A good friend was sharing her positive experiences with transdermal patches, and she whipped out the Mary’s Medicinals transdermal gel pens that she uses to boost the effects of the patches. The lotion-like gel is what gave me my initial first-hand experience with a transdermal CBD application.
Besides the pens, Mary’s Medicinals also makes transdermal patches in several formulas – THC Sativa, THC Indica, CBD, and more. Mary’s makes transdermal gel pens in similar formulas. Each pen dispenses a measured amount of medicated gel, that is similar in consistency to a skin lotion.
I was experiencing severe pain in my left wrist, unable to support any weight with it in several different positions. Traditional pain relievers (advil, aspirin, tylenol) didn’t make much of a dent in the pain. I tried ingesting THC and CBD tinctures which provided some general relief but didn’t target the pain. It had gone on for weeks and I was about to make an appointment with my doctor to see if it was arthritis or something more serious.
My friend suggested I try the transdermal lotion. I rubbed a nickel-sized portion of the CDB lotion on my wrist and within an hour the pain was completely gone. I have had no sign of the pain since then and it has been over 6 months. From that point on, I have been an advocate for transdermal CBD application. Whether as a topical gel or in transdermal patches, it works especially well for pain that is specific to one area.
My pain was likely from inflammation, which CBD can be great at reducing. I have also used the CBD gel rubbed on my temples to reduce headache pain or on the back of my neck at the base of the skull when I feel tension built up there. The great thing about the pen is that it dispenses small portions so it easier to control how much you use.
For general aches and pains, edibles and tinctures are fantastic. For pain in specific areas, transdermal gels and patches provide more targeted relief.
From CheebaChew comes Green Hornet, a line of cannabis infused gummies. It’s great that they have a Sativa specific product, so consumers know what types of effect they are likely to experience. Like most adult-use edibles they come in a package of 10 pieces, each with 10mg of THC.
I found the package very difficult to open, so if you have limited mobility with your hands, arthritis or just a low boiling point, plan to get the scissors out so you can cut this bag open and store the edibles in a child-proof container that is easier to open.
Flavor – Hated It.
The Sativa gummies are Mixed fruit flavor. I am not a fan of the artificial cherry flavor that is prominent. It reminds me of cherry cough drops or that awful tasting cherry flavor some dentists use to clean your teeth. The other fruit flavors are indistinct to me, a mix of generic citrus, possibly some artificial pineapple flavor, it’s hard to tell. The dominant flavor is the cherry, which I find unappealing. It lingers as an artificial aftertaste even when the gummy dissolves. It does cover up most of the cannabis oil flavor, but I would rather taste the oil than the flavors used in this gummy.
Besides artificial flavors, these gummies contain artificial colors, carnuaba wax, and gelatin. They are free from dairy, gluten and fat, but are not all natural or vegan.
Effects
I definitely felt “stoned” with these edibles, so the strength is there. I didn’t experience most of the usual effects I expect with Sativa edibles – uplifted mood, energy and creativity. I just felt high with no impact on mood, no extra energy and without feeling especially “up”.
I found the effects to be more of a Hybrid type effect than a pure Sativa effect. It was a somewhat dreamy, spacey high. Perfect for just hanging out with friends, watching a movie or taking a bath. I was able to relax and space out. I did not have couch lock or become non functional, so it was not a heavy Indica type effect. I would not want to have to concentrate on anything while using these, I found them too spacey for that. They could be good for creative activities where you just let your mind wander. I’m not sure I would want to cook something where I had to follow a recipe as I felt too spacey for that.
I did have heightened senses and strong food cravings, aka the munchies. Food tasted great and was extra enjoyable to eat. These gummies would be great for anyone who is trying to boost their appetite. Beyond that and the stoned feeling, I did not experience much of any other effects even after repeated tests.
Conclusion
There are so many cannabis infused edible gummies on the market that taste better and provide effects I find more desirable, that these won’t make my regular rotation. If you are not put off by an artificial cherry/generic fruit taste and you are looking for a straight up stoned feeling, these gummies may be great for you.
