Friendly Staff at Hollywood Organix on Melrose

Hollywood Organix

Last week BudLover set out to find some new cannabis collectives worthy of review and we stumbled upon Hollywood Organix on Melrose.  The collective is right across the street from Dr. Sonia Patel's office, so you can renew your letter and pick up your meds all in one spot.  The Hollywood Organix waiting room was bright and clean.  Then a voice called out from behind a giant reflective wall.  BudLover scanned the wall for an opening and saw a small slot where our letter and ID fit.  It was odd not being able to see the man behind the scenes, so when we were buzzed to the back, our eyes went immediately to the reception desk.  The mystery receptionist greeted us with a smile and then our budtender Jack introduced himself.  The meds were neatly displayed on the counter under a magnifying light and Jack pointed out some of their best strains, as well as the scale designed to look like an iPhone.


BudLover was particularly interested in the Chronic Tonic Lazy Lemonade in the edibles refrigerator.  The bottle was too cute to resist!  Then we fell for the Ganja Glycerine.  Jack told us it goes great in hot tea, so we picked up a bottle of the enhanced concentrate.   (A full review of Ganja Glycerine is in the works.)  Overall, Hollywood Organix is a clean, welcoming collective with knowledgeable and VERY friendly staff.  They had a pretty decent selection of OGs, so BudLover will definitely stop by again when in the neighborhood.  

Chronic Tonic Lazy Lemonade

Hollywood Organix
4901 Melrose Ave. at Serrano Ave.
Los Angeles, CA 90004
p. 323.466.6636
Hours: 10am-12am Daily
Parking: Lot in the back

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The Review: Lamb's Bread

Strain: Lamb's Bread

Subspecies: Sativa

Experience: This yummy Lamb's Bread looks as good as it hits.  There are orange crystals covering the entire bud.  The dense bud was easy to break up, so BudLover loaded the bong and fired away.  This strain was a real heavy hitter and gave an instant high.  The powerful medicated feeling was quick to leave, unfortunately, and BudLover had to go back for a few more bong rips within the hour.  Can't complain about smoking more of this lovely strain, though!

Aroma: Cheesy, funky smell (likened to vomit, but in the best way possible!)

Flavor: Tastes like a grilled artichoke

Purchased: 2.23.10 at China Inn in Venice, CA

Price:  $20/gram

Rating: ***

China Inn

812 Lincoln Blvd. 

Venice, CA 90291

310.883.3924

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Classic Cannabis Strains at China Inn

(China Inn is located on the corner of Lincoln Blvd. & Indiana Ave. in Venice Beach) 

While driving today on Lincoln Blvd., BudLover noticed a little green cross stuck to what looked like a Chinese restaurant.  BudLover was, of course, intrigued and decided to check it out.  Things seemed shady upon closer inspection. The facade was old and worn, the windows blacked out.  We rang the bell and waited for about 30 - 45 seconds, becoming more intimidated as time passed.  Just as we turned to leave, the door opened.  We were blinded by a clean white interior and a friendly man welcoming us into the China Inn Holistic Cannabis Collective.   Read more after the JUMP

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The Review: Super OG

Strain: Super OG

Subspecies: Indica

Experience: Tried this Super OG as my first bong rip of the day and was very satisfied.  Two pulls on the bong and I was feeling very medicated.    The buds snapped easily off the stem - not too dry and not too moist.  I always appreciate a good OG and this one lives up to its name.  Plus, the sugary crystal coating is beautiful!

Aroma: Super OG has that signature OG fragrance...hard to describe but very recognizable.  Maybe a bit like new tires. 
Flavor: Tastes a bit like the smell - new tires!  My mouth was really watering after a few bong rips. 
Purchased: 2.13.10 at New Age Wellness Group in La Jolla, CA
Price:  $55 1/8th
Rating: ****

New Age Wellness Center  
343 4th ave, Suite 204 (next to Dick's Last Resort)
San Diego, CA 92101
p. 619.487.0433

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The Review: Romulan

 

Strain: Romulan

Subspecies: Sativa

Experience: First, I tried the Romulan using a Vapor Brothers hands-free vaporizer.  It tasted very spicy and peppery and tickled my nose.  The high was pretty mellow, so I decided to give Romulan another try the next day in my bong.  It took a few rips to feel medicated and again the high was mellow and mostly made my head feel heavy.  I think I will keep an eye out for another batch of Romulan, so I can give this popular strain another try.

