Lansterdam in Review: Back to the basics at Lansing’s first recreational pot shop

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In February, Homegrown Cannabis Co. became the first provisioning center in Lansing to be fully licensed for adult-use, recreational retail sales. Several other shops have opened in recent months, but Homegrown has solidified itself as a mainstay on the local cannabis market.

The customer service is top notch. The expansive product lineup is even more impressive. And for that clear commitment to quality, our voters pushed Homegrown into first place in nearly every marijuana-related category featured in this year’s Top of the Town contest — including best concentrate, best edible, best sativa, best indica and best grower and processor in the city.

We’ve seen a lot of fancy tinctures, edibles, concentrated oils and other snazzy products in Lansing. But this week, we return to the basics that helped propel Homegrown Cannabis Co. into its spot as one of the most popular marijuana destinations in the capital city: Dank flower.

Homegrown — Pineapple Express (Sativa Hybrid)

Price — $14.58/g

THC content — 17.1%

Pineapple Express is a strain with some serious name recognition. Of course, this buzzy brand was the namesake for Seth Rogen’s cult comedy classic from 2008. But stoners across the nation have long turned to Pineapple Express for its long-lasting and energetic sort of high.

A cross between Trainwreck and Hawaiian, this sativa-dominant hybrid hits the nose with a fruity explosion — apple, mango, pine, cedar and, of course, pineapple. The buds were dense, loaded with trichomes and bright orange pistils and ground up perfectly into a few bong bowls.

Don’t get the wrong idea from the film: This strain isn’t going to rock your entire world. It will, however, provide a comforting sort of high that, for me, quickly led to an overarching sense of blissful comfort, buzzed out happiness and complete anxiety relief. Check, check and check.

The smoothness of this house blend from Homegrown cannot be overstated. I didn’t need ice water to totally clear bowl after bowl without a cough. The fruity smell translates to earthier notes on the tongue, but it’s still among the most pleasant tasting strains I’ve tried from Lansing.

After two or three post-breakfast bowls, I found myself pleasantly toasted until the late afternoon. For its flavor and its ability to simultaneously invigorate and calm the mind, I’m comfortable labeling this strain as the best wake-and-bake variety available on the local market.

 

Fluresh — Critical Hog (Indica)

Price — $40.57/2.5g

THC content — 19.17%

I’m a perfectionist when it comes to rolling joints. The buds must be ground up to the right consistency. RAW brand papers are essential. Every bit of stem must be removed. It can’t be packed too tight; It certainly can’t be packed too loose. It must have a filter. It can’t be too thick.

For these reasons, I’m usually hesitant when it comes to buying pre-rolled joints from the pot shop. They can be incredibly dry. Sometimes they have an uneven burn. But this five-pack from Fluresh — the newest cannabis retailer to arrive in Grand Rapids — proved me entirely wrong.

Critical Hog is an indica-dominant cross between Critical Mass and Hog, which won the High Times’ Cannabis Cup back in 2002 for its incredibly potent and relaxing effects on the body. The half-gram joints were short and stubby, but perfectly portioned for some after-work relaxation.

The taste was sweet and floral. The burn was even. And the smoothness was out of this world.

For an indica, the relaxing body effects were also pleasantly subdued. A few joints with my fiancée was the perfect way to unwind on a Friday evening without totally knocking ourselves out, making it the perfect strain for a Netflix marathon — and plenty of snacks — on the couch.

Kyle Kaminski is a City Pulse staff writer and cannabis enthusiast who has been smoking marijuana just about every day for the last decade. Every week, Kaminski samples some of the best cannabis products available in Greater Lansing, gets real high and writes about them.

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