Ok, going to start with the very positive pro's and make my way to my con's.
Pro's: Some of the absolute best flower I've smoked this year. Picked up the Animal Cookies and Funfetti, and both knocked my socks off. Very nice high, and an even better flavor profile (very terpy). The guy at the door was inviting, though at the sign of new customers at the door, he finished his conversation with me mid-sentence to then welcome and assist the young women who entered the building. The budtender lady whom assisted me was also inviting.
Cons: I wanted to buy some True Blue instead of the Animal Cookies, yet less than 24 hours after re-opening their doors, they were out (major bummer).
As a medical patient, I was very disappointed to see the prices of the flower at Terpene Station. I was told that they only offered flower in pre-packaged increments that weighed no more than 2 grams. That was disappointing, as I am familiar with Washington recreational cannabis, and it had the exact same vibe to it. Then, I was told that no matter the weight you were interested in, the price was the same, and that was at $17 a gram. I didn't pay that much when I was in Texas and paying top dollar for Oregon bud that was transported halfway across the country. The fact that they're charging so much is concerning, but it's sad when you consider they call themselves a medical dispensary. There are no ifs, ands, or buts, about it; this is a recreational shop currently operating under the guise of a medical shop. As a patient, I won't be back -- but if you're a very well-to-do individual who wants to feel a good high (and pay for it), you will likely find something you enjoy.
Very nice experience for my first time. The staff were more than willing to show me their menu items, and focused on their strongest products to help me achieve real relief. Everyone was very easy to talk to and warm, and it was a nice feel in the medicine room.
So far, I've tried the Thin Mint x Hashplant shatter (VERY effective at 85.5% THC), and the pre-rolls. Now, the pre-rolls are inexpensive, no doubt. But when I was talking with the female budtender about the pre-rolls, she said they were made with sugar leaf and small buds, and that they were rolled by her, "so you know they're the best." 😊
Well, one of the two pre-rolls I've smoked was limp, uneven, and needed to be re-rolled. In doing so, I learned they are in fact not made with sugar Lear, but of fan leaf. One of the pre-rolls had multiple fan leaf stems inside it.
That said, the pre-rolls are STUPID CHEAP, and pack a bit of a punch for what they are, and you can't knock on a place that promotes an all-organic menu for the patient. I'll definitely be back so long as their current shatter providers keep delivering like this stuff does.
I'm going to start with the many positives about Buds4U which I experienced, and then give my two cents on how to improve.
First, the reception staff is by far the friendliest I've experienced. I first stopped at the smaller on shop on my way to Florence, and was greeted by a friendly gentleman behind the counter, and an equally friendly patient. He was running things solo, and with a line things took a little while. I would have stayed, though my family was awaiting my return to Florence.
Alas, I stopped by the Florence shop, and was welcomed by a very peppy and friendly woman, who was in the process of assisting two additional patients. Not only was she quick to register patients, she held a very fluid conversation while we waited out turn in the lobby. Once we went to the medicine room, we entered a walkway which was lined with whiteboards indicating the items available, and some pricing. Then, you continue down the hall where the refrigerated items and flower are kept.
First off, I've been a daily smoker for the past 11 years, and I've seen my share of flower. The three strains that intrigued me the most from the board - White Buffalo, Snoop's Dream, and Marley Kush - were some of the most magazine cover-worthy buds I've seen in years. Vibrant hairs and Goliath crystals on each of the three. In the past, when I would ask to see specific strains I was interested in, most dispensaries had at least one sub-par bud I'm disappointed in. Not at Buds4U.
The gentleman budtender was very personable and willing to go into discussion about anything and everything. I was asking questions about their flower's lineage, whether their products were from local growers (they are), and most important to me, how to properly use RSO. I wound up walking away with some of the Bob Markey Kush and White Buffalo flowers, a Sweet Island Skunk PHO cartridge, and a gram of their cheapest RSO.
So far, I've enjoyed a slight cerebral buzz from the PHO cartridge (it fits on any vape pen), some of the smoothest dabs of my life (my first time using RSO), and then I smoked a bowl of the White Buffalo.
Holy s**t.
This 19.9% THC flower is one of the most complex terepine combinations I've ever smoke. You feel it within two hits, and it's almost a spiritual/out of body type of high. I'm saying this as somebody who typically smokes at least an eighth of flower and a gram of BHO a night. It takes a bit to get me "feeling it." This took no time at all.
I decided to take a break and write this review, because I have an odd combination of the relaxing body effects from the White Buffalo, and an intense head clarity from the RSO (67.4% THC, 5.1%CBN). I feel like I have the mental wherewithal to refresh my memory from AP Chemistry and begin conducting cannabis experiments.
