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Nectar is definitely one of the best cannabis shop chains in Portland, consistently offering high quality product, very friendly and expert bud tenders, and convenient locations. The Sandy store in particular became my default cannabis store while I was in Portland. They always had what I needed, and the staff were always very welcoming and attentive. The menu offers great variety, and clearly differentiates the different tiers of quality, such as top tier, mid-grade, etc. While everything they offer is well-sourced, their top shelf products are truly that, such as Terra Canna Farms products and other high-end growers who offer some of the most potent and clean medicines around. Nectar is my primary recommendation for anyone shopping in the Portland area, and their prices are very reasonable and fair. Thanks for all the great herb, Nectar!

Have a heart is quickly becoming my go-to dispensary in a crowded Seattle field of excellent shops. The entire store is lined with products on display, conveniently laid out in cases grouped by type, price, and even brand. It is very well laid out, and makes it very difficult to go in without wanting to buy everything in the store. The staff are very friendly, approachable and helpful. They know their product very well and obviously enjoy their jobs, making the purchasing experience all the more enjoyable. They offer products from many of Washington's finest growers, across the full array of delivery methods. The menu is large, with a great deal of variety, and a great selection of pre-rolls for those looking to grab something for a night out. Considering the quality, reputation, consistency and the fact that Have a Heart is a growing chain, it's clear these guys are serious about their cannabis and in it for the long run. Highly recommended.

Oz is a great Cannabis shop for those living in or visiting Seattle. Unlike many shops, apart from some paraphernalia on display, they do not line the walls with products as many shops do. They adorn their walls with clipboards, one for every strain they sell. These clip boards show the name and details of each strain, grouped by type (Sativa, Indica, High CBD, etc.), and even are marked if they have run out of that particular strain to make things easy. While it was not busy the times I went in, if it were this would be a great way to peruse the menu without having to shove your way past anyone, giving customers an easy way to peruse what is available and get an idea of what they would like to buy. The product quality was excellent for the couple of strains I purchased, and the selection was one of the largest in the area. Conveniently located on Stone Way, about a 5 minute walk from the Fremont Troll, this is definitely one of the best shops to choose from that will provide ample selection of high quality product, and a friendly and attentive staff to guide your way to the best flower for you.

Hashtag was the first recreational cannabis store I experienced after returning to the mainland from Hawaii. I was delighted to learn that recreational cannabis had become legal during my time away, and I could buy cannabis at one of many friendly local shops anytime I wanted. I have since been back to Hashtag several times and have had excellent experiences. The staff was knowledgeable, took their time to address my questions, made me feel welcomed and their full attention was one me during our interactions. The bud tenders knew their product and offered recommendations that proved to be very accurate and, for the most part, a good fit for what I was looking for at the time. I was particularly satisfied with their Blue Dream and White Fire strains. A great shop, conveniently located a few blocks from the center of Fremont, with a great selection of products and friendly who will help you hone in on the appropriate strains for each customer.

Durban Poison is one of the most potent and immediately enjoyable Sativa strains I've ever smoked. It really packs a punch and provides a high that is intense, energizing and relaxing all at once. It has a great flavor, both earthy and piney, and will provide hours of intense effects to enhance any activities you find yourself performing. While Durban is on par with other strong Sativa strains, especially when they are grown for maximum potency, my experience with Durban seemed more intense than most other medicines I've smoked. While regular smokers probably won't have any trouble functioning whensmoking this strain, I would say it definitely lends itself to more solitary pursuits, like creative projects, listening to music, hiking, etc. The high comes on fast and intense and, while it is energizing to a point, definitely has a sedating effect as well, partially due to the intensity of the high. This is another strain that is good for just lounging, going on inner journeys, or watching a mind-warping science fiction movie. All around, a great medicine, strong and powerful. Perhaps not all DP strains are this intense, Terra Canna Farms offers top shelf product with a focus on maximizing THC levels.

