What are your must-have items before a sesh? Good Grades and Leafly asked your favorite smokers what they need before sparking up.
Every week, Leafly and Good Grades Dispensary in Queens, New York ask a cannabis lover to name the three essential items that they can’t smoke without. Check back each week to see how our favorite New York stoners do their thing.
Good Grades (Delivery Available)
162-03 Jamaica Ave, Queens, NY — recreational
Good Grades dispensary is Queens, New York’s first woman-owned dispensary. Follow Good Grades on Leafly for more products and reviews.
Emily the Fairy: 3 things I can’t smoke without [February 13, 2025]
Social media pixie Emily Lee tells us how to level up our smoking game like a baddie.
- “First thing I can’t smoke without is my lip combo. Somebody told me that you should always moisturize before smoking—I do it literally every single time now. I’m a baddie!”
- “Second thing I have are these very cute pink papers, by Zee’s Life. They’re cute, they’re pink, they’re holographic. It’s a statement—I love smoking a pink blunt.
- “Last thing I can’t smoke without is a bev, obviously. I don’t like cotton mouth, and I like to talk. My fave drinks are these aloe vera ones. Peach, strawberry, or the original, and coconut.”
Nino Paid: 3 things I can’t smoke without [January 31, 2025]
Maryland rapper Nino Paid drops by Good Grades to clarify his favorite smoking methods, invented in his native DMV area.
- “First thing I cant smoke without is sheets. Y’all might call them papers. Bambu Classic, the red pack.”
- “Second thing I can’t smoke without is funnel. In y’all city you might call it Grabba [leaf], we call it funnel. In the DMW, if you didn’t know, we started that, sheets and funnel.”
- “Third thing I can’t smoke without is something to drink. I need a soda or a juice—I be parched.”
Jessica Carlane: 3 things I can’t smoke without [January 23, 2025]
Jessica Carlane came from California to support the Rove team in New York, a brand known for their prerolls and vape cartridges.
- “First thing I can’t smoke without is definitely my Rove Ice Pack. They’re triple infused—ice hash, ice rosin, diamonds. These get me where I need to go every time.”
- “Second thing I can’t smoke without, when I’m looking for an extra punch, are my White Owl [tobacco wraps]. Blueberry and White Peach are my favorite.”
- “Third thing I can’t smoke without is the bath. I absolutely love being in water, especially after a long day at work.”
Ari Serrano: 3 things I can’t smoke without [January 10, 2025]
Ari Serrano makes some of New York City’s zaniest designer clothes, be it a durag with devil horns or a coat made entirely of Backwoods wrappers.
- “The first thing I can’t smoke without is Grabba, or Backwoods, or some type of tobacco product.”
- “Second thing is some sort of creation or artwork I’m working on. I can’t just sit down and be lazy. When I’m smoking…I’m designing, putting stuff on my sewing machine table, looking at things. Ut just amplifies my thoughts and helos me create a luttle better.
- “The last thing I can’t smoke without is my To The Moon eighthy, man. Look at this can, it’s a spray can! I’m 99% smoking To The Moon—I smoke all of ’em. Every time I pull it out in public, people are like ‘what is that?'”
Chef Nikki Steward: 3 things I can’t smoke without [December 19, 2024]
Chef Nikki Steward works at the intersection of plant and food medicine, where what you eat and smoke bring both pleasure and wellbeing. She’s brought her events around the world, and now to Good Grades in
- “One of the first things I can’t smoke without is setting and creating a vibe. Whether it’s lighting incense, or setting some intention, it allows me to settle into a space of comfort and awareness.”
- “The second thing I cannot smoke without is creative spaces. Putting different things around me that help stimulate my mind, whether it’s a puzzle or a whiteboard. House music is part of that creative space.”
- “The third thing I cannot smoke without is food. Being a chef, I like to create food and make new recipes. My favorite thing to have is broth…whether it’s Japanese or Thai, which is my absolutely favorite food. It is like music to my soul.”
rokkstarnova: 3 things I can’t smoke without [December 12, 2024]
After a hiatus, rokkstarnova returns to the rap game with new music, but the same taste for loud, Cali weed.
- “First thing I can’t smoke without, obviously, you see me with this all the time, is some Red Bull. I always need some Red Bull because I’m always sleepy. I need to catch up!”
- “Second thing I cannot smoke without is some bad b*tches.”
- “Third thing I can’t smoke without, obviously, some gas. If it ain’t purple, I’m not smoking it. My sh*t gotta be Cali.”
Lisha G: 3 things I can’t smoke without [November 29, 2024]
If you want to smoke with rising talent Lisha G, leave your
- “First thing I need is a paper towel, y’all, because I need to wash that leaf off. I’m not smoking that nasty stuff.”
