Canadian Licensed Producers

[weenstoned]

Redecan has decent prices, but if they are greenhouse then I would say they're priced kinda high. Definitely echoing @theCerberus in believing that those in the dispensary system actually know what they're doing and want to grow/sell the best product possible, not make money off patients who are pretty much locked in as customers.

 

[biohacker]

I tried out RedeCan (my last order), and I'm pretty happy! Quality is good (not super boutique but nice). It's very clean, but not overly dense. Flavour is good and vapour is very nice. Effects are good as well (up there with what I've been getting from dispensaries). Service was great as far as experience ordering, registering, etc. Price is very good.

It shows its greenhouse and not full indoor lights, but its very nice quality greenhouse and I'm quite happy with the price/quality/value.

This basically sums up my experience identically. The packaging is great, dark plastic containers (my 60g 6 strains came in a shoe sized box) as well as a free medtainer. All the strains smell very piney/windex scent other than the CBD kush which smells more fruity/manure (flushed @thecerebrus? lol) but the smell is fairly light, and the buds are all very airy and lack density, and are not overly covered in trichs.

Initially, for the price I was kind of not impressed, compared to my go BC mail order dispensary Natural Order Health Services (formerly MedMe - from Dragon's Den!) which is more stronger hydro buds, more fragrant, denser, and probably more potent. HOWEVER, this is my first LP product and I think it's been a game changer. What I noticed was more vapour being produced, very nice taste that doesn't leave the mouth, and the SMOOTHEST vapours i've ever experienced! For the first time vaping in 10 years, I feel zero irritation and feel like I can hold the vapours in FOREVER! It's SO clean tasting and smooth..... WHY?? Is it due to the airy buds..? Even my wife who is a very occasional user said that the vapour feels "lighter" so i'm wondering if it's due to the lack of density? Nutes? Curing/flushing?

Redecan has decent prices, but if they are greenhouse then I would say they're priced kinda high. Definitely echoing @theCerberus in believing that those in the dispensary system actually know what they're doing and want to grow/sell the best product possible, not make money off patients who are pretty much locked in as customers.

I think these are priced on point. Some you can't even really tell are greenhouse, but others yeah they are very airy. I dunno, i'll see what the rest of the product is like before I make a final opinion. I'm sure Tweed and Tilray are much better LP's, but I just can't afford them. I'll probably stick with RedeCan or go back to NO or just use both.

IMHO the dispensaries are looking to make just as much profit.....$10+/g seems to be what i've been seeing across Toronto and Vancouver, and if you want a decent THC% you're paying through the nose with LP's.

WHERE is the COMPASSION??? Common! Will all the competition now and the industry opening up, prices should be going DOWN NOT UP! Cannabis should NEVER be more than $5/g!

I would also be interested in Whistler organic and Broken Coast..... but Tilray and Tweed seem to be the big boys!

 

[weenstoned]

Some dispensaries are definitely in the $5 a gram range, and I doubt you would ever see greenhouse grown for $5 or above from a dispensary.

 

[biohacker]

I also doubt the quality would even compare. And why is it ok for a dispensary to charge $5 but not Redecan? They aren't all over $5. Maybe it was a sale?

Which dispensaries have $5/g? Is that taxes in? Is the product decent? NO has 5.50/g cheapest but then add 13% tax and $30 shipping! Hydro buds though.

 

[weenstoned]

Sorry I was a bit unclear, I meant that dispensaries would probably have greenhouse under $5 a gram. As @theCerberus has stated a lot of LPs are just in it for the cash so I wouldn't presume they can grow better greenhouse than dispensaries. BC Pain Society in Vancouver has the most compassionate prices I have found and offer free shipping over $250. They don't charge tax so I would assume it is included.

 

[JCat]

I've used Natural Order (also used when MedMe) as well as many dispensaries. Although the density isn't there on the Redecan buds (density is ok on some), the quality/taste/potency is in my opinion. I prefer soil or soil like medium grown vs hydro and always have. I find the effects to be better (feels more natural, less burnout, happier), and the taste/feel of it is always much better. The cure for the Redecan products is excellent as well, very boutique like cure although not boutique like bud; that being said, boutique bud poorly cured becomes pretty poor bud. I feel the consistency/quality/value is there with Redecan (more so than Natural Order or the dispensaries). I also trust the cleanliness of the product, with no pesticides, no nasty fertilizers, quality cure to make sure what's left is what you want, etc., etc.