Blue Dream is definitely one of the better Sativa Hybrids available, and it is easy to find just about anywhere cannabis is sold. It is a very popular strain due to the consistently elevating and uplifting qualities it offers. High quality strains will have heavy trichome saturation that is obvious even to the casual observer, and the pleasant blueberry scent/flavor add another level of bliss to this already excellent strain. This is one of my favorite strains for daytime use, lending itself well to many activities, providing ample energy for creative projects, outings, or simply lying in the sun. While it provides a good deal of physical relaxation and pain relief, the most noticeable effects are on the mood and the energizing/activating qualities it elicits. I spent several weeks smoking Blue Dream almost exclusively and it was a fun time where much was accomplished. Despite it being more of an upper, it also seemed to help with sleep because it never kept me up once I was ready for bed. It's good not to smoke it too close to bed, though, as it is more a daytime medicine.

Cinex is one of the most popular strains in the Pacific Northwest for good reason. It is a reliable and consistent strain that provides elevation of mood, it is very energizing, provides a great, clean high, in addition to providing relaxation and pain relief. I find it particularly great for creative tasks, going out on walks, listening to music, dancing and just all around enjoying being functionally high. This is definitely not a sedating strain, allowing one to smoke it at just about anytime of day, unless one is planning to go to sleep soon after. Cinex is great for social settings, as the high is clear enough to support deep conversations, potentially even enhancing one's wordsmithery. There is little of the fog that comes with strong indicas, so you won't feel sluggish waking up the next day. Although there are many wonderful strains to explore, this has become one of my default strains that I know I can rely on to provide the kind of all around, energizing sativa experience I prefer. With a very pungent and pleasing citrus/pine flavor, it smokes clean with a great taste and lasts a good while before gently tapering off as the high recedes. Great for depression, creative pursuits, social gatherings, meditation/yoga, night walks, nature walks, etc. I've had a few different strains of Cinex, and by far the best one I've smoked is from Terra Canna Farms in Oregon. The heavy saturation of trichomes was noticeably more abundant when compared to other mid-grade flowers, and produced a far more intense and satisfying overall experience. So, when shopping for Cinex, look for crazy amounts of crystals to differentiate higher quality from less potent offerings.

My experience with Master Yoda has been very enjoyable. It offers a strong body high with obvious mental components that uplifted my mood and made me feel very peaceful and introspective. This is real "journey" medicine, great for meditating, visualizing, and listening to music, among other chill activities. The indica qualities weren't too pronounced, offering a good mix of sedative and energizing effects, as a great hybrid should, however it did make me sleepy after a few hours and definitely assisted with falling asleep. If done earlier enough in the day this could be a great companion for a nature walk, and if you smoke enough you just might see Yoda himself walking next to you! That being said, this strain isn't exactly a straight sativa, so if you are looking for something that will keep you energized and awake for hours this is more of a tune in and drop out kind of medicine in my experience. It has a great, earthy flavor, and the flower I purchased (Heavenly Buds, 22.2% THC) had an impressive array of trichomes and offered a clean and smooth smoke. The Force is strong with this one.

I am really enjoying the Dutch Hawaiian cannabis strain from Top Shelf in Seattle. It has a deliciously fruity smell that brings an instant sense of peace and joy. Smoking this cannabis strain helps remind you that this is medicine, true flower power. It does have a very uplifting and energetic quality to it. I have been enjoying many activities with greater depth and intensity with the help of this strain. I enjoy dancing, meditating, yoga and singing, making this a medicine that enhances one's experience with very low sedative effects. Still, as you come down it is a nice chill and relaxed come down, appropriate for movies, shows, music, jam sessions, or cuddles. Going out in nature is a great combination with Dutch Hawaiian as well. Definitely a superior strain all around. I would not say it helps much for sleep, I've found it a tad heady, so if you are prone to sleepless nights perhaps a puff of indica or some nice sleepy tea would be good before bed.