I like the Cheeba Chews brand and like their original product line. I also do like very much that they make these Green Hornet THC gummies with specific Sativa, Indica, Hybrid types. The flavor and the effects are not a good match for me, but if the taste and effects sound good to you, consider giving them a try as they certainly have an impact.
The Natural Cannabis Company has their own brand of THC suckers in a variety of flavors. Each sucker contains 10mg of THC and less than .1mg of CBD. These products are free of all animal products, so they are cruelty free and suitable for vegetarians and vegans. They are dairy-free and gluten-free with each sucker coming in at 35 calories.
I prefer THC edibles that are type specific (Indica, Sativa, Hybrid) or better yet, ones that are made with single strain, like Gorilla Glue 4, Blue Dream, Jack Herer or Grand Daddy Purple. These sucker’s packaging gives no indication of the type or strain. As a consumer, it makes it difficult to know what effects I can expect from this product. Will it give me energy and boost creativity? Will it give me a spacey, dreamy effect? I did ask the budtender about these and I was told that it is a Indica dominant hybrid mix
Flavors & Dosing
These suckers come in a variety of flavors. This review includes both the the sour green apple and watermelon flavors. Each sucker is a 10mg dose and they sell for $5 in 2019.
As soon as you unwrap these suckers, a strong sweet smell rises from the package. The watermelon is especially fragrant. They have that classic “Jolly Rancher” hard candy watermelon flavor, with a little taste of vanilla thrown in. The ingredient list includes no flavor but vanilla, so I’m not sure where the flavor comes from. They don’t even list citric acid or any extract other than vanilla. Maybe they infuse the soybean oil or the corn syrup or the thc with the flavor. There is almost no thc taste, just a hint of it, if anything. The flavoring does a great job of masking any unpleasant taste. These taste very good and lasts a good long time if you don’t crunch it.
As you see from the image, the sucker cracked after being sucked on for a minute or so. Since this is a hard candy, it can be difficult to cut it into pieces or control your dose if you want less than 10mg of THC. The cracks actually helped break it up, as I always only try half of any new edible to judge the effects. Especially with an Indica dominant hybrid, since I am sensitive to the relaxing, stoned and sleepy effects you get from many strains of Indicas. Always start low and go slow with thc edibles.
Effects
These are nicely potent edibles. I found the effects very noticeable but not overwhelming. The experience was one of an Indica – dominant Hybrid effect.
Head effect was definitely a bit cloudy and dreamy. Not stoned or stupid, but not sharp at all. It was not energetic or focused, more like a floaty head. Concentrating was not as easy as letting the mind wander. I would not want to do intricate work requiring focus on these, but something creative and mellow would suit these well.
Body effects were a good relaxed feeling. A tiny bit of sleepiness was there but nothing overpowering. It also would not put up a fight if the urge to zone out on the couch was felt. I didn’t experience any pain relief for muscle aches as I sometimes do if there is CBD present with the THC. I wasn’t expecting any pain relief, but it is sometimes a bonus depending on the cannabis strain(s) used.
Result
This is a very tasty THC sucker with no bad aftertaste. Tastes just like traditional lollipops but with a serious flavor boost. Effects are a mellow, dreamy, relaxed feeling. Great for unwinding at the end of the day, to help combat anxiety or stress, to help with getting to sleep, or just zoning out and decompressing.
Natural Cannabis Company products are only available in California in 2019.
Stiiizy’s line of edibles are cannabis-infused gummies that come in eight different flavor and three effect-type combinations – Sativa, Indica and Hybrid. They are formulated with live resin and are “nano-molecular enhanced” for faster absorption.
Unlike most cannabis edibles that comes in squares of 10mg each, with a package totaling 100mg, each package contains 90mg of THC and the pieces are triangles that you can cut into three pieces to get the usual 10mg dose. The package and the gummies in the Stiiizy line come in a unique triangular shape.
Stiiizy Gummy Triangles
The package is resealable as the gummies are not individually wrapped. It is relatively easy to open, like many of the resealable edibles packages, you have to be deliberate and careful about separating the opening so you don’t destroy the ability for it to close again.
