High folks! I've been reviewing dispensaries and covering various topics within the Colorado MMJ scene. Check it out and lemme know what you think

The Strain Man

Also, lets share dispensary experiences here in this thread. Here are some of mine that haven't made it to the blog yet:

First the good....

Boulder Alternative Medicine
BoulderMeds.com

Great place! Usually have at least 10 different strains for various budgets. Anywhere from $8 a gram for great tiny mix of nugs from the bottom of bags for rolling, all the way to $17 a gram for some of the best bud CO dispensaries have to offer. These guys are so cool that if you buy a gram or two, they'll actually CUT THE BUDS OFF THE STEMS before weighing so you pay for what you smoke, not what you throw out. I'll keep coming back here.

One Brown Mouse in Nederland
onebrownmouse.com
If you want great indoor, locally-grown high-altitude bud, this is your place. I like the town and the staff who also grow their own for the store and are very knowledgeable. Prices are great, too.. $14 a gram for primos like Sage and Sour Diesel.


The Bad.....

New Options wellness in Boulder
no website

These are the guys that got robbed, and ya feel those vibes in the staff with every heavy breath in the place. Despite their bad luck, honestly, their wares just suck. I opened and inspected every jar (and they had like 20 different strains) and it seems that no one there knows anything about proper drying and curing. Some of the jars smelled of ammonia!!! WTF! Also, many of their strains are mislabeled and not what they claim to be. Also over-priced at $20 a gram for their better selections when there's such better bud not a mile away.


The Ugly...

Pain Management of Colorado in Denver
colorado.medicalmarijuana.net

They'll sign you up for $350 and have a 70 year old doctor from the Dominican Republic who can't speak English that well. A bit shady in both dealings and location. They had 2 strains on hand when I checked it out and one was just crap, the other was an AK-47 which looked decent, but it just wasn't AK-47. They also have some edibles, but they are very weak. These guys are in it for the money and that's easy to see. BEWARE: If you use these guys to set you up, I hear they will make you select them as your primary caregiver, so you'll have to change that ASAP with the state.

Unbelievable photography, man.

I can't wait to sample some of that stuff next time I'm up in Boulder. I'll be checking your site!

You are very right on Pain Mangement,They first opened in Dec.I was one of their first clients,no store ,the owner is Miles Zalkin from Fl. 350.00 was the price did not explain to me or show me that he was going to be my caregiver.sold me a z for 450.. was a ++ but only worth to me 300.or 325.My paper work was returned to me because his ck.was a new counter ck.with no business name.You are right in it FOR THE MONEY !!!!!!.thank god I have a very good caregiver with only a hand full of clients and grows organic.250.00 z.Thanks for your great reviews.most are in it for the money only when they sell gr.for 20.Peace Jazz

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Thanks guys!

Botanic Labs in Longmont has among the best of best meds I've seen. $20 per gram up to 7 grams, but cannot purchase more than 7 grams from Matt, as he likes to spread the wealth among many. Relatively speaking, it'll beat most other grams out there for $20+. Best bag appeal cause he's his own source growing only what he likes to smoke himself; while the rest of us get to bask in his skills. Every jar out of the 12 or so had the best and varied aromas eminating from both local-only and main-stream strains.

He had Maui, AK-47 cherry pheno, Kush, Hong Kong, Boulderberry(from a Boulder blueberry clone), and 5 or 6 others I can't remember now. All was impressive and gave me a glimpse of the kind of quality hiding in the Boulder/Longmont area. This place sets the bar for quality and I can only hope other folks strive to provide meds that good, but for $12 a gram

call first, it's by appointment only, and there's no 'make me a caregiver' crap.

The Strain Man

I just posted something similar...

RE post here

Grateful Meds had a great selection. ---> Sage was perfect, and the peanut butter cup was very strong

Herbal Wellness had great NYCD & CaliMist!! There edibles weren't very strong an cost $10

Mr. Nice Guys had a small selection, mango was their pride n' joy - but very friendly.

My question is... where is the REAL headband, OG kush, & Chemdog? & Where are some serious edibles?

p.s.

GREAT BLOG

Hi there turbonerd

Thanks for posting here bro/sis. I really liked the Sage at Grateful Meds! Same Sage they sometimes have at B.A.M. Very VERY potent with a strange smell... something like a garlic beef stew smell. All in all I really liked it. What did it smell like to you?

The Strain Man

Had a strong pepper smell.

My caregiver is going to have Omaha Willy's, Bluberry X Northern lights, Chocolope, and JAZZ very soon!

that sounds exciting! Been looking for a chocolope for a while

The Strain Man

hey strain man,

diggin' the blog.

you wrote:

"After 8/30/2009, you no longer need to communicate change of caregiver status with the registry, so you're on your own to tell your caregiver yourself. As an added measure, you should fill out a Change of Caregiver form and in the primary caregiver area of the form, write the word 'NONE': Change Caregiver Form

after 8/30/2009, you MUST get it notarized before mailing to the state registry.

But in reality, folks, you don't have anything to worry about in any case because the state registry is no longer keeping track of who is who's patient/caregiver. The burden of proof will be on them to insure you didn't have a caregiver who is also growing out 6 plants for you. It'll be impossible for the DA to go after all but the largest of large gardens, so you and your 6 plants are safe."


can you direct me somewhere i can read more about this? i try to stay hip to the laws and this is one i haven't heard about.

thanks brother.

