a classic flavorprofile: it’s fresh and floral with skunky base notes of dark molasses. Practically dripping in trichomes, these glittering nuggets from Johnny Chronic are worth their weight in gold! Grown in small batches, slow-cured for maximum flavor and hand-trimmed to perfection, finding this sativa is only for the luckiest leprechauns. Who needs a pot of gold when you can find this stash at the end of the rainbow? —Amanda Breeze

Crumbled Lime

3Saints, Canada

A spherical purple and icy nug with red hairs of 3 Saints Crumbled Lime. (Courtesy of 3Saints)
3 Saints Crumbled Lime. (Courtesy of 3Saints)

Wearing green is supposed to bring good luck on St. Patty’s Day, but why settle for wearing it

when you can get four-leaf clovered with Crumbled Lime! A cross of Citron CKS and Biker Kush, these dense emerald buds are sun-grown, rain-watered, and expertly cured. Crack open a jar and experience the unbelievably bold punch of sour Tanaka lime with a blast of tropical guava fruit. This ain’t your granny’s lucky clover! High potency and maximum flavor, this sweet sativa from 3Saints is louder than a green beer-fueled frat party. So ditch the green hat! Crumbled Lime is the only luck you need. —Amanda Breeze

Koala Crack

Fig Farms, CA

A macro shot of trichomes sleeted over purple leaf. Koala Crack up close. (Lindsay MaHarry for Leafly)
Koala Crack up close. (Lindsay MaHarry for Leafly)

Koala Crack is a buzzy new sativa from Fig Farms named for its eucalyptol-dominant profile and energizing effects. With a unique sensory experience that combines eucalyptus, candy and spice, and a high that radiates clarity and excitement, this flower is perfect for busy days on the grind.

Grown, bred, and hunted from seed by Fig Farms, Koala Crack is a cross between Moonana Wreck (Banana Fig x Moon Drops) x Zeclair #5 (Cold Heat x Zonuts).

Like all flower grown by the Bay-area indoor legends, this one is other-worldly. With light green nugs, long hairs, and a bud structure with the complexity of an Escher painting, it’s so sugar-dusted with trichomes that the nugs read silver.

In addition to the minty fresh euphoria of the eucalyptol, Koala Crack is high in terpinolene from the Moonana Wreck parent, another one of my favorite Fig Farm flowers. The combination leaves you with an energetic disposition and a quiet mind, perfect for getting it done and having fun while doing it. —Lindsay MaHarry

Sour Diesel

Sol Spirit Farm, CA

Sour Diesel by Sol Spirit Farm, an award-winning regenerative farm/glamping operation in Trinity County, is a hard-hitting rendition of a beloved classic.

A cross between Chemdawg and Super Skunk, Sour Diesel was popularized in NYC throughout the late ’90s and early 2000s for an energizing, euphoric high suited for life in the fast lane. Despite its legendary status, it’s uncommon to see Sour Diesel on the dispensary shelves of today, which tend to be dominated by a handful of dessert strains.

My favorite thing about Sol Spirit’s cut of SD is that it skews on the heavy side, leaving you in a giggly plume of diesel-drenched euphoria. The nugs have a rust green hue and the looser bud structure of a true sativa, covered in visible, sparkling trichomes, with a tidal wave of diesel/pine terps that just about knock you over when you crack open the jar.

This version of SD is perfect for enjoying the vivacious and uplifting high of the famous strain in a more relaxed way, where a silly fun feeling of buoyancy balances out the anxious pitfalls of having too much energy. —Lindsay MaHarry

Rainbow Driver

Woody Nelson, Canada

A vertical elliptical dark green bud of Rainbow Driver. Indica hybrid. (Grace B for Leafly)
Rainbow Driver. Indica hybrid. (Grace B for Leafly)

Bred by Archive Seed Bank and cultivated in the Kootenays, this Sundae Driver x Zkittlez hybrid is a powerhouse. Woody Nelson’s three weeks of curing and hand-trimming results in generous nugs and a true-to-nose flavor, reminiscent of a pack of Citrus Delights cracked open in a gas station. It maintains an impressive, feathery consistency when ground, with smooth rolling and combustion. The high begins with a potent, cerebral hit before melting into relaxation, without full-on couchlock. This strain is in high demand, so gear up for the next 100-kilo batch to hit BC, Ontario, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, and Nunavut dispensaries around April 20th. —Grace Broadhead

Onion Ring

Nature’s Chemistry, NV

The latest indica from the renowned Vegas producer, affectionately known as Nature’s Chem by locals, is easily one of the dankest strains anywhere in Sin City. Onion Ring’s booming terp profile boasts an impressive 13.2 mg/g terpinolene, 3.8 mg/g ocimene, and 3.7 mg/g myrcene to complement a solid 24% THC count. Users can smell the powerful garlicky cross of GMO and OG Kush through the sealed jar, and all bets are off once that jar’s open—the aroma is next-level.