Aroma:  After using the grinder, Romulan had a distinct spicy, nutmeg smell.
Flavor: Spicy and peppery. 
Purchased:  The Farmacy Venice in Venice, CA.
Price:  $25/$65 (No ounce price available)
Rating: *

The Farmacy
1509 Abbot Kinney Blvd. @ Palms
Venice, CA 90291
p. 310.392.3890

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Thank God(dess) for O.G. Sour Diesel

When BudLover came down with a nasty case of food poisoning due to a funky soy milk latte, she asked her good friend B (the canna-sseur) for a strain recommendation to relieve her nausea, vomiting, and bodyaches. B suggested the O.G. Sour Diesel that BudLover picked up at New Age Wellness Group in San Diego this weekend, "Indicas are great for soothing body aches and nausea", said B.  

The OG Sour Diesel did not disappoint. This fresh, tasty nugget smells great when ground. I medicated with a glass bong (one ice cube in the chamber, always) and began feeling relaxed and relieved within a matter of minutes. After about an hour and a half, I was able to eat and drink water without feeling nauseous or becoming ill. I'm thankful that I had this strain handy to help me thru my sickness. 

Strain: OG Sour Diesel

Subspecies: Indica dominant hybrid

Experience: Classic Indica - heavy limbs, sleepy eyes, and major relaxation.

Aroma: Familiar sour diesel smell, with a hint of pine and coffee. 

Flavor: Thick, sort of sour, and semi-smooth. 

Purchased: 2.13.10 at New Age Wellness Group in La Jolla, CA

Price:  $55 1/8th

Rating: ***

New Age Wellness Group
343 4th ave, Suite 204 (next to Dick's Last Resort)
San Diego, CA 92101
p. 619.487.0433


Budlover Tip - New Age Wellness Group offers a Free Joint with any purchase on Fridays .

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BudLover's Weekend Get-Away: San Diego

For Valentine's Day, BudLover and the Beast headed south to gorgeous San Diego, California. Over the weekend, BudLover had the pleasure of visiting multiple medical marijuana dispensaries in some of the nicest areas of town. We are pleased to share our experiences with you.

New Age Wellness Group - San Diego

We toured the trendy "Gas Lamp District" near downtown San Diego, where we stopped into a number of different collectives. BudLover was a bit disappointed with most of what she saw, until she entered the New Age Wellness Group, conveniently located above an art gallery near the area's best shopping and hotels. New Age is located on the second floor of a professional building, between J and K streets. The selection of flowers, edibles, and concentrates at New Age blows all of their competition (that we've seen) out of the water. Prices are great, too! We're looking forward to bringing you a full review of New Age Wellness Group in a future post.

Horizon Collective - La Jolla

(Horizon Collective is located in the rear of a building with a giant "Remax" sign on the front.)

On Sunday afternoon, BudLover enjoyed a beautiful brunch at The Crab Catcher in La Jolla before touring some of the area's collectives. Our first stop was Horizon Collective on upscale Prospect Ave. Horizon delighted BudLover with a fabulous selection of flowers, concentrates, edibles and topical balms. Prices were a bit on the high side, but this is par for the course considering Horizon's exellent product offerings. Horizon's Bud-Bar boasts what is probably the most gorgeous view in California.

More San Diego area Medical Marijuana collectives after THE JUMP.

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The Review: 5x Peppermint Patty

 

Edible: The Venice Cookie Co. 5x Peppermint Patty
Flavor: The bright green insides of this peppermint patty had me worried it would taste too much like cannabis.  Luckily, the mint flavor was strong and I hardly noticed the cannabis.  Plus, the chocolate was thick and crunchy giving a nice contrast to the soft interior. 
Experience: I ate half of the peppermint patty and started feeling it a little more than an hour later.  It was really mellow and not at all tiring.  Next time I will eat the whole patty.  Overall, this was a great Valentine's Day chocolate treat.  It was pretty big if you need to eat the whole thing, but it was delicious!  Check out the dolphins Bud Lover saw today.

