In this golden age of cannabis, patients can be picky when it comes to their medications.
Do you like the woodsy taste of pine, or do you prefer a fruity taste? Do you want a medicine that kicks in right away, or one that might take a little longer to take effect? Is flower your favorite fabric, or do you know you prefer the experience of a vape cartridge?
In the case of Very Concentrated’s Strawberry Cough, the first experience doesn’t accurately predict the surprisingly strong finish. With a taste bursting with artificial sweetness, this isn’t the strawberry you’ll find at the local farmer’s market. Closer to a Starburst than anything grown in soil, the taste isn’t off-putting, but maybe a little more sugary than I prefer.
Finding flavors that work for you can be a pretty exhausting process, but there’s something to be said for the fact that vaping cartridges – unlike their floral counterparts – will never fully embody a strain’s terpene profile in the same way. Being too upset about how a particular vape cartridge tastes is in some ways akin to shouting the quality of beef at a fast food chain. If you want filet mignon don’t eat there.
My first experience with this cartridge was quite a revelation.
After two medium but not huge drags I was amazed at how subtle the effects of the oil were. There was a slight body high at first, relaxing and mellow. But as the minutes passed, the true power of Highly Concentrated’s recipe was revealed. By the time the drug took full effect, I was toast.
While in no way uncomfortable or off-putting, this cartridge’s punch is strong, strong, strong. It’s not the kind of thing I’d want to hit for a long walk, a day of wandering around town, or really anything where you’d have to “fight” the effects of their drug.
Luckily all my plans consisted of a bowl of cereal and a viewing of Christopher Nolan’s The Dark Knight, a plan that suited this rather powerful cartridge brilliantly.
The next evening, when I halved my intake, I noticed that the potency of the oil decreased, but not the waiting time. While I’m not sure about the chemistry, this one seems to be derived from a strain that just takes a few seconds longer to actually work and hold in the endocannabinoid system. That means those who want a product that can instantly change their mood may prefer an alternative that works faster.
But if you have a little patience — and ideally a great superhero movie and snacks — you’ll probably find plenty to like about this formidable formula.
Rating: 4/5
The highly concentrated Strawberry Cough vape cartridge is available from Berkeley Patients Group and retails for $40.