The trichromes are there as well; and a decent amount; and based on the effects their advertised THC percentages I would guess are pretty accurate. If your measure of good bud is hydro that knocks you on your ass (and makes you tired), then I doubt Redecan is for you ... if you like clean effects/taste/quality, and like the more "up" buzz ... then Redecan might well be a very good option.

Just some ongoing thoughts/opinions on the matter

 

[biohacker]

Thanks @JCat very well said! All I have for basis of comparison are hydro buds from the west coast, but I know what you mean, and completely agree! The cleanliness of the taste i've never experienced before, and in fact this entire order has completely opened up my eyes. When I meant not much trichromes, i'm comparing to the likes of Pink Kush, Girl Scout Cookies, OG kush, and Nukem from NO which looks completely different from these greenhouse buds. I'm glad that you think the potency,taste, quality and value is right up there, especially from an experienced medical patient.

Just about to try the CBD Kush again, this time after a 17hour T-break lol

 

[King_Bob]

@theCerberus After watching the video you posted on Flushing, I am tending to agree with your Maricann review. I did some more testing and found the MariCann buds do not burn cleanly and do tend to make me cough more than other buds. Thanks for pointing that out. I am kind of disappointed that a medical supplier is not required to Flush. What is the point of having Health Canada involved in the process ?

Since I don't want to pay more than $7/gr, I guess RedeCan may be the next LP I try.

 

[biohacker]

Flushing is something I have recently learned about..... and now that I have a legit LP, man am I ever grateful!

Have you guys seen this? Makes me think of what the heck i've been inhaling into my lungs over the past decade.....mystery weed!

http://www.cnn.com/2015/11/25/us/colorado-marijuana-pesticides-testing/

 

[theCerberus]

IMHO the dispensaries are looking to make just as much profit.....$10+/g seems to be what i've been seeing across Toronto and Vancouver, and if you want a decent THC% you're paying through the nose with LP's.

The advantages of a dispensary are more than just cost.

But if you want to focus on that, then take into account that dispensaries have bulk discounts.
Most of the time you are not paying $10/g. Thats only if you are purchasing one gram. And the cost is tax in.

But LPs dont even let you buy just one gram.
The majority of LPs require buy at least 5grams of any one strain (10g if you want to try 2 strains), and give you no discount for doing so.
Additionally recurring shipping costs for splitting your medication purchases throughout the month incentivize the patient to order the entire month at once, YET STILL THERE IS NO BULK DISCOUNT.
Though I admit Maricann had a point system it took way too many points to get a very small discount (i think it was like every 120g = enough for 10% off)

Then theres the fact you can see and smell the flowers before purchasing, and easily return anything you are unsatisfied with at most of the reputable places.
And the product selection. Hash, shatter, wax, edibles, topicals etc....

 

[biohacker]

You bring up some very excellent points. The dispensaries that I have seen, give little to no discount for bulk. Ounces are still $240-$280, and taxes should not be paid because these are not legal in any sort of way. The growing of cannabis is illegal, and so are the sales of the product UNLESS it is an approved licensed producer. There is risk of legal repercussions, and perhaps losing your MMPR altogether? Probably slim to no chance of this happened, but i've seen the video's of CALM's past busts, and I want no part of that PTSD.

You're right about LP minimum's but dispensaries like Natural Order (medme) and Medicannabis.ca also have minimum orders (NO is 15g!) and Medicann essentially forces you to buy an OUNCE with their pricing structure. The other thing about dispensaries is that they are usually only in major urban centres, so where I live in the burbs, I have no access. I have read that Tweed is setting up satellite offices/stores in Hamilton and Guelph?

The main reason I don't take the train to CALM anymore is because the $10-12/g BS! They actually used to have good strains at $7-8/g but that changed over the past year.

