The Summer Edit: My Favorite Cannabis Products Right Now

289. The Summer Edit: My Favorite Cannabis Products Right Now

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Welcome to How To Do the Pot, the award-winning podcast, redefining cannabis for women’s lives today. I’m your host, Ellen Scanlan.[00:01:00]

[00:01:03] With Memorial Day weekend, just around the corner and summer coming up, it feels like a good time to talk about something. I am asked about a lot my favorite cannabis products. Whether you’re looking to unwind, lift your mood, or just enjoy a little moment to yourself. This episode is packed with recommendations you’ll wanna try and maybe even pack in your bag for the weekend.

[00:01:29] I’m joined by New York based strategy and innovation expert, Nicole Brown, one of my favorite voices in the cannabis world, and a true expert on what’s new and what’s worth your time and your money. In today’s episode, Nicole and I share our latest favorite gummies, low dose THC, drinks and products with minor cannabinoids like C, B, G.

[00:01:53] We also talk about how to create a great vibe for you and your friends without overdoing it. [00:02:00] And I would love to hear from you. Are you trying THC drinks instead of wine? What’s helping you unwind these days and what’s in your bag? DM me at do the Pot, comment on my substack, or email me at hi@dothepot.com.

[00:02:15] I’d love to share your story or question on a future episode. I. And if you haven’t checked out my Substack yet, I hope you will. I share behind the scenes thoughts from the show, and this week I’ll be sharing my favorite product picks for you there too. Substack has introduced me to so many smart, fun writers who are helping me figure out everything from fashion to parenting.

[00:02:39] One of my favorites is Laurel Pantene. She’s based in la, has incredible taste, and was actually a guest on the show a few years ago. Her newsletter Earl. Earl always gives me new ideas for how to wear what I already own and feel great in it. If you’ve been enjoying how to do the pot, I’d love for you to support the show by [00:03:00] upgrading to a paid Substack subscription.

[00:03:03] It’s $6 a month and it really helps keep the podcast and the newsletter going. Thank you so much. I’m really grateful to have you here. I hope you enjoy my conversation with Nicole Brown.

[00:03:27] I’m very curious because you’ve gotten all of these cool new things that are coming into the dispensaries in New York and you’ve got, I think, access to hemp drinks. Are those still available in shops?

[00:03:39] Nicole Brown: They are still available and also can certainly order those online as I do as well. I.

[00:03:45] Ellen Scanlon: What’s like the first thing that you’re grabbing on a weeknight on a weekend and during the day, on a weekend?

[00:03:52] Nicole Brown: Oh, great question. So I have two products that I would say fall into that category. One is [00:04:00] Mr. Moxie has their mints. Now of course, these started off in. The marijuana world. And then they moved into the hemp derived space. So they now offer, it’s like exact replicas of the product that I always loved, which is basically they come in like a little Altoid tin and they come in all different flavors.

[00:04:19] They’re all 2.5 milligrams of THC, which is like the sweet spot for me. I love it. And combinations of different minor cannabinoids. They have a variety pack now, which you, you could try, like you get what? Like four of each. It’s fabulous. So they have, my favorite is the Relax, which is Cinnamon, which is 2.5 of THC, 2.5 of CBD.

[00:04:42] I mean that’s just like Friday. It’s five o’clock. Drop that in done and they taste delicious, but they have ones with CBN for sleep in a lavender flavor. That’s gorgeous. They’ve got kind of more uplifting with THCV. They’ve just, they’ve done a great job with the product and the little packaging and all [00:05:00] of it that’s a go-to.

[00:05:01] I’m always throwing that in my bag and taking it with me. Second, I’m having my flower renaissance right now, which is really exciting. And because New York has all of these new products coming to market. It’s really exciting to try all sorts of different flower products. Dog walkers has always been one of my go-tos from GTI and they have like nice small little packaging, right?

[00:05:27] And it’s just like those little mini like half joints when it’s just me having like. One or two hits of that joint. It’s all I need, right? So it’s like I don’t wanna have like a whole big pre-roll. I love the little guys. Those are two of my go-tos right now that like don’t leave home without them kind of thing.

[00:05:44] What about you? What’s in your bag?

[00:05:47] Ellen Scanlon: You know, I’ve been eating these MELD gummies. So Nalu Bio is a company that we’ve been working with and they have shared a bunch of their products that aren’t even available to the public right now. We are able to share them with our listeners because [00:06:00] they’re trying to get information and we’re trying to just kind of get more data about women’s health and what works and they’re stay calm.