Anyway, the service and product are on point. You want "fire," you go here.
That said, there are some areas for improvement. Both the Mapleton and Florence locations had what I would declare as sub-par waiting rooms. Mapleton was poorly lit. So poorly to the tune of me nearly impulse punching another waiting customer when he scared the piss out of me by simply asking me what was in the case I was gazing upon.
Florence doesn't have that almost "musky" feel to it I experienced in Mapleton, but I felt it was rather flat. An adobe colored paint covers the walls which are decorated by a few for-sale shirts. It was more inviting than Mapleton, but it was oddly laid out and the lack of depth in the room was off.
Lastly, the back room has an odd layout. Most dispensaries seem to display their flowers in a manner that catches your eye when you first walk in. At first, I nearly walked by the whiteboard item and pricing lists, and when I arrived in the medicine area, the flower was tucked away on shelves in a closet, and all that sits out is a small jar of a couple of grams of each strain. Granted, these are great to see and get a feel for the bud, but it's nice to see the jars containing the bud you'll take home with you to be more out in the open, perhaps with test results as well.
All said and done, you'll spend more than I have at some other dispensaries In the past, but in return you'll receive some VERY high-quality products.
My patient and I visited Cannabis LLC on their official opening day, after having been awarded a voucher for arriving for their 4/20 opening. When we came back the second time, it was a rather pleasant experience.
The front room is unnecessarily large - and rather empty aside from the large, custom bar - but the female employee who took our information was friendly as we walked in close to closing time. Like most of the dispensary receptionists in the area, she wasn't very talkative, and there was a good five minutes of silence while she entered us into the system.
Once entered, she unlocked the door to the smaller back portion of the shop, where we were greeted by two budtenders, one of whom was helping another patient. Our budtender was extremely friendly, and was quick to share experiences to make us feel welcome and on common ground. He wasn't the most astute budtender, as he told us there were a few strains available that he hadn't heard of before, but was helpful regarding those strains he was familiar with.
My patient picked up an eighth of Silvertip, and has been raving about it ever since. Watching him, I could tell from the first puff, my patient felt the effects. However, we also picked up an eighth of Zonkers that unfortunately, was lackluster for a top-shelf strain. Being a hash plant-bubblegum combination, we had high hopes, as both of these are favorites of my patient. However, despite its beautiful aroma and crystallization, the strain was very mild and required a lot of use to achieve any sort of results; we will not purchase the zonkers again.
The selection was quite complete, though it wasn't the most inviting design amongst the dispensaries in the valley we've visited. The pricing is right - given you select the right meds for your needs and budget - and we liked that they have three different tiers of quality. They also have a nice selection of medibles to choose from, and have more clones than any other location I've come across. They didn't have many concentrates available on Day 1, but I would assume that will change with time.
Overall, this is a great location, and while we only donated for two of the available strains - and both were of their Top Shelf variety - there are plenty of other options for us to come back and try.
I swung by 1st choice yesterday for the first time, and was greeted by friendly staff who helped those getting their medications before scanning me into the system.
As soon as my documentation was verified, I was escorted into the back room and was shown a slightly depleted clone room (only had sour grape clones when I arrived) but everything looked healthy. I was then taken to the medicinal room, where I was nearly overwhelmed at the variety 1st Choice offers.
From flowers to BHO, edibles to caviar, there was a lot to look at and consider for my patient's medical needs. Upon their countertop were small glass jars with each available strain, including their THC and CBD percentages. Their donations are comparable to most other quality dispensaries I've visited, and are only slightly higher than those offering you inferior flowers.
I ended up selecting some GV Goo (24% THC) and a small amount of OG Kush caviar (OG Kush dipped in OG Kush BHO then rolled in OG Kush kief for those who aren't in the know - like myself) for my patient. But with my first time visit, they allowed me to take a small nug from a nice assortment of strains, or select a pre-roll, free of charge. I went with a pre-roll of Maui Bubblegum, and was not disappointed.
The pre-roll provided a nice head buzz without major couch lock, but the Maui Bubblegum is probably a bit more than one would want before working, operating vehicles, or anything that requires legitimate, undivided attention.
The GV Goo was used in a small dosage and was wonderful for relieving arthritic pain, and the small dose did not provide an overwhelming head high. I could see a larger dose being great for MS, chronic muscle and joint pain, or muscle spasms. However, I question how lethargic one might become when using high dosages.
The look of the medicinal area of the shop was a little grungy, dark, and was one of the less medical feeling dispensaries I've been to, but the staff is extremely knowledgable, are more than willing to help you find what might be best for your medical ailments, and were friendly to boot.
If you find yourself in South Salem needing high-quality medication, I'd highly suggest (no pun intended) visiting 1st Choice Cannabis.