- “The next thing you need when smoking with Lisha G is some Backwoods. I usually smoke Russian Cream.” (And don’t forget to wash them!)
- The last thing you need when smoking with Lisha G is some papers. Today I’m rocking with Vibes; I used to smoke Raws. I put it in the inside of my blunt before I put my weed in. You might wonder why, but you’ll have to smoke it to find out.”
Jae’won: 3 things I can’t smoke without [November 29, 2024]
Rapper Jae’won has learned a lot from his famous father, the hip hop legend Jadakiss, including how to make the
- “First thing I can’t smoke without—I guess this is a pair—is papers and . grinder. I like to really enjoy my weed. I just got a new favorite grinder; it gets the weed to how I need it. Papers gotta be pure hemp, organic hemp by Bob Marley.”
- “I need music. I like to see the sounds and hear colors when I get high, so music is important. It don’t matter what type of music; it could be rap, R&B, crossover.”
- “A third thing I can’t smoke without is a beverage, preferably alkaline water. I need a some sort of beverage to quench my thirst. I don’t like having a dry mouth.”
Dasheeda Dawson: 3 things I can’t smoke without [November 21, 2024]
Dasheeda Dawson has been a cannabis advocate for years, culminating in her 2022 appointment as New York City’s cannabis czar—aka the founding director of Cannabis NYC. She knows her stuff, including how important good terpenes and good company are to a joyful experience.
- “The first thing I cant smoke without, and everybody knows this, are my pipes. I don’t roll up anything—I especially love a bubbler. At the end of the day, I’m gonna get the cleanest smoke and I want to get right to the flower.”
- “The second thing I cant smoke without are my terpenes! I have my favorites—limonene is my favorite. If the strain has limonene in it, it’s gonna hit with me every time. My favorite is Super Lemon Haze. Without the terps, I don’t care how much THC it has in it.”
- “The third thing I definitely can’t smoke without are women; whether it’s Buy Weed from Women or I’m smoking on the best hash from my canna-bestie, the Dank Duchess, or, of course, picking up my flower from Good Grades, the first women-owned dispensary in New York City. I’m not smoking without women.”
Dennis McDonald: 3 things I can’t smoke without [November 7, 2024]
Reggie, the well-meaning boy-turned-man from the Bad Boys series shares his tried-and-true smoking essentials.
- “My crusher. I call him Mr Suit and Tie. He makes sure I crush all, everything nice.”
- “The second thing I can’t smoke without—it’s actually three things, but it’s the second thing—is the graba [leaf], the tips, and Black Raw papers.”
- “I can’t smoke without my Quiet Riot book bag. I put all this in here, and we get to traveling.”
P from Good Grades: 3 things I can’t smoke without [November 7, 2024]
- “The first thing I cannot smoke without is my vapes. I need a little something, something while I’m rolling. This is the Airo, 10/10.”
- “The next item is—and y’all need to pay close attention—a little perfume. You will always smell me before you see me. That way you’re not going around people smelling like weed.”
- Last but not least, a little lighter leash. Clip it on to your clothes, your pants, you can’t lose it. If you’re like me you, will lose it when it’s not clipped on to your clothes!”
Tina Turtle: 3 things I can’t smoke without [October 31, 2024]
Fashion influencer Tina Turtle admits she can’t roll, but that doesn’t mean she’s not invited to the sesh. “Lowkey, I bring nothing to the table when it comes to smoking. And I’m so sorry.”
- “The fist thing is water. I get real bad cotton mouth… If I don’t have water, I’m gonna be out of my mind. I’m gonna feel dry everywhere. I just feel so ashy, inside and out. And I don’t like that feeling. So water is a must.”
- “The second thing is a little controversial; It’s actually lip gloss. Who got lip gloss on the blunt? Me! The only bad b**** here. My lips get really dry, especially in the winter.”
- “The third thing is I need a little snacky-snack. I can’t do a home-cooked meal. I will go in the deli and get a bag of chips. And I aim for the salt and vinegar Lays chips, or I’ll do something sweet like Skittles or Starburst. Something sweet after you’re smoking, it just eases everything up. I can’t explain it.”
Famouss Richard: 3 things I can’t smoke without [October 24, 2024]
Chicago musician Famouss Richard shared his three essential sesh items. Can you relate to his list?
- “On King David, I need grabba. Busshead is the best grabba in New York.”
- “I gotta have a BIC (lighter)! I’m not using no [cheap] lighters. Stop trying to give me those. This is a different type of flame.”
- “I can’t really smoke without a crowd. I like smoking with a lot of people because it’s way more fun. You know when you’re with your friends, it’s a vibe.”
