David FutchFollowing months of exhaustive research, L.A. Weekly has distilled a list of the best marijuana strains offered by Los Angeles dispensaries.
Despite the fact that nothing could be more subjective and unscientific than picking the best of the best buds from L.A. growers and collectives, we have persevered. We know there will be naysayers. Judging marijuana is a silly notion. All pot is good, from the shake at the bottom of the baggie to the high-end bud with crystals and pistils galore.
Rankings aside, the truth is that all of these strains are tip-top weeds that work — whether it’s to stunt pain, write a novel or calm down after a day in corporate America. Some put you on a sofa for a Breaking Bad marathon while others promote stress- and pain relief in its many forms. Some make you drift off into … where was I? Oh, yeah. Bottom line: They’re all good.
Drum roll, please.
10. Ace of Spades from California Alternative Caregivers
Carl Clines flies to Amsterdam a couple of times a year to buy seeds for his growers. He hands them over in an unmarked container and tells them to do their best. The most recent grow produced the highest card in the deck, one that will have you laughing through back-to-back South Parks.
Perennial Holistic Wellness Center assistant manager Yuniki Moya; Credit: David Futch
9. Paris OG from Perennial Holistic Wellness Center
“We’ll always have Paris,” Bogey tells Ingrid Bergman. So will you if you go to Perennial, one of the coolest collectives in L.A., complete with 6-foot-tall plants in the grow room. This dispensary is the fanciest in the city, with free valet parking and the best weed containers ever, which are sure to keep your weed fresh.
Venice Beach Care Center; Credit: David Futch
8. Dr. J’s Alpha Omega OG from Venice Beach Care Center
This potent bud comes courtesy of the mysterious grower who gave California — and the world — the original Ocean Grown Kush when he discovered the incredible effects of growing near cool Pacific waters. This would have made the top five except for one important aspect: One-eighth of an ounce is $72. Ouch.
7. Kosher OG by Sticky Medz
An indica-dominant hybrid with fat calyxes, prominent pistils and a nose that’s spot on, Kosher OG starts off feeling cerebral, then settles into the body systematically and relaxes you. It’s $40 for one-eighth ounce. As Medz budtender Jason McDaniel says, “I’ll put it up against any $75 eighth from the beach.” Bam.
Credit: David Futch
6. Green Crack from The Relief Collective
An unfortunate name given to a superior strain. It won’t make you weary, because this is zippy pot that imparts a creative high, stimulating right-brain function and allowing the user to return to that blank page staring back from the computer screen.
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The Higher Path is well named.; Credit: David Futch
5. Gucci from The Higher Path
A good name for one of the most Gucci dispensaries in the San Fernando Valley. There’s a gorgeous skylight in the pharmacy to help you better see the products. Not only does the Gucci strain look marvelous, it contains all three determining factors in this rating game: smell, taste and impact. While you're there, check out The Hunger Games chair in the waiting room and the check-in area with its burled, redwood opening. It’s lavish in a Mother Nature kind of way.
4. VIP Punch from Foothill Wellness Center
This is a strain with a one-two punch. It’ll knock your socks off and knock you off your feet. What makes VIP Punch even more appealing is the reasonable price: At $35 for one-eighth ounce or $15 a gram, it’s the best pot in town for the money. And it’s not just the pot at Foothill Wellness Center that's powerful. Everyone there gets kudos for kindness, from Ash the security guard to manager Tiana to budtenders Jonathan and Chloe. Huzzah.
We have a three-way tie for third.
3. Hammer OG from Valley Herbal Healing Center
They grow it themselves at Valley Herbal, and the quality of the product is evident in the care that these plants receive. It’s called the Hammer because, as longtime budtender Jason put it, “It will knock you out.” Near Burbank Airport, Valley Herbal Healing Center is on the leading edge. They were the first in L.A. to capitalize on an old idea — they have a drive-through window for regular customers on the go.
3. Mega Wellness OG from the W.E.E.D (Wellness Earth Energy Dispensary)
Located on what we affectionately call Bud Row (Ventura Boulevard) because of the large number of dispensaries on the street, the W.E.E.D. is a classy place next to a wine store and a fitness center. Mega Wellness OG is a High Times Cannabis Cup winner, and who are we to argue?
Buds & Roses; Credit: David Futch
3. Veganic L.A. Confidential from Buds & Roses
Another Bud Row dispensary with multiple Cannabis Cup wins, Buds & Roses has been growing this strain for six years. It offers other winning strains, such as Veganic Platinum Cookies and Veganic Strawberry Cough, but L.A. Confidential is a vice everyone should experience.
2. Snow OG from Westside Caregivers
Budtender/comedian Lindsey Jenningz suggested this strain when we visited this tiny hole-in-the-wall. She said it was her favorite, and we can see why. This was a tough decision; Snow OG would be our No. 1 if it weren’t for the pedigree of our No. 1.
CannaSutra; Credit: David Futch
1. CannaSutra OG from CannaSutra
The L.A. Weekly gold medal goes to CannaSutra OG — perhaps the best marijuana since the Colombian Gold days of the 1970s. We never thought we’d smoke pot that good again. Now we have. We tested this strain on Christmas Day, almost two months before High Times awarded CannaSutra OG its first-place award in the L.A. Cannabis Cup. Great minds smoke alike.
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