5x Peppermint Patty and Dolphins

Purchased: 2.12.10 from The Farmacy Venice in Venice, CA
Price: $15
Rating: ***

The Farmacy

1509 Abbot Kinney Blvd. @ Palms

Venice, CA 90291

p. 310.392.3890

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The Review: Strawberry Cough

Nothing puts a smile on Budlover's face more than the delicious odor of fresh bud on a beautiful afternoon. For that reason, I could not resist snatching up this golfball sized nugget of delicious Strawberry Cough at 99 High Art Collective today. I rarely pass by the 99 without stopping in, if only to gaze at the psychedelic artwork adorning its walls. I was not in the market for cannabis today, but the dank smell of fresh nuggets was particularly strong. I thought it might be a good idea to...ahem..."take a look around". I'm on official BudLover business, so it is research. After a quick check in, I passed through the purple organza curtains into a cloud of moist, delicious, almost-floral, cannabis smell. My attention was immediately directed toward an open jar of very fresh, yet-to-be-labeled buds. Hello, Strawberry Cough.  Continue Reading after THE JUMP

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The Review: Not So Virgin Olive Oil

(Please note - this is not a full bottle! Budlover was super excited to make 

her enhanced Bruschetta and forgot to snap a photo beforehand. )

Edible: The Venice Cookie Company's Not So Virgin Olive Oil
Flavor:  When it comes to the flavor of enhanced cannabis food, I promise to never give it a thumbs up if it only tastes good within the realm of cannabis edibles.  All the food that I eat should taste good regardless if it is laced with cannabis or not.  Not So Virgin Olive Oil definitely meets my standard and I will happily give it two thumbs for flavor.  The raw, nutty flavor of extra virgin olive oil seems to pair perfectly with the earthy cannabis taste.  For quite some time, I was accustomed to choking down sub-par pot brownies, and I never got to appreciate how delicious cannabis might taste when paired with the right ingredients.  This olive oil makes an excellent dip for bread served on its own, but with so many possibilities, why eat it just like that?  More on experience & where to purchase after THE JUMP

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The Review: Tangerine Kush

Strain: Tangerine Kush
Subspecies: Indica
Experience: If you thought there was a typo in the price, catch your breath, because this kush really does cost $90 an eighth.  Once I got over the high price point, I sat down to appreciate how lovely this strain is.  The buds are tight and spotted with dark green leaves and have a thick, white sugary coating.   And, tangerine kush didn't disappoint.  All of my senses were satisfied.  The bud tasted as wonderful as it smelled and I felt medicated immediately.
Aroma: But, it is the smell, not the appearance that sets this strain above the rest.  The tangerine fragrance smells like a fresh cut, pine Christmas tree.  Visions of tangerine filled stockings and a twinkling Christmas tree fill my mind as I begin to grind the dense little nugget.
Flavor: Using a grinder is key to unlocking all the potential flavor and fragrance in tangerine kush.  I packed my little bong and used bee line to ensure the flavor of butane didn't overtake the cannabis.  The strong taste of citrus and pine had staying power and I was still enjoying the flavor long after I finished smoking.
Purchased: 2.5.10 at The Farmacy Venice in Venice, CA.
Price: $35/ $90 (No ounce price available)
Rating: *****

The Farmacy

1509 Abbot Kinney Blvd. @ Palms

Venice, CA 90291

p. 310.392.3890

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The Review: Fire Diesel

Strain: Fire Diesel
Subspecies: Sativa Dominant Hybrid
Experience: Smoking this out of the bong instantly made my jaw tighten and my mouth water.  I needed a few hits, but ten minutes later, I was feeling relaxed.  This one's a creeper!
Aroma: Signature sour diesel smell.  Yummy!
Flavor: A little harsh on my throat, but my mouth was watering, literally, before the smoke even hit my lips. 
Purchased: 2.8.10 from Venice Collective in Los Angeles, CA.
Price: 15/45/90/180/350
Rating: **