Luc Carlin (LMC): 3 things I can’t smoke without [October 8, 2024]
- “First thing I can’t smoke without is Space Weed. This weed has been dried a really, really unique and different way (flash-frozen cured). You don’t need a grinder; its terpenes are preserved, and it’s the smoothest smoke you’ve had.”
- “Second thing I can’t smoke without is Flintt’s Mints. I get really bad dry mouth, and these specifically are created to combat dry mouth.”
- “Now, the third thing I can’t smoke without is Soul rolling papers. Shoutout to my homies over at Soul. Great rolling papers. Absolutely high quality—up there with the best of them.”
Dave East: 3 things I can’t smoke without [September 25, 2024]
Harlem hitmaker Dave East joined Good Grades and Leafly this week to share his smoking essentials:
- “The number one thing I can’t smoke without is my Fronto leaf.”
- “The second thing, is my Bob Marley papers. The best papers in the game to me.”
- The third thing, is music. Even if I’m not in the studio. I don’t care if I’m in my car, in my crib. I gotta have music playing.”
Related articles
Chris Alexander, founding executive director of the OCM: 3 things I can’t smoke without [September 20, 2024]
The former Office of Cannabis Management Executive Director Chris Alexander, the “architect of this whole thing,” shares how he prepares for a sesh:
- “The first thing for me is, obviously, my New York flower. If you know me, you know I’m a stan for New York’s products and what we’ve been able to cultivate…No bodega weed!”
- “My second thing has got to be my papers. I’m a big fan of minis; I love to smoke a small joint as I’m walking home from work. I think it just makes it super convenient.”
- “Number three has got to be my people. Cannabis is communal. It’s about sharing—that’s how we have the best moments.”
Queennee, House of Queenee: 3 things I can’t dab without [September 12, 2024]
Dab mother Queenee from House of Queenee told Good Grades the 3 things she needs before dabbing up:
- “The first thing I can’t dab without is high quality terps. Keep it at the right temperature, and make sure there’s a great terp in their for my pain management.”
- “The second thing I can’t dab without is good glass, or my PuffCo. And I’m gonna add the hot knife, because who wants to lose their terps to a metal dab tool. Having good quality glass ensures that your sesh is gonna go off without a hitch.”
- “And the third thing that I cannot dab without is iso and q-tips. Always make sure you clean the mouthpiece of your glass before you use it or share. Always make sure you have q-tips to take take off your residual dab, and always make sure you have something to monitor the temperature of your dabs before you take it.”
Cora, NOWAVE: 3 things I can’t smoke without [September 5, 2024]
Cora from NOWAVE Extracts told Good Grades the 3 things she needs before lighting up:
- The first thing I can’t smoke without is gonna be my PuffCo. I’m definitely a concentrate girl, I love my hashes. Live rosin, live resin, I love it all. The water also adds another level of smoothness. And as everybody knows, concentrates are gonna be the cleanest way to consume.
- The second thing I can’t smoke without is gonna be my cannagar for sure. If you know me, I like to smoke the best flower in the room at all times. These are custom, hand-rolled. This is from my boy Bad Services. He can even put your name in the spliff. It’s super dope, and I love a creative smoke.
- “Last but not least, I’m gonna need my kief at all times. I don’t use any grabba or anything with my spliffs, so this is a great way to add some extra trichomes and terpenes to the great flower that you’re already smoking. I usually grab this in the zip (ounce), and I’ll dose it out in little gram jars to make it easier to travel around with.
Watch Cora’s full video on the Good Grades Instagram page.
Baby Osama: 3 things I can’t smoke without [August 26, 2024]
New York musician Baby Osama told Good Grades the 3 things she needs before lighting up:
- “The first thing I cannot smoke without is grabba. It’s gotta be the hot grabba, too. I don’t even care if it’s fake or real. It’s just gotta be grabba. I cannot smoke without this.”
- “Second thing is my papers, bro. I need my Bob Marley’s bro.”
- “Third thing is my Za, bro. This is Third Eye Organics. Straight pain, I need that.”
Shiest Bubz: 3 things I can’t smoke without [August 2, 2024]
New York cannabis pioneer Shiest Bubz (founder of Legacy Adventures) told Good Grades the 3 things he needs before lighting up:
- “First, I need that good ole pack. I need it to be in a glass jar. No mylar. And I need my buds looking like that (points to Venom Runtz by Doobie Labs).”
- “Second thing I’m going to need is some unflavored tobacco wraps.”
- “A lighter’s a given, so the third thing I’m going to need is water. Gotta stay hyrdrated. And not only that, but no plastic, only glass.”