Onion Ring by Nature’s Chemistry hits as strong as any indica in the Vegas market and smokes smoother than most. But it’s not necessarily a bedtime strain; the elevated terpinolene levels help provide a high that’s euphoric and introspective, well worth staying awake for. Onion Ring is available in 43 Las Vegas dispensaries, including Planet 13, Nevada Wellness Center, The Source, Beyond Hello, GreenLight, Health For Life, Sahara Wellness, Curaleaf, Jade, and Zen Leaf. —Chris Kudialis

Bellini vape

Rove, NV

Rove's Bellini all-in-one cart. (Chris Kudialis for Leafly)
Rove’s Bellini all-in-one cart. (Chris Kudialis for Leafly)

Hitting Rove’s hybrid Bellini pen is the weed aficionado’s equivalent of sipping on a fruit smoothie: easy, sweet, flavorful with bursts of peach and pineapple. At 89.1% THC and a terp profile spearheaded by caryophyllene, limonene, and linalool, Bellini produces a fast high that slaps after just a couple of draws. But after its initial punch, the indica-dominant high operates comfortably in the background, allowing users to enjoy themselves without feeling overly stoned. Rove’s Bellini pen is available in 47 Vegas dispensaries, including Euphoria Wellness, Reef, Las Vegas ReLeaf, Essence, Jardín, Cookies, NuWu, Pisos, Thrive, and Tree of Life. —Chris Kudialis

Pac-Man

Cookies, New York

From the NYC Culture House’s new Cookies strain drop, this is how you start off a stoner’s paradise. This Pac-Man strain is pure class—a very special strain. As soon as I opened the package, a strong herbal aroma filled the air and the room in a magical way. On my first hit, a powerful, pungent, gassy, spicy, peppery flavor rushed me like I owed the Pac-Man money. Tiny hints of menthol and a zesty lemon flavor followed. The very clean refreshing aftertaste will leave a spicy, peppery taste on your tongue for a few seconds—so beautiful. The high is very relaxing with a nice, heavy feeling on the eyes, which is so wonderful. The body high is strong, with a soothing, spectacular feel, very calming on the body. If you are looking for a good strain to watch a movie, or play a video game, or just vibing with some friends, Pac-Man is it.—LordFigo

Afternoon Delight #44

Rythm, MD

Rythm delivers yet again for enthusiasts looking for a functional midday boost with Afternoon Delight #4. A hybrid of GMO x Trophy Wife (Wedding Cake F2), originally bred as Redneck Wedding by Surfr Seeds, the appearance presents as the bright green spear-shaped buds with golden pistils; a mighty stature caked in resin. For the top shelf of the market, Rythm delivers as expected with a hefty jar for freshness and a flashy label boasting 37.62% THCa and 3.78% terpenes.

As stinky as this sample is upon cracking the jar, the flavor also stains the mouth with chemical funk and herbal Bubba fuel, which come from the primary terpenes limonene, β-caryophyllene, and linalool. The potency is noticeable, and the refined, relaxing, and buzzy effect comes on rapidly and primarily stimulates the head, face, and chest. In a vape, the inhale is smooth and suitable for big rips. In the joint, the smoothness lacks behind a bit, and the flavor has a bit of background noise. Regionally, the DMV is a big fan of soothing “sativa-dominant hybrids” and this sample is fresh and fits the bill perfectly. —Max Blickstein

Zealousy

Strane, MD

If you like big nugs and you can’t lie, Zealousy might be your guy. Strane has been a mainstay for years bringing solid genetics to top shelves all around Maryland, and this is a prime example of why. Zealousy is reported to be from Nasha Genetics, blending Jealousy x Zoap, which very much rides the shoulders of giants, this time in the form of Seed Junky Genetics and Deep East. This hybrid is no joke—providing an immediate onset of “sit-your-butt-down” effect at eye-watering levels of potency, which tracks for the 30.41% THCa boasted on the label.

Another staggering label rating is the 4.14% terpenes, primarily limonene, α and β-pinene, and linalool, which results in a fairly standard “candy” flavor that is most comparable to allspice. This type of flavor and effect profile is more common from cheaper imported traditional market packs, but Strane provides a clean and accessible experience with Zealousy that hits that particular nail on the head. Strane is sure to impress enthusiasts looking for a punchy sweet flavor and this particular example shines as soon as the seal is broken. —Max Blickstein

Northern Fire

Ember Valley, CA

Ember Valley has impressed over the last few years—floating at the top tier of affordable heat right before you start getting into the top shelf above $50. One of the things they are famed for across their stable of strains is the variety of flavors. Their new Northern Fire is probably my second favorite thing I’ve ever seen from them. It’s absolutely soaked in the best terpinolene aroma I’ve found on the recreational market since the Trainwreck that came in 5th in the inaugural Emerald Cup indoor category a few years ago. The hash is the same level of special. I haven’t seen anyone washing this flavor and it’s worth investigating if you’re lucky enough to get your hands on a jar. —Jimi Devine