[00:06:07] Gummies are so interesting because I take a lot of C, B, D and it’s great for me. It really helps me in a lot of ways, but sometimes if I’m. Really feeling stressed. I’ll take 50, a hundred, even 150 milligrams of CBD, which is kind of a lot. And there’s this thing that happens and I don’t know how to describe it other than it’s like I get a little bit blissful.

[00:06:30] Like it’s like a teeny bit spacey with that much, and it helps me to feel calmer, but it can make me feel a little bit spacey and. With these meld gummies, that doesn’t happen at all. It feels like it’s like targeting my anxiety and it goes away and there’s no spaciness, there’s no anything extra. So that’s just been kind of fun to experiment with and try like two or three gummies because sometimes when you are really stressed out, if you want CBD to work, you have to take more than you think.

[00:06:58] It’s like if you have pain [00:07:00] and you take one Advil, it doesn’t work, you take another one. So. That has been really interesting. The other one that I have to say, and it’s funny, I guess I’m into gummies this week, but there’s a brand called Snoozy, and I know that they are really focused on their sleep products, but they have a product called like all day highs.

[00:07:19] And it’s 10 milligrams of C-B-D-T-H-C and CBG. And I literally, this is like back in the days of like eat the ear off the gummy of the gummy bear. Like I take like a quarter of it, but I take it. And then what I love to do if I’m home is on like a Sunday afternoon. I will take that gummy, I’ll go for a walk.

[00:07:41] I live near like a walking park. You can walk along the water. I’ll be walking and then suddenly like. I just feel a little bit happier. My mood just like lifts a little bit and the water looks a little more beautiful, and I think because I’ve also been moving for a while, I kind of get all the benefits.

[00:07:58] So I love those little [00:08:00] snoozy things. And they have lasted for. Ever, because I take so little of them. But I wanted to ask you about CBG because I haven’t spent that much time learning about the minor cannabinoids because I feel like there’s so little research that my brain can only take so much. But the products that have C, B, G seem to be mood boosting, mood enhancing.

[00:08:21] Is that what people are finding?

[00:08:23] Nicole Brown: Yes, and I think CBG is one of the unsung heroes of the space. CBG is both physically and mentally more powerful or more potent than CBD. So it’s still not gonna get you high, right? But it is. Because of the way it, it binds with your receptors in the endocannabinoid system, like what you’re feeling is accurate.

[00:08:46] ’cause it’s actually targeting the same effects as CBD. But, but stronger I get a lot more physical relaxation. Like, it’s like I love taking, Camino has like an excellent [00:09:00] C-B-G-T-H-C gummy that’s like in this orange flavor that just came out and like after I do like a really hard yoga class or something.

[00:09:07] Oh my God. Taking one of those. It’s like, I feel like all my muscles are like melting and delicious. And I also do get that mood element, like, it’s just kind of just like a, a sparkle, I call it. It just makes you feel like brighter. So I think products with CBG in them, especially in that combination with THC and CBD, really, really nice.

[00:09:29] So yes, I, I think that was the other one that just made me think of that Camino CBG Gummy is wonderful and it’s a go-to, and the flavor is really good too.

[00:09:40] Ellen Scanlon: I’ll have to try that one. I’ve been a very dedicated sparkling pair Camino fan. They’re three to one CBD to THC for many years. I always, always have those, and actually they are my favorite thing to give out at a party because I feel like they’re mellow enough that they just make everyone feel great.

[00:09:59] Nicole Brown: That was [00:10:00] like the recipe, like, you know, we all tried lots of gummies and did the bite the ear off the gummy thing. That was the first one where it’s like, oh two milligrams, THC six milligrams, CBD, I can take this whole gummy, which is delicious. It is like the perfect dose. Yes. It’s the dinner party, it’s the like, okay, come on over everyone.

[00:10:17] Like, have one of these to get the party started. You’re upbeat. You’re chatty, you’re feeling good. Ugh. It’s the best one. So I think, yeah, this, this CBG one is a little different ’cause it is a higher THC dose. It’s five milligrams. I almost like wanna reach out to ’em and be like, Hey, if you’re listening Camino, do like a two milligram with the C.

[00:10:35] With the C, BG. I want that one too. That would be perfect. But you can also just have half of the, you know, if you, if you have half, you’ll get what you’re looking for With that too. With the C, b, G,

[00:10:43] Ellen Scanlon: it’s good. Oh, I’ll try that one for sure. What are you drinking these days in that whole category of beverage?

