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I tested the Select vape oil cartridge. The first thing I noticed was the oil was very refined looking, but also a beautiful mahogany color. The smell, like most cartridges, was muted, but fruity. At 2.7v the taste was lemon-lime soda. At 3.3v, miraculously, it was peaches and mango. I used it immediately before bed. It hit hard and fast. I was seriously couch-locked (bed-locked?) within minutes, eyes closed, minor light shows, smile on my face, pulsating pleasure throughout the body, and then… sweet, sweet, sleep.

I tested the Verano Sunshine OG cartridge. It was a potent Sativa. It started with energy, and the day seemed bright. The flavor was iodine and musk. Shortly after the energetic onset the energy began to turn into an anxious tightness in my chest. Now I’m feeling sluggish in my brain and antsy in my arms and legs.

My love for this strain really snuck up on me. Firstly, and full disclosure, this was a cart, and, even more, was a “distillate and botanical terpenes” cart [Bulldog, DC]. In case you don’t know what that means: it means that rather than actually concentrate Northern Lights cannabis, they use a cannabinoids blend, and then add terpenes extracted from various plants to recreate a Northern Lights profile. This gives the maker particular control over the flavors (by choosing the tastiest versions of each terpene), though I suspect this also changes the nature of the high. Northern Lights in this cart has the loveliest lemon taste. Not like PineSol, which is sometimes what people mean when they say “lemon”, but approaching the flavor of actual lemon. Slightly sweet. The calm is peaceful, and euphoric. I often enjoy it as an evening strain. That said, I am presently using it on a morning where I do not have much to do, and I am very much enjoying just letting the waves of calm and pleasure wash over me. But I’m not couch-locked, either.

I get that it isn’t entirely fair to judge a strain by the concentrate, given how much the flavors can degrade and change during the processes of distillation, etc… Still, a truly great strain should hold up in both circumstances, and neither the flavor nor the high were much to write home about. I’m using it right now. I feel tense, if uplifted. Mostly just dazed. And the flavor. Ugh. The flavors that came through, were, in this order: sweet, fuel, black olive, cherry. And, in case you’re wondering, this is at 2.6V. At 3.2V it starts to get covered up by flavors of sawdust and treenut.

This strain has a lot to live up to with a name like “Runtz”. Unfortunately the concentrate I vaped didn’t live up to it. I’m willing to accept that maybe the flower is great, maybe even different batches of concentrate. But my vape flavor experience was predominantly sour, followed by fuel, and then maybe a tiny bit of sweet. A boring flavor profile if we’re being honest. And the high, while fine, was nothing to write home about. Light-headed, relaxation.

I’ve heard good things from people who have smoked this flower. I had it in concentrate and it was underwhelming

This is a great morning/working strain. It started with some muscle relaxation. Then energy. By chance, I was listening to a great playlist while using this, and I quickly noticed how deeply I was feeling the songs. The sad songs were bringing me to tears while the happy songs were making me dance look a fool. I stuck mostly with the happy songs. The best part, for me, is that, as a person with anxiety, fast strains often trigger my anxiety, but this strain doesn’t. Plus it’s really delicious. It tastes distinctly of muskmelon and some other gentle flavors that I am having trouble identifying. Whatever they are, they are nice and go well with the melon flavor.

I’m a sucker for a good tasting strain, and this certainly fits the bill. It tastes of sweetly of mango and berries (plus just a touch of more traditional flavors). But the really special thing about this strain is the way it hit me in waves. The first was more expected: lightness, relaxation, peace. The second snuck up on me, and I suddenly realized that I was feeling pleasure gently vibrating through my body. This was paired with some real emotional uplift, nearing euphoria. I feel like I have found a strain I’ll come back to again and again for mid-day treats.

One of the Indica-dominant strain that delivers on effects without the aromas that are going to upset your significant other(s). “Punch” might be better described as “Lemon”, but it is a lively, pleasant flavor that gives way to peaceful, sleepy rest.

Pineapple Express in more “pine” than “pineapple”, but despite the misnomer (at least in the distillate I tried), it was a pleasant, stimulating ride. Happy, but maybe a little too light on euphoria. Arousal probably the most dominant feeling for me.