Zeclair Breeding project

Fig Farms, CA

Fig Farms, CAThe back-to-back Emerald Cup winners were looking to spice things up in 2023 and a massive Z breeding project and round of selection proved to do just that. When hunting out a pack of Zeclair seeds the Fig Farms team identified a primo male. It represented the best male Z pollen they had ever worked with and they crossed it to everything. It’s no surprise—the pairings with the last two cup winners, Animal Face and Blue Face, proved to be absolutely heaters. I would argue the dark horse of the bunch is a fantastic Zeclair x OGKB. We’re excited to see which parts of the hunt make it to market. The “sister” to that all-star male is already out there on store shelves. It’s also a hitter, as is par for the course when you’re talking about Fig Farms. —Jimi Devine

And that’s 14 super-solid picks for St. Patrick’s Day and beyond this winter and spring. Make sure to download the Leafly app, and turn on notifications to stay glued into the goodness.



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86% of Californians Support Legal Cannabis Markets

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A recent survey conducted by the California Department of Cannabis Control (DCC) and FM3 Research reveals that a significant majority of Californians, 86%, believe it’s important to purchase cannabis from legal markets. The survey also indicates growing support for Proposition 64 and highlights the need for consumer education on legal cannabis procurement.

California, a pioneer in legalizing medical cannabis in 1996 and later adult-use cannabis in 2016, has developed into the world’s largest cannabis market. The DCC’s Real California Cannabis Campaign, aimed at guiding consumers to licensed dispensaries, commissioned FM3 Research to survey over 1,000 California adults to gauge their attitudes towards the state’s cannabis market. Key findings include:

  • 62% view Proposition 64 positively, suggesting increased support for cannabis reform.
  • 86% of respondents stress the importance of buying cannabis from legal sources.
  • 72% feel consumers should ensure they’re purchasing from licensed retailers.
  • Despite the legal market’s size, illegal sales remain prevalent, with two-thirds of cannabis sales in 2022 coming from the illicit market.
  • The California Unified Cannabis Enforcement Taskforce (UCETF) reported significant seizures in 2023, including over $312 million in illegal cannabis and 119 firearms, showcasing efforts to combat illegal operations.
  • The survey uncovered education gaps, with 85% of respondents in areas where retail cannabis is banned either misinformed or unaware of local cannabis laws.
  • Opinions on identifying licensed retailers were divided, with 44% finding it easy and 42% finding it challenging.

Why It Matters: This survey underscores the growing acceptance of legal cannabis markets among Californians and the critical role of consumer education in supporting legal operations. It highlights the ongoing battle against illicit sales and the importance of regulatory efforts to ensure a safe, legal cannabis market.

Potential Implications: The findings could influence future cannabis policies in California, emphasizing the need for public education campaigns and stricter enforcement against illegal operations. It also suggests a potential shift in consumer behavior towards supporting legal cannabis sources, which could further legitimize and stabilize the legal market.

Source: High Times



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THC scores coming back down to reality in California in 2024

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California’s millions of weed smokers should see test scores come down a noticeable amount this year. But fear not—the weed remains as strong as ever. 

State officials have begun reigning in the pernicious practice of “THC score inflation” in 2024 all across the state. In January, the Department of Cannabis Control started enforcing new rules that make all labs test the same way. So no more suspect “40% THC” scores on flowers, and that’s a good thing. 

You can already start to see the more accurate THC numbers hitting shelves. Instead of a “35% THC” or “30% THC” on a jar, you might see “25% THC” or “20% THC.” Since the turn of the year, there has been a noticeable dip at the retail level. Most of the stuff that still has crazy numbers is the leftovers from the tail end of 2023. 

State inspectors are visiting labs, and about two dozen labs follow the new standard. The others need to shape up, the DCC told Leafly.

At least for now, the numbers are coming back down to reality.

Josh Wurzer, Founder, SC Labs

“There are currently 23 labs that can test for flower and non-infused flower products. The Department continues to actively review verification reports for labs that want to come into compliance to be able to test for flower and flower products,” The DCC told Leafly in a statement, “Laboratories that test flower and have not had their verification report reviewed by the Department will be considered non-compliant and may be subject to disciplinary actions.”

One of California’s oldest labs, SC Labs, is approved to keep testing. SC Labs’ President and Cofounder Josh Wurzer once bristled at the new rules, but now sees their upside: less malarkey in the market.

“When DCC announced this method, I was initially against it just because I still see a million ways that a lab was looking to inflate THC could still inflate values even using the DCC method,” Wurzer told Leafly. “But, you know, just from what we’ve experienced since the first of the year, it seems like maybe at least for now, the numbers are coming back down to reality.”