[00:10:51] Nicole Brown: I have a couple here. Alright, number one, I was waiting for this product to come out. 1906, launched off-duty. So [00:11:00] off-duty is a little single serve packet that is unflavored that you can then just squeeze into any. Beverage. I’m in love with this, always have been with this concept. So like that’s another one that like, don’t leave home without it because then you can just go to a bar, go out to dinner, order a mocktail, and then just squeeze in a little THC, and it has the blend.

[00:11:24] So it has C, B, D. They also have like a proprietary terpene profile in there. It’s not adding any flavor. There’s like an effect. It’s like, I don’t know how to describe it, but it just like a little uplifting, like kinda ji vibes and it’s great. I love that product. I, I take it with me everywhere so that you can then zebra stripe at your heart’s content everywhere you go.

[00:11:46] So love that. And also got to try finally the Arete ready to drink the full-size bottle where you can like also make your own cocktail with it. The, like, the aif. Okay. [00:12:00] First of all, and, and again, we, we know Xandr and love the, our TE team with their aif. It was like, did you, if you tried this as well? I haven’t tried

[00:12:07] Ellen Scanlon: theif yet.

[00:12:08] No. Just the cans,

[00:12:10] Nicole Brown: AIF on its own because like I’ll always just like try it, like just before I mix a drink with it, just have a sip of it on its own, the flavor profile. It’s like beautiful and herbaceous. Like it was giving me like chai vibes, but not like too, too much, like not too sweet, but it’s like slightly.

[00:12:28] Sweet and herbaceous. So like I almost wanted to just like drink it on its own over ice and like did, and then it blends so nicely into like a sparkling water or like choose like a flavored water sparkling thing that goes with it. Oh my God. It was excellent. And also the like 2.5 milligram like per dose.

[00:12:47] Totally awesome. Brought it to a friend’s dinner party, crushed the entire bottle. Like everyone ordered a bottle after that party. They’re like, this is the best. And the fact that you can like DIY it, right? So it’s like, hey, if 2.5 [00:13:00] is a little too much, then you just do half a shot, right? Then just like make it even lighter, which plenty of people were doing and like loving that big winner of a product.

[00:13:08] Love that category. I think that’s an up and comer, right? This whole idea of like being able to treat THC. Like alcohol. Right. And you have it on your bar and like, yes. Sometimes like, yes, like maybe I like a really strong gin and tonic and you want yours lighter. We could do the same thing with THC and like that’s such a perfect product for it.

[00:13:28] So our tet, huge kudos. Um, already ordered more for myself, like obsessed with it. It’s delicious.

[00:13:34] Ellen Scanlon: Oh, cool. I can’t wait to try it. And is it the same kind of like 15, 20 minutes onset?

[00:13:40] Nicole Brown: I would say so, yeah. It’s, it’s maybe, you know, faster than that. Like, I don’t know, it’s like when you’re hanging out with like a bunch of people, it’s like a lot of people like, they’re like, after the first step they’re like, I feel, I feel it already.

[00:13:50] Like it’s, I was like, okay, that might be more placebo effect, but great. You’re already relaxing. That’s good. But I feel like, yeah, it’s in that like. 15, 20 minute [00:14:00] mark like, but like, again, it tastes so good and you feel so good. Yeah. They, they did a wonderful job. Obsessed. Yeah.

[00:14:07] Ellen Scanlon: The timing part of the beverage is, it’s great because, you know, I think that there’s just some planning that comes in with taking your edible and giving yourself 45 minutes to an hour and knowing that there’s some variability and how much have you eaten and all of those things.

[00:14:21] And, and you don’t have that variability. With the beverages. But I do find myself sometimes, ’cause I usually, if I’m gonna have a beverage, I try and have it like around six o’clock because THC is kind of activating for me, and I’m already a night person. And so if I wanna get to bed at a reasonable hour, I need to have it early so that I don’t like get a great idea at 11 o’clock.

[00:14:43] And before I know it, it’s like one in the morning and, and I have a big day the next day. So I think there’s still a little bit of. Navigating exactly how I want it to work for me. I’ve also been drinking t but I’ve been drinking the cans and I went with a friend. [00:15:00] There was a, a burning man statue, a huge 45 foot woman statue that opened up across from the ferry building in San Francisco.

[00:15:07] Oh my god. Really? Mm-hmm. I have it on, uh, I think my, in. But I went with a friend and I had shared with her some of the beverages that I’d gotten already, and she was like, Ooh, do you have anything? Let’s bring one. And so I brought the TT and we both had it. And I always like, I start with a half and kind of just let it hang out for a little bit.