Regrettably, these gummies contain gelatin, so they are not vegan friendly. They contain natural and artificial flavoring ingredients. They are gluten free and dairy free, but they contain coconut, so they are not nut free.
Dosing & Flavor
The smell from the bag is primarily a strong fruit smell. The gummies are thick with a fruit chew appearance and a sugar-covered texture. They are not that easy to bite through or cut as mentioned earlier. They take some time to melt in the mouth in the same way as most gummies.
The gummies need to be cut in thirds for a 10mg dose and you would need to cut one of the 10mg triangles in half for a 5mg dose. They are scored across the gummy triangle so they do give a guide for easily cutting them. They are thick and do need a good knife and some pressure to cut them, so be aware of that if you have limited strength or limited mobility in your hands.
The flavor options for their Indica product line are Blue Raspberry Blast, Sour Strawberry, and Watermelon Wave. Sativa flavors are Caribbean Breeze and Mango Tango. Hybrid product comes in Sour Apple, Pineapple Paradise, and Fruit Punch Splash.
The flavors are somewhat sugar-forward since the outside of the gummies are coated with a sugary substance. They all do have fruit-like flavors but for us they are very artificial in flavor. With so many cannabis edibles using all natural flavors, we prefer those to this artificial candy-type flavor. For the Caribbean Breeze for example, mostly it is a sour citrus and indistinct fruit flavor, something like pineapple combined with lime, but not. Most of the products we tried had a similar indistinct artificial flavor.
While we don’t like the artificial flavors, they do cover up any strong THC flavor. For the Pineapple Paradise, a mild sour note combines with a sweeter pineapple-like candy flavor. The citric acid gives these a suggestion of sourness and the fruit flavors suggest a flavor. Be clear, you wouldn’t think you are biting into a real pineapple or slice of watermelon, they are mostly vague candy-flavors, although they do use some natural flavoring.
As we always recommend with new edibles, try half of your usual dose before trying a full dose as you never know how strong something will effect you. The triangle gummies need to be cut in thirds to give a 10mg dose of THC, then split the smaller triangle again for a 5mg dose. Especially with something that is “nano-molecular enhanced” for faster onset, it’s important to try a partial dose first to see how you react.
Since we are experienced with edibles and our usual dose is 10mg of THC, we began with half of one piece, with 5mg THC. After having only light effects for that trial run, we then moved closer to our usual dose on another day, taking one whole gummy for a total dose of 10mg THC. Once we know how a gummy has effected us by taking it several times, we sometimes use one and a one-eighth pieces for a 12.5mg dose of THC for a stronger effect, or if we have recently eaten or taken CBD, which can tamp down the effects.
Effects
The effects were closely aligned with the effects we’ve enjoyed with similar type-specific gummies. For the hybrids, an elevated and relaxed feeling, while still being alert and energetic. More alertness and energy with the Sativa-dominant strains, and more relaxing and chill impacts from the Indica products. These are not strain specific, so you are not getting the specific effects you might from a single strain. The effect is more of a middle-of-the-road Hybrid, Sativa or Indica effect.
Sativa provides some uplift and energy, Hybrid is an alert yet relaxed effect and Indica is relaxed body-focused impact. The Sativa products can sometimes make us feeling over-hyped and fidgety, so limit your dose of those if you are prone to that over-caffeinated kind of feeling. Similar impacts with the hybrids, a positive effect of an elevated mind along with an Indica kind of body relaxation that isn’t too strong that you just want to only sit down. The Indica produts effects are very relaxing and are definitely an “in-da-couch” type of effect.
Strong effects, nicely potent and fast acting but not our favorite flavors. If you don’t care about natural flavors, then these are a good choice. While we generally love the effects from these, they are not something we would go to regularly because of the flavors. Type specific effects are what we look for when we want to elevate and Stiiizy triangle cannabis edibles do a good job on providing those effects.
Note: Stiiizy Delivery offers cannabis delivery to the greater Los Angeles and Inland Empire area in Southern California only. They offer free delivery for orders over $100.00, with a minimum order of $70.00. You mist register through their website and setup an account to take advantage of that. They do not deliver anywhere other than those specific areas in and around L.A.