Potency inflation had gotten out of hand

label, cannabis
(H_Ko/AdobeStock)

False information on legal cannabis labels undermines the voters’ intent for legalization. People want purity and accurate potency scores—not games. But games is what Californians got when legal sales began in 2018.

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Growers regularly reported a THC arms race as competitors “lab shopped” for the highest scores to stick on bags.

SC Labs’ team has heard about a lot of that happening in recent years. It started with a few people skewing high and a couple of labs doing it, and everyone was whining about it. 

“And then over the last year, it’s just gotten to a point where it’s just, straight up, I hear stories about salespeople at some of the labs that will just be like, ‘Hey, what numbers do you need on these?’ And it’s hitting that number,” Wurzer said. 

If we can’t trust, the basic number that we’re looking at, the concentration of THC, that’s one of the major selling points of getting a consumer to enter the regulated market.

Josh Wurzer, Founder, SC Labs

SC Labs alleges bad labs giving out fake high scores drove some honest labs out of business in California. Consumers had to see a score above 25 or 30% THC or they weren’t buying it.

“It’s gotten to the point where only a handful labs that aren’t doing this stuff are around,” Wurzer said.

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How California cleaned up its labs

The effort to clean up California’s cannabis testing goes back to 2021.

The Office of Administrative Law approved the Department of Cannabis Control’s regulations standardizing cannabinoid testing methodology in July 2023. That includes the same testing method for all licensed testing laboratories in California.

The rules cover everything from the size of the bottle of solvent labs use to really basic language changes like “have to” to “shall.”

Sample prep is more precise

The biggest difference is it’s much more specific in the way labs do the sample prep. 

“They’re very prescriptive on the sample weight, so they make us weigh out exactly .2000 grams, and we’re like okay, well, what’s the plus or minus on that? Obviously, you can’t lay out every time exactly point .200 grams. Do you know how long it’s going to take to pick a little grain of bud off of there to get back to three zeros? And they’re like, ‘No, no, that’s what it says,’” Wurzer said.

In addition to the challenge of getting those perfect sample sizes quickly, the extraction process can force you to do extra testing. Wurzer said the method makes it hard to measure the whole range of minor cannabinoids that are there less than 1% and then the ones that are there in high concentrations all in one pass. 

“Just because of some of the different volumes and dilution factors they picked, so it’s just kind of some nitpicky things,” Wurzer said.

For example, the issue with measuring minor cannabinoids has impacted growers and sellers of specialty strains high in THC-V in January and February.

Double the testing time

Wurzer says between the supplies rules and the labor time they are spending almost twice as much per sample. He’s talked to other labs and they are saying it’s about the same for them too. 

We asked Wurzer if it felt kind of wild to watch the state double the base costs for him to do business. He was hopeful the results will be worth it.

“If it manages to rein in the potency issue, which I see is like sort of existential to California cannabis things that sort of delegitimizes all the quality control testing we’re doing,” Wurzer said, “If we can’t trust, the basic number that we’re looking at, the concentration of THC, that’s one of the major selling points of getting a consumer to enter the regulated market.”

So if the goal is reigning in THC inflation, Wurzer doesn’t mind the increased costs.

Enforcement also ramping up

After the rules came out in summer 2023, there was a lot of mystery as to how heavy-handed the enforcement would be on this major transition for the industry.

The regulations went into effect in October and then became mandatory to be compliant on New Year’s Day. 

Wurzer said there weren’t any insurmountable hoops or hurdles. It was his understanding a lot of people just weren’t taking it seriously, “they thought it wasn’t gonna happen or weren’t paying attention.”

The new wave of 24 compliant labs in 2024 had already been following the new rules.

Wurzer says the methodology alone won’t stop THC score inflation, but the flashes of enforcement we’re starting to see from the state will help the cause. The tricks some labs use include things like weighing extra material to give people the results that they want. Labs can also purely falsify results, but the inspectors are at least watching now.

Recalls also show the system working

A California Department of Cannabis Control recall image from January. (Via X)

Wurzer also pointed to the recent recalls of products by the DCC as further evidence of heavier compliance. In California, a recall is called an embargo. Wurzer thinks it seems like they’re potentially kind of cracking down on some of those kinds of things shady operations would do a lot. Wurzer believes there are a bunch of factors in play, but the biggest one is that that new methodology moving forward.

Next up: Cheaper and faster lab accuracy

The rules can be further refined as well down the road. Wurzer says there’s a faster, cheaper way to test accurately, but he’ll accept the new regime.

“I think people can still cheat, but so far, it seems to be having some effect and so I’m not going to complain about it right now,” Wurzer said.

Expect more labs to come back online for the California cannabis industry in the weeks and months ahead. 



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