Venice Collective

12581 Venice Blvd. @ Wasatch

#201

Los Angeles, CA 90066

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Dispensary Review - Better Alternative Treatment Center in WeHo

Today, Budlover breached the 405 and spent an afternoon in West Hollywood for meetings and a variety of other tasks. During a lull towards the end of the day, she stopped into the Better Alternative Treatment Center on Melrose Avenue. BATC is housed above a Subway on the second floor of a strip-mall on Melrose near Martel, within a block radius of at least 10 other collectives. 
Having resided in the City of Angels for nearly 4 years, Budlover knows that some of the city's better establishments can be found in strip-malls (this especially applies to sushi). Better Alternative Treatment Center did not disappoint. BL originally stopped to use the ATM at 7-11, and then popped upstairs for a little look-see. 
More after THE JUMP

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Ode to Joy - the Hubby Bar Medical Marijuana Edible

Ah, the Hubby Bar - by far my edible of choice. This tasty treat comes in a variety of flavors (Milk Chocolate, Dark Chocolate, White Chocolate, Peanut Butter Chocolate, and several "Crunch" varieties of the aforementioned flavors). Peanut butter is my personal fave.  This wonderful Medical Marijuana chocolate packs a heavy punch.  Each bar is segmented into 6 pieces, and it only takes 1/2 of one peice to get yours truly very, very medicated. Affordably priced at just $10, the Hubby is in my opinion the most wallet friendly cannabis edible I've ever tried. Do the math  - the cost per dose is just above $0.80!
Now on to the best part..... the Hubby Bar experience. Friends, a word of caution - this edible is a major creeper! It kicks in 30 - 45 minutes after ingestion, stays strong and lasts long (4+ hours). I often forget that I've medicated and then find myself very, very stoned. The Hubby Bar contains Hash Oil and I'm not sure if it is an Indica or Sativa dominant medicine, as it's effect is both a cerebral and a body high.
More after THE JUMP

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The Review: Coconut Kush

 

Subspeices: Sativa
Experience: A delightful, energetic, and cerebral high. Perfect for any outdoor activity, I felt that Coconut Kush heightened my senses in just the right way. Birds singing, windchimes in the distance, and the smell of the ocean seemed more apparent than usual. This is not an overpowering, strong high. It is more of a subtle, mood enhancing experience that lasts long and makes everything a bit more enjoyable. 
Aroma:  Earthy and organic with notes of wet earth and freshly cut grass. Not at all skunky.
Flavor: Light and subtle with hints or dark chocolate, toast, vanilla and pepper. 
Purchased: 1.30.2010 at 99 High Art Collective in Venice Beach, CA. 
Price: $22 / $70 / $500

Rating: ***                                                                                                                                                                                                                  

Have you tried Coconut Kush? 

Please share your thoughts in the comments section. 

Want to share your experience with a particular strain or collective - email BudLover and share the following info: 

1. Strain
2. Sativa, Indica or Hybrid? 
3. What collective or dispensary did you go to? (City & State)
4. Aroma, Tasting notes and Rating (1-5 Stars)

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Review - 99 High Art Collective

It seems fitting that the 99 High Art Collective should be my first review, as it was the birthplace of my Medical Marijuana recommendation and the first dispensary I've had the pleasure of patronizing. 99 Collective is located on bohemian Abbot Kinney Blvd. in the heart of Venice Beach. The shop is located towards the western end of AK, near Westminster and across from 3 Square Bakery and Cafe. It is easy to miss - it looks like (and is) an art gallery. Enter through the double doors into a lofty space with beautiful beamed ceilings. The walls are adorned with a variety of paintings, most of them sort-of trippy and using neon colors. A partition separates the gallery space from the patients collective in the back. Check in at the large desk / display area towards the back of the gallery and head through the curtains on your right. 99 stocks a great selection of indicas, sativas, hybrids, edibles, concentrates... you name it! The vibe is mellow, the staff very friendly and able to make recommendations and answer questions. 

Sampling is one of my FAVORITE patient activities, and today I was feeling in the mood to try a new Sativa strain. I love a good cerebral, giggly, sparkly high, so I try to stay away from any heavy indicas that easily leave me with a case of "couch lock". 
More after the JUMP

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