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member since 2015

Recent Reviews11 total

Rogue Valley Remedies

2/23/2016
Compared with other shops in the valley, this is a small no frills, just the essentials kind of shop. It's white inside, without any bold colored artwork or hazy music. It's everything you need, and nothing you don't. And thank god for that! Too many shops play into the typical stoner culture and fail to realize they may be scaring off newcomers to the scene. Theirs is a scene rather unique in the valley. Most shops sell products obtained from a variety of growers, and as such there are frequently gaps between the store's knowledge of their product, and the growers. RVR is run by people who sell only what they have grown creating a true farm to table experience. This benefits consumers in a few ways. Shops don't need to take the grower's word on what strain they are receiving. Furthermore, the people behind the counter know in detail what each strain has gone through. This is wholly unique in the Rogue Valley and represents what I hope will become a new standard in the business. I've never been to a shop yet where the staff could quote to me, off the top of their head, the specific techniques used in each strain's grow: early vs. late harvest, second cut, etc. This shop especially excels, so I'm told, with sun grown products, so if you care about your product being grown naturally, and sustainably without taxing the electrical grid, this is definitely a good shop to check out. Added to this they have a microscope behind the counter which connects to their lovely flat screen so you can take an in depth look at their product. This is the other big detail that sets them apart. I've seen some shops that are content to play slide shows of high res macros of their best, but these are really just arranged glamour shots. Here you can take an in depth look yourself to assess the products safety and quality. They have an assortment of other random little things for sale. Soaps, socks, body butters, and even a frisbee with a pipe in it, in addition to all of the regular edibles and other medical products. Also of note is their handout on the various terpenes in these plants which can alter their medicinal and psychotropic effects. Theirs is a free simple paper hand out. This however comes free and in an easily digestible format. The parking lot is a decently sized smaller lot covered in gravel with no lines, s it might get tricky on busier days. That and its placement by the road leave little discretion if that is important for you. The selection isn't as broad as some other shops, but here the trade off in quantity comes with some very unique quality benefits to the retail experience. Still, they have their $5 gram each day which is a program they implement to keep prices affordable for people of all income levels, and to make it easy for consumers to sample their selection and find a good fit. Overall I would give them an A. The space is simple, and small, but this isn't aiming to be the Wal Mart of weed, just a good quality shop with people that really know their stuff.

Rogue River Herbal Pain Management Center

10/13/2015
The parking here is decent, located in a small collection of strip malls etc. It's easy to find a place for your car that isn't necessarily right in front of the store if discretion is important to you. Once inside there is a fairly brisk check in procedure before you are led back to a small pair of glass shelves with various products on display. There is one for edibles, and one for flowers, but they also have a small refrigerator for medicated sodas which was unique. The flower selection was decent, but the prices were a bit above average. The problem here is that nothing else but the prices was above average. The staff on hand knew the bare minimum about the product, and was not able to provide good recommendations, or even speak to the chemical specifics of each strain the way others have been able to at literally every other shop between Ashland and Grants Pass. This shop gets the job done but, relative to their competition, their advantages are apparent only through the omission of negative qualities. Nobody is high on the job, the space isn't dirty, and I didn't feel grimy going there. It's a shop like any other shop, but a bit on the low end, especially considering their slightly higher prices. If you live in the area this will do fine as a dispensary, but if they encounter more direct competition, I hope they can innovate and improve their retail experience to improve customer retention.

Antheia

10/13/2015
Nestled in along the scenic Rogue River Highway, Antheia is a wonderful sleeper of a dispensary. The drive to get there, whether coming from the North or the South will remind one of what the rest of the world thinks of when they hear the word "Oregon". The building itself is impressive. There are two imposing stories of bright wood planks treated to look unvarnished and natural which overlook a simple gravel lot which had freshly painted lines. The parking is a little bit cramped, but if it looks cramped outside its probably worse inside, so it sort of gives you a heads up beforehand which is nice. Inside you find a few cushy chairs and a rather large space. It's is decorated similarly to the outside of the building which provides a nice consistent feel. The staff outside are warm and professional. The biggest downside is that in order to keep things manageable they only allow 5 people back in the retail space per employee behind the counter. This had an interesting effect as I was herded into a group. If you are with appropriately social people it has a similar feel to being on a guided our where people engage in idle chatter about nothing much, but with the right group it can certainly be a pleasant experience. Inside we again find more of the wood paneling and a counter of similarly wrought wood with a crust of bark left on to hammer home its natural feel. Sitting atop this slab were two redundant rows of jars displaying a variety of products. What they had was almost entirely consistent with their menu on the leafly app save for one strain, though the girl out front had said she was having some technical difficulties connecting to update their menu, so it's not that bad. Some dispensaries seem to never update their menus. The staff behind the counter was outnumbered one to five and was understandably a little bit preoccupied with managing the retail space. They boast some interesting strains not found in dispensaries further north, and have a beautiful wall of clones which are closely monitored for quality. Overall I would give them a a solid B. If you're in the area this is a wonderful little place to shop, and what's more it's only a few miles up the road from an organic strawberry farm and the Historic Weasku Inn. Great stop for a day tour up the beautiful Rogue River.

