I’ve spent over a decade growing, sampling, and judging cannabis, and let me tell you—your senses are your best friends when it comes to spotting bad bud. While your nose can detect many problems, a complete inspection using sight, smell, and touch will ensure you never waste your time or risk your health on subpar...

I remember the first time someone handed me GMO Cookies at a cannabis cup event. “Try this,” they said with a mischievous grin. One whiff and I was transported to my Italian grandmother’s kitchen—all garlic and earthy funk. That wasn’t what I expected from something with “cookies” in the name! If you’ve encountered this increasingly...

I’ll never forget my first encounter with true Hindu Kush. After years of whatever-my-dealer-had specials, I found myself in a Denver dispensary holding a sticky nugget that smelled like nothing I’d experienced before. That first inhale delivered a punch of earthy pine that lingered on my palate like a fine whiskey. It was a revelation...

When someone lights up cannabis nearby, there’s no mistaking that distinctive aroma. I’ve spent over a decade studying plant chemistry, and I’m still fascinated by how quickly most people can identify cannabis smoke—even those who’ve never consumed it themselves. But what exactly creates that smell? And why does it vary so much from one experience...

I’ll never forget the first time I watched a friend struggle to roll a joint. Papers everywhere, weed spilling onto the coffee table, and that look of pure frustration. After five minutes of fumbling, they looked up and sighed, “There’s gotta be an easier way.” That’s when I introduced them to pre-rolls – and watched...

I’ll never forget my first infused joint experience. After years of budtending, I thought I’d seen it all—until a regular customer challenged me to try a kief-coated pre-roll that had just hit our shelves. “Trust me,” he winked, “this isn’t your average joint.” Two puffs in, I realized he wasn’t kidding. The intensity and flavor...

After a decade of studying cannabis and its effects, I’ve heard this question countless times: “What’s the safest way to smoke weed?” I need to be straight with you from the start—there is no completely safe way to smoke cannabis. Even the purest, organically-grown flower produces harmful compounds when burned. That said, not all consumption...

I still remember the first time I discovered kief at the bottom of my grinder. That dusty, golden powder looked magical—and once I learned what to do with it, it absolutely was. After eight years of working with cannabis and teaching others about its wonders, I’ve come to appreciate kief as one of the most...

I remember the first time I walked into a dispensary and heard someone confidently declare, “I only smoke sativas because they’re stronger.” I nodded along, pretending I knew exactly what they meant. Truth is, I had no clue. After five years of doing cannabis research and trying countless strains, I’ve learned that the “which is...