Basically I have a threshold of about $7/g taxes in! I'll spend more on the odd strain here and there, but with my medical needs I have to keep it on a budget of about $100/week.

 

[theCerberus]

Ask a dispensary owner if they pay taxes. They do. Prices are tax in.
Ask. I dare you.
And yes they find it kind of odd that the government just takes it.
The government has been taking their tax money for years under MMAR.
The growing of cannabis by patients and designated growers under MMAR is still legal as well.
This is where dispensaries get their legal supply.
Long before MMPR existed.
Every dispensary owner has gone to court after being busted and the government has never won a case. The majority reopen within days of a raid. And raids are far less likely to happen under Trudeau.

CALM hasnt had a strain over $10/g in about 10 months id say Neev knows the market.
And $240/ounce is a nice bulk discount (4 free grams).
Since Amy left CALM and opened Canndo with her high standards everything is top shelf for $8/g there.

I dont use mail order dispensaries and wouldnt recommend it to anyone.
That is making a paper trail with your name and illegal purchases on it. Kinda dumb if you ask me.
In store at the dispensaries in Ontario there is no minimum purchase.

MMPR is the government spitting in the face of dispensaries choosing not the regulate them when the courts dont convict them.

dispensaries like CALM even thought they be would transition to legal MMPR status when it was being drafted a group representing the dispensaries were even consulted but the government made no regulations for storefronts.

 

[biohacker]

Dude, you don't need to "dare" me? I understand they have to pay taxes, business taxes, I had no idea they were paying taxes on illegal drug trafficking. Yes DG and MMAR is still in effect for some, but this doesn't mean that it can be re-sold by a dispensary. The fact is, if you are not a grower yourself, or have a DG, at the same address as registered before, then it is simply illegal to obtain cannabis from ANYWHERE other than an LP. That is black and white. Funny what you say about taxes and MMAR though, as MedMe was sort of working with Health Canada, and insisted claiming it on income tax, which I have done so for the past 4 or 5 years without a single issue. I guess i'm waiting for the audit and arrest!

I didn't know that AMY left! I'm so behind the loop with dispensaries in toronto, but that Canndo place sounds pretty good if you say it's top shelf for $8/g. I know that CALM moved or opened up a new one on Church st. And the $10/g Calm oz discount is $250/oz (according to their menu today) which is STILL $9/g AND what, you get ONE maybe TWO strains in that ounce? Where is the compassion? They just don't want to weigh up 1/4's?

 

[King_Bob]

I wonder how the legalization of Cannabis in Canada, and the John Conroy challenge which is still awaiting a supreme court decision will affect the MMPR program. If the supreme court rules in favor of the medical growers before Cannabis is legalized, will it be the end of the MMPR program ?

 

[weenstoned]

Pretty sure it will still exist, but a lot of the LPs will shift their focus onto mostly recreational users and probably offer discounts to medical users. I also wonder if the tax credit for medical cannabis might be removed if it is legal. Really the liberals could make a ton of changes to the mmpr if they felt like it.

 

[biohacker]

okay did some more digging on RedeCan.... @theCerberus you can add them to your LP shit trash list! They said they Gamma-irradiate all their products, and i'm guessing you're probably not down with that? I haven't formed much of an opinion yet, since I haven't completed the research. My initial thoughts are that I don't want to inhale anything that's "irradiated" but what they say is that it is completely safe, and "pharmaceutical grade standard". Ofcourse it MUST be safe! lol

What are your thoughts on Gamma Irradiating guys? Lots of LP's do this, and some just do it for certain strains. I love the quality of these strains....I just vaped .15g of Shaman, and it has very little smell, almost barely there, but the taste is sublime....very airy buds, looks like average to subpar greenhouse buds, but super STICKY! I couldn't even wash it off my fingers from ripping apart a couple of buds! The effects are incredible, at only 18% THC!

Oh yeah, they also flush with well water!

 

[weenstoned]

Not down with irradiation at all. If you require that because of a compromised immune system you are probably better off taking some kind of extract/edible/whatever. If you need to irradiate then you are fucking it up. What's the point of only letting big companies grow if they can't just try to do it right and then test for contaminants?