[00:15:25] And it actually was really great. It was fun to be out there. She, before she was like, can we bring these? Like, is this allowed? And I said, I mean, it’s. Technically water, so I think so. And we were able to have them and walk around with those little cans. Yeah, no problem. Yeah. Yeah. But I think that it was just interesting that that was her question, like is, are we doing something wrong?

[00:15:44] You know? And I think that that is still what we’re kind of working through with this whole category. But it was great. These little cans written in my purse. We walked around the ferry building, then we had a delicious. Dinner at the ferry building, and we both felt great and she drove me home. And so it was kind of like that sort of [00:16:00] one drink out with a friend, have an adventure and then you get to go home.

[00:16:04] And she has three kids. I have one. You know, we were just sort of like ready for our next day. So yeah, the beverages are really fun. I just really like to dial everything in as much as I can so that I, I have, you know, if I’m having a day that’s like on a scale of one to 10, if it’s like a five, then like one of those little quarters of the snoozy is.

[00:16:23] Probably gonna make me feel like, remind me that my day should be an eight because I’m a lucky, happy, grateful person. And so like those little tricks with cannabis I think are the way that it really enhances my life and my knowledge of it is helping me to, to balance myself in a way that feels healthier than other things I’ve tried to balance myself with before.

[00:16:47] Nicole Brown: Absolutely agree. And I think because of that dial in, that’s where I think like trying that, that AIF and finding your right dose is like such a great thing for, for you and for anyone who like needs that and [00:17:00] wants to try that like, yeah, same thing where it’s like I probably have like a slightly heavier pore.

[00:17:05] With mine. ’cause then I was enjoying it so much, I was like, okay, this is good. But then it was like getting a lighter pour and then you just find it and then you just make it exactly how you like it. Every time is like so good. I’ll also say I did try their cans as well and their flavors are awesome. The strawberry basil was awesome.

[00:17:20] So yeah, delicious flavored. And it’s also, you know, having like an RTD ready to go is like so great for like throwing your purse. Go to the park, go to the movies. Yeah, go enjoy. Oh, so nice. It’s so nice. I like

[00:17:32] Ellen Scanlon: the mango flavor best. I think I, I love strawberries. I don’t like them as a flavor. I just like to eat strawberries.

[00:17:39] It’s funny. It’s like my favorite fruit, but I don’t like it in other things.

[00:17:43] Nicole Brown: Oh, well then, okay, I’m gonna go off the cannabis reservation for a second. Okay. There is a ready to drink cocktail called 1 9 6. It just launched. It’s from Japan. So it’s like in a can. You should be able to find it like at your liquor store.

[00:17:59] Okay. [00:18:00] They have a strawberry flavor that literally tastes like you’re biting a strawberry. It’s like a vodka soda, strawberry drink. And you, and you know, I used to work in alcohol, right? So it’s like, I’m like really sati with flavors like that. I have no idea how they pulled this off. So like if you see this little can on a shelf somewhere.

[00:18:16] Buy it and try it. The flavor is unbelievable. When I was purchasing it at the store, I was like over in Union Square in New York here, and like literally like the woman checking me out. She was like, oh my God, have you had this? This tastes like a strawberry. She’s like, this is my favorite. I was like, that’s what I’ve heard.

[00:18:32] So I’m excited and it’s true. It’s really nice. I’d be curious if it meets your standards.

[00:18:37] Ellen Scanlon: Oh, thank you.

[00:18:39] Nicole Brown: Try it. It’s good. It’s a really delicious drink.

[00:18:41] Ellen Scanlon: I’ll try it. Yeah. Oh, that sounds fun. And I love, I mean, this is kind of the little treat culture that is popping up everywhere, you know, that feels like it would be like a very special little treat for me.

[00:18:54] Nicole Brown: It’s a total little treat culture vibe. Yeah. On a delicious, beautiful, sunny day. Like it’s [00:19:00] so lovely. I was, I was very excited how good it was.

[00:19:08] Ellen Scanlon: Thank you for listening to How to Do the Pot. I would love to hear from you if you’re trying THC drinks as an alcohol alternative. How is it going? What cannabis products are helping you relax these days? DM me at do the Pot. Leave a comment on Substack or email me at hi@dothepot.com. I might share your story or question on a future episode.

[00:19:32] For lots more information, visit do the pot.com and while you’re there, you can sign up for my newsletter or find it on Substack, where I share personal stories, product picks, and behind the scenes thoughts from the show. Thank you to our producer Nick Patri. I’m Melon Scanlan and we’ll be back soon with more of how to do the pot.