Big Pete’s Cannabis-infused mini cookies are billed as “Cookies That Treat You Right”. They come in CBD, Indica and Sativa types. For some reason the Indica comes with ten (10) cookies, each with 10mg of THC and the Sativa comes with six (6) cookies, each with 10mg of THC.
Taste
For this review, I tried the Peanut Butter flavor of the Sativa and the Cinnamon & Sugar flavor of the Indica.
The Peanut Butter smells and tastes like a typical peanut butter cookie – chewy yet dry – that is packed with cannabis. Same goes for the Indica Cinnamon Sugar mini cookie, a great cookie taste with the cannabis butter taste alongside it. While you can get away with eating these cookies without liquid, some coffee, almond milk, or tea to go with them is a welcome addition.
Taking a whiff from the bag smells like someone put peanut butter cookies into a quarter ounce bag of primo weed. Or that you have a piece of cinnamon toast in your stash, so it can both give you and cure your munchies.
You know these are well infused when the cannabis smell is this pronounced. I think they smell great. I found the thc taste from the cannabis butter was pronounced as well. They are not trying to cover up the taste but let it blend with the flavors of the cookies.
I think Big Pete’s achieves a very good balance between the cannabis and the other flavors, as I don’t mind the subtle, slightly grassy taste of cannabis butter.
Ingredients & Packaging
They do contain butter and eggs so they are not vegan and the nuts are an issue for folks with allergies. I like that most of the ingredients are ones that I use in cooking myself, not a lot of extra chemicals or preservatives. Big Pete’s says they use a slow-cook method to make their cannabutter which gives a full spectrum effect.
Packaging is mercifully easy to open, with a tear strip that exposes a two-hand resealable closure similar to many child-safe pouches. There are helpful graphics on the package to help users get the bag open.
Effects
The effects seem to run true to the type, so I couldn’t be happier. Trying a Sativa cookie after breakfast gave me the focus, uplift and energy to run around and get a lot accomplished by noon. This is just what I want and expect from a Sativa cannabis edible. During my errands there may have been an extra stop to buy a few unnecessary but very pretty things, but those happen even when being elevated isn’t involved.
I had some caffeine at lunch and didn’t eat a lot – although I did have the munchies – so the effects continued even after lunch, a total of about 5 hours worth of effects, although they did start to fade after about 4 hours.
With the Indica, I tried them in the evening since I am pretty sensitive to Indica effects . Within an hour I found them nicely relaxing but not to the point of couch-lock. I flirted with groggy but was able to maintain a relaxed alertness. After 2 hours, my eyelids did start to feel heavier. Being active became less and less attractive. I could see taking these on a winter weekend afternoon for binge watching TV curled up on the couch. I eventually headed off to dreamland nicely chilled out.
I think Big Pete’s makes some great cannabis edibles. I appreciate that they are Sativa/Indica type specific. I would love it if they would share which strain or strains they use. This is a very good tasting cannabis mini cookie that provides consistent, predictable results. Definitely worth the calories and a wonderful way to elevate.
The first time I tested Big Pete’s Cannabis Infused Cinnamon and Sugar Mini Cookies, the complete body high was so amazing I didn’t feel like writing any review notes. It was a strong, intense buzz that very few edibles can compete with. I loved it. Happily, I tried these cookies again with the serious intention to write a glowing product review.
Big Pete’s Cinnamon and Sugar Mini Cookies are Indica strain cannabis infused edibles. Each cookie has 10mg of THC. The cookie itself is approximately a 2 inch circle.I took my regular dose of 40mg or four 10mg cookies. But I warn you, these Indica cookies will get you VERY high. So the first time you try Big Pete’s Cinnamon and Sugar Cookies, I encourage you to take a smaller dose than usual. If you are a beginner, be conservative and try half a cookie.
The Cinnamon and Sugar Mini Cookies have the perfect combination of spices. Big Pete’s got the texture right, crunchy in the outside and slightly chewy on the inside. (I hate dry, crumbly cannabis edibles.) There was a faint medicinal taste, but it doesn’t take away from the traditional flavors of the cookies.
After an hour and fifteen minutes, the buzz started ramping up and got very strong. I became very relaxed and settled down to feel the complete body high. I was keening aware of my heartbeat in my ears. At some points, it was difficult to get my eyes to focus. I spent 95% of the time chilling in my chair, just hanging out, which is normal for an Indica edible.The buzz lasted for 2 hours. Then slowly decreased little by little until I became clearheaded and sober.
I highly recommend Big Pete’s Cinnamon and Sugar Mini Cookies. I love their strength. You should buy them right away! These are definitely my favorite THC cookies on the market.
Pioneer Square is the heart of Seattle, and these vegan, gluten free, and kosher edibles live up to their namesake.
Craft Elixirs Pioneer Square Cannabis Infused line of edibles come in ten different flavor and effect combinations. Pineapple Crush, Sour Cherry, Lemon-Mandarin, Pink Lemonade, Watermelon-Kiwi, and the award-winning CBD-THC Black & Blueberry. These are some of the best tasting gummies we’ve tried, with the lemon squares having actual pieces of candied fruit peel in them, a first in our edibles experience.,
Each artisan fruit chew has 10mg of THC per serving, for a total of 100mg THC per package.
The package is a ziplock bag with a child proof zip. Inside are the chews individually wrapped which makes for easy individual transport but adds to the packaging, Not too much pressure needed to open it, which is a blessing for folks with limited hand strength or arthritis.
Dosing & Flavor
The smell from the individually wrapped pieces is a strong real fruit smell. Craft Elixirs edibles are made with real fruit ingredients and natural flavors for authentic, true-to-fruit flavor. With so many gummies having candy-like unnatural or artificial flavors, these are are a nice change to taste like the actual fruit. Of the edibles we’ve tried, this is the closest one has come to tasting like you are biting a piece of actual fruit, especially with the bits of orange rind in the chew.
Unlike the Kiva Camino gummies which are smooth and see-through, these have a more of a fruit chew appearance and a very light sugar-covered texture. They are easy to bite through and melt in the mouth as easily as most gummies. They are chewy for sure but also soft and have a very pleasant mouth feel.
These gummies contain Light Corn Syrup, Sugar, Water, Fruit Pectin, Orange, Baking Soda, Cannabis Extract, Lemon Oil, Canola Oil, Citric Acid, and Agar Agar. Since they don’t contain gelatin, they are vegan friendly which is always a cruelty free plus.
They are gluten free, and dairy free, a square shape that is easy to cut in half for a 5mg dose or in quarters for a 2.5mg dose.
As we always recommend with new edibles, try half of your usual dose before trying a full dose as you never know how strong something will effect you. The gummies are easy to cut or bite in half to give a 5mg dose of THC, then to split again for a 2.5mg dose. As everyone is different, it’s important to try a partial dose first to see how you react to new edibles.
Since I am experienced with edibles and my usual dose is 10mg of THC, I began with half of a half of one piece, with 5mg THC. After having only light effects for that trial run, I then moved closer to my usual dose on another day, taking one whole gummy for a total dose of 10mg THC. I still found the effects on the mild side, so I found that for me a 12.5 mg dose gives me a solid strength effect. I sometimes use one and a one quarter pieces for a 12.5mg dose of THC when I want a stronger effect, or if I have recently eaten or if I’ve taken CBD, which can tamp down the effects.
Effects
The effects were along the lines of what you’d expect from a Sativa strain. Uplifting, energetic, creative and a little bit spacey. The impacts are perfect for being able to function well with a boost of expansion for the head. The effects I experienced were closely aligned with the effects I’ve enjoyed with similar Sativa edibles, with very little body focused effects.
Excellent real-fruit forward flavor profiles and specific effects are what good edibles are meant to provide when we want to elevate. Craft Elixirs cannabis edibles do a great job on both counts and set a high standard when it comes to natural flavors.
They also make potato chips and chocolate syrup, can’t wait to try those!
More Than Buds 