 

[biohacker]

How does it fuck it up? How is it bad/unsafe?

 

[weenstoned]

Ok guess I am making an assumption, but I think exposure to radiation being bad is not a crazy one to make. Even if it is safe just seems like something that should not be necessary if you are doing a good job growing. Makes me question what other corners they are cutting if they can just "fix" it with radiation.

 

[chris 71]

pretty sure irradiation is the same as cold pasteurization . pretty sure its not a big as a deal as people make it out to be either .

its also that the regulations are soo stick for the lp's that they would even do this which in my opinion is great for us as users .
as with comparison the the grey market dispensaries would never do this .they would not be regulated and would just sell it anyway . or there is a chance they would just make contaminated concentrates with it .

 

[biohacker]

been doing some digging:

"We know gamma radiation is a preferred method for some in the industry, but it is not fool proof. Although it can kill the viable mould and possibly the mould spores, it will not impact the aflotoxins, many of which are carcinogenic. For us, it is important to protect our patients from being exposed to those. We also know that gamma radiation destroys the essential oils, called terpenes, which are naturally produced by the plant and play an important synergistic role in the body."

This is so true! Some of the strains seem to have no smell really, and the tastes all seem kind of generic. I will not be ordering again from RedeCan, and will be requesting a new LP tomorrow!

 

[theCerberus]

pretty sure irradiation is the same as cold pasteurization . pretty sure its not a big as a deal as people make it out to be either .

its also that the regulations are soo stick for the lp's that they would even do this which in my opinion is great for us as users .
as with comparison the the grey market dispensaries would never do this .they would not be regulated and would just sell it anyway . or there is a chance they would just make contaminated concentrates with it .

You do realize theres "lab testing" that can be done that makes that point moot?
Who cares how it was made if it passes safety tests?
And yes some good grey area dispensaries ARE willing to lab test their products, and are willing to regulate themselves (lookup CAMCD).
Additionally if the government were to just regulate them they could recall anything contaminated too.

okay did some more digging on RedeCan.... @theCerberus you can add them to your LP shit trash list! They said they Gamma-irradiate all their products, and i'm guessing you're probably not down with that?

I dont really care if its gamma irradiated or not.
I care if its good cannabis.
And I dont think it makes the physical cannabis any better or worse.
I dont even find it alters the flavour or smell. Proper flushing and curing is more important for that factor.
I do think that not all bacteria is bad some good bacteria (probiotic) is lost by doing this.
I also think its a lazy option just meant to save crops that are contaminated and would otherwise be thrown away by an LP like Tilray who refuses to irradiate.
If the LP or dispensary can keep the crop clean there is no need for it.

 

[chris 71]

the point is that all batches from lps have to be tested and if aflotoxins were detected the batch would not pass and even irradiation cant fix it . so it would have to be scraped . i doubt there are any grey market dispensaries that test every batch and if there is or are , they would be few and far between .

me personally i like that the lps are so regulated . gives me real piece of mind knowing that i have a good clean product . i dont think i would ever use the unregulated places again given the choice .

biohacker maybe try tilray there products are excellent if you dont mind paying more . i really dont like there prices at all .except for some of there house blends which are surprisingly good . but they dont irradiate any of there products and all there strains i have tried are excellent the couple despenceries i have tried dont even compare

 

[theCerberus]

OK and If the government simply decided to regulate dispensary product by asking them to lab test they would be the exact same.
But I do know a number of dispensaries in Ontario and BC have chosen to lab test on their own, edibles, flowers, topicals and concentrates, and it is not as rare as you make it seem.

You make it sound like theres never been a contaminated batch sent out by an LP either when there have already been MULTIPLE recalls in the MMPR system.

And I've personally received contaminated batches from CannaFarms (MMPR LP) covered in metallic flake beneficials that should have been recalled but never were.

 

[chris 71]

yes recalls but not because there batches were like living bacterial fests lol . there was probably some tiny amount of contamination that would not even be noticed without testing. and likely not even pose any real threat . but at least like i said piece of mind . im not trying to make the unregulated places sound bad its just that there well... NOT regulated .