P

nevermind.....

http://www.cdphe.state.co.us/hs/medi...0200900360.pdf

meh,


it still reads like you have to communicate caregiver change with the registry, just that you now have to have the form notarized.

is there a way that we, as caregivers, can check if we still have caregiver status with a patient or will we be notified when/if they give their status to someone else? if i were to grow for ten, but six dropped me without notice, seems i would be in a bit of a legal pickle.

should i keep photocopies of notarized caregiver change forms that list me as caregiver?

good question. Before 8/30/09 the registry attempted to keep track of caregiver-patient relationships, and they would attempt to send out notices regarding patient changes. That proved impossible, so the registry dropped it. THEY NO LONGER TRACK this info, so it's unclear why we even have to send in a change of caregiver form (notorized or not). Currently the only legal way for a patient to remove you as a caregiver is for said patient to write you a letter, call you on the phone, or verbally tell you in person that they no longer require your caregiver service. If your patients haven't done that, then you can legitamately consider them 'yours' still.

I have never had to purchase from a disp. in Colo. before( im a grower)but I was wondering...If I want to make a purchase do I have to sign them over as MY caregivger???Or how does it work? Thanks for the info! Peace....

Waterdog

Hi waterdog. The quick answer is NO, you do not have to make a dispensary your primary caregiver in 95% of the cases. There are a few dispensaries that require it, but those won't last long.

for more info, this will answer your questions:
The Strain Man: What is a Medical Marijuana Caregiver and Why Should I Care?

there is a new dispensery opening today sept 1st in golden.Does anyone know the address

Had a chance to go to the new Rocky Mountain Organic Medicine in Golden on opening day.Very nice and clean.the owner had about 8-10 strains in very small jars.The buds were a little small.He is not the grower.The sad thing about this new disp.is his prices very high.100.00 for qt.385.00 for a z.Wow what ever happened to caregiver.He also advertised the first 100 people wil get a free bud in a jar.That did not happen.In the last 6 months we are seeing so many new sellers to the seen.Alot of new stores.You will see in the next yr.how many will close if they do not drop their prices.If you are not growing then yes I do know your prices will be more but with small buds and high prices I will and can not afford to shop there. Shop owners some of us really do need our meds daily and only have so much to spend.Peace Jazz

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Wow, with so many dispensaries charging $120+ for 1/4s, I don't see $100 being gouging at all.

Sorry you had a bad experience. Please come back for your sample. I have several that I am sure you will like.

Thanks for stopping by the store.

John
Rocky Mountain Organic Medicine
420 Corporate Circle, I
Golden, CO

top shelf meds, friendly staff, fair prices.

there is a way to do it, and these guys know the deal.

Strain Man,

What kind of photography setup do you use? I really enjoy the images on your blog. Some of that medicine looks like tentacled creatures from outer space.

Also, I went to a dispensary grand opening today here in Durango. It's only the second one in town, but two more are opening this month. This is a boom time for Colorado MMJ.

Keep the good reviews coming!
HP

There are now 5 dispensarys here in grand junction, ill drop a review once I have been 2 all of them.

Ok so in no particular order, natures medicine, also provide massage and various other holistic stuff, but I went here 4 bud. behind a secure door u are the only patient in the room which is nice and intimate, all focus is on u, always, always, hi quality smoke, candy and hash. Kinda pricy, u get wut u pay 4 though. Natures medicine, GREAT peeps here, always @ least 2 or 3 great, great strains and always 3or 4 various other symptom specific meds\hash. Um I 4got the name of the oldest newer 1, down off 24 rd , but was very impressed with tha layout of this 1, 2 or 3 times bigger than any other dispensary intown, pool room, and various other chill spots wit couches and tv, just asking 2 b chilled upon wit a nice vape, wich owner incourages 2 chill, great meds, only thing is kinda outta my way, but good location. Now its god hand or gods gift in clifton, they just had sensible which wuz in my book +++++, anyways 1st timer just the other day, plenty edabiles, I wuz on a budget, so I had 2 pic up some regs\swagg, but asked 2 admire sum of their hi quality and owner wuz nice enough 2 break off a couple budz 4 me and another paitent who wuz also lackin $$$ and pickinup regs as well, VERY nice. Also cheepest glass @ any dispensary I seen yet. Ok last but not least, weeds, plenty good edibles, ummmm, differtnt from other dispensary, but not by anymeans less quality, u can tell still very new, but nice 2 see sum female budtenders for once lol. I can not say nothing but great things about all 5 gj dispensarys, vey profetional, clean, and great quality meds. Ok 1 thing, where all tha REAL, REAL , potent concentrates @, honney oil and crazy ass hash, just 4 growers and disp owners or wut???

Need caregiver in northern Colorado (Greeley) - Thanks...

I think you missed the mark on RMOM Jazz. I've seen about a dozen dispensaries in the last few weeks. For one that's been open for a week, he's not doing too bad.

As to the strains... About ten is what I saw. But more importantly, the ones I looked at (Bubba Kush, Trainwreck , Green Crack) all appeared to have been grown by a grower who knew what they were going. Chrystalization, density & smell (the purple smells great-grape!) were at least above average.

As the the buds... Who cares about the size of the buds? Isn't quality the issue? The Trainwrech had a swift & immediate effect. Nice soaring buzz. The Bubba Kush delivered the classic BK schwack. Heavy & relaxing. Exactly what the doctor ordered.

As the the price... John is right. $100/7g is probably slightly below average right now. Something additional to consider on price... While the illegal 'market' price was based largely on risk that has largely gone away, there is the NEW legal 'market' price that will be made up of things like standard business space lease & operating costs, insurance & legal fees (and some interesting upgrades that you really should ask about). While the 'new market' price shouldn't necessarily reflect the 'old market' price, I wouldn't go holding your breath for any big price shifts in the near future.

By the way... I'm not sure what you're talking about with the jars. I got one. An unexpected surprise!

Nice work John! CYA next week for the Green Crack...