Breeze Botanicals - Gold Hill

10/12/2015
I did a tour of every dispensary from Ashland to Gold Hill and Breeze Botanicals is by far the best. The only downside here is the parking. Gold Hill is your archetypal small town, where everyone knows everyone, and if you choose not to park immediately in front of the building (incredibly convenient though it is) you're still right by the main street through town. If discretion isn't super important to you, then it shouldn't matter too much. The store itself is small when you enter and gets smaller once you are let behind the locked door. The waiting area provides a full retail experience with plenty of non psychoactive botanicals to choose from. There is a desk with comfortable chairs to sit at while they take your informaton. Once you are let back behind the locked door you are greeted with a wonderful retail atmosphere. The staff are all very professional and know their product. They have a separate wall for their sun grown varieties, and a glass counter for their indoor strains. The sun grown are kept in large presentation jars that you may open to smell and poke and prod at with the supplied tongs. The one criticism I can offer is that their selection is perhaps a little bit small, and this is more true at the Gold Hill location. Despite that this is a top class consumer experience, and one of the best deals in the Valley.

Rogue Valley Cannabis- Central Point

10/12/2015
I did a tour of every dispensary from Ashland to Gold Hill and this place left me pleasantly surprised. After looking at their selection on the Leafly app and the location, I imagined a small hole in the wall operation with nothing to write home about. This was absolutely wrong. The location isn't my favorite. Any day I have to drive down highway 62 is generally a bad day. They share a small gravel lot with a local taxidermist, and that's probably the worst thing I can say about them. Inside you are greeted with a very comfortable waiting room, like a small luxury hotel, and friendly laid back (but not unprofessional) staff will take your information and guide you back to the sales floor. The selection is kind of small, but its easier to flick past strains on the app than it is to look at them in jars. The staff behind the counter are really kind and know their product line well. I was told staff are given free grams to encourage their knowledge of the product line which I like a lot. On the counter they have a lighted magnifying glass which makes assessing the quality of their product much easier. Everything was clean and well presented. I would call them the "Little Engine That Could" of local dispensaries.

Breeze Botanicals - Ashland

10/12/2015
I did a tour of all the Dispensaries from Ashland to Gold Hill and this is far and above the best around. Much of what I have to say here applies equally to their Gold Hill location as well. To begin with their parking is plentiful and discreet. You're not right in front of the building but off to the side in a nicely paved communal lot, though in Ashland you get used to finding other places to park your car, and those are certainly available too. Unlike other dispensaries that exist only to sell marijuana and things directly related to it or its consumption, Breeze sees marijuana as one among many herbs which can be used for health and recreation. Thus, you do not enter, as with every other dispensary, into a cushioned room waiting to check in, but rather you enter into a full botanical store. There plenty of options for non psychoactive herbal remedies for your ailments. In this respect the store is unique and stimulating. If there is a line you at least have something to look at. Or if you have to wait for crowds to clear there is a browsing experience available. Once inside, if you have the time, staff will give you the general lay of the land. Breeze sells both sun grown and indoor products and keeps the sun grown on a separate wall from the others so you can easily distinguish between the two. What I appreciate most about Breeze is their professionalism which comes through at every level of the customer experience. They have the best knowledge of their products and the subject in general in the Valley. They can talk strains, the particulars of indica vs. sativa, and even sell an educational poster all about terpenes. This is run by straight up science and herbalism nerds, and they want to educate you, so you can make better choices. They provide the most comprehensive chemical breakdown of their products on hand of any place I've visited. What's more they let you actually handle the product. They have jars available so you can look and smell of your own accord, but they even provide tongs so you can poke and prod to test the density etc. As I recall they even have magnifying glasses on hand if you want to get a better look. Everything is tastefully arranged, with their glass jars held atop little busts of madrone wood, and in between every couple of strains you'll find other herbs listed as well treated with the same attention to detail. If I have to say something negative it would be that their selection is above average, but not amazing. You've certainly got a lot of options here, but there is at least one other place with more to offer in that department. Breeze in Ashland does have better selection than Breeze in Gold Hill, better parking, and bigger retail space. Though don't count out Gold Hill if you're in the area, you'll find the same level of professionalism and attention to detail there as well. Overall I feel that Breeze Botanicals in Ashland is the best dispensary in Rogue Valley. A+

Fireside Dispensary

10/12/2015
I went on a tour of every dispensary from Ashland to Gold Hill, and this had an interesting mix of quality. Parking is plentiful and discreet, and they are located across the street from a Jack in the Box which is kind of funny. The space is very large, such that it creates an impression on anyone who enters. There is a long walk from the entrance to the check in desk. Inside the walls are painted dark colors and things are tastefully arranged. It feels like all it needs are some flashing lights and a hot DJ to turn the place into an upscale nightclub where everyone drinks champagne. There are two lines at the check in desk, one for medical, and one for recreational. Both staff are professional and courteous. Their service is thorough, and they are the only dispensary I've found which makes you sign an additional form swearing that if you choose to buy any of their product it is not in order to supply someone underage etc. I was frankly surprised more dispensaries hadn't taken precautions like this. From there you are let through a door into an overabundance of empty space, similarly decorated. They then lead you to another door and here, you are finally granted entry. Things are somewhat darker inside and you walk toward the back to a long glass counter which is separated by a velvet rope dividing medical and recreational customers. The staff seem knowledgeable enough and the selection is OK. They had one strain listed on leafly as Super Lemon Haze, that turned out to be Super Lemon Daze. I don't know what the difference is, but it did seem like kind of a poor oversight. Overall I would give them a low B. I wish they had better selection and a better use for all of their empty space.

Emerald Triangle Dispensary- Talent

10/12/2015
I did a tour of every dispensary in the valley recently, and this was my first stop. The parking lot is large and in back of the building which is a plus for ease and discretion. However it is kind of annoying that you must then walk around to the front of the building by South Pacific Highway, which does take back some of the discretion gained. Inside you find a very comfortable atmosphere to check in. It feels like the office of a luxury plastic surgeon. There are overstuffed chairs and a polite staff member at a nice desk to take your information. Once you are allowed inside the actual dispensary things change though. It feels more like a standard retail environment with glass shelves displaying their product. I came early hoping to beat the crowds but many other people had that idea. We stood in line behind a velvet rope while the staff assisted customers one by one. The great paradox here is that as the quality of the service increases so must the wait time. The wait was annoyingly long, but I was able to overhear the details about certain strains etc. as the staff spoke with their customers so it sated much of my curiosity. However this would not serve someone looking for a quick "in-and-out" experience very well. The staff seemed knowledgeable and experienced in their product which was a plus, though I think one staff was actually high on the job which I did not appreciate. Overall I give them a high C or a low B. The check in room is really nice, I just wish the rest of the place felt that comfortable.

Nectar - Ashland Main

10/12/2015
I did a tour of all the local dispensaries and sadly this one came in last.The parking onsite is horrendous, though they are ADA compliant which is a plus. You're better off parking on the street though or bicycling over instead. You enter a re-appropriated house to someone on a Mac Book at a card table who takes your information and are guided back to a cramped counter with a small selection of jars. They have some canned product as well, but it is difficult for someone to assess this product's quality without opening one. Staff are appropriately knowledgeable about their products specifically, and the subject in general. Everyone was friendly and very forthcoming, and that's been the same at every dispensary I've visited between Ashland and Gold Hill. The walls are largely unadorned except for a few Leafly posters and other promotional material. It reminds me of the old days when I would go over to someone's house, except now I don't have to hang out and watch a movie first, so that's cool. The other major downside is there is a biker who owns some land directly adjacent to the dispensary who I suspect is trying to drive off business and will be very rude to customers. Sadly, his efforts only reinforce what the dispensary's atmosphere and selection are already doing. With so many other dispensaries a few minutes drive from this one, I'm just not sure why I'd ever choose to visit here again.

Talent Health Club

10/12/2015
If nothing else the art is lovely to look at. Thankfully they have a lot more going on than just pretty pictures though. The staff are friendly and appropriately versed in their subject. The selection was good, not great, but what they carried seemed to be quality based on looks and smell. Definitely worth a visit.