Pubdate: Thu, 26 Nov 2015
Source: Westword (Denver, CO)
Column: Ask a Stoner
Copyright: 2015 Village Voice Media
Contact: http://www.westword.com/feedback/EmailAnEmployee?department=letters
Website: http://www.westword.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1616
Author: Herbert Fuego

DEAR STONER: DON'T COLORADO DISPENSARIES CARE ABOUT FRESH BUD?

Dear Stoner: Every time I've purchased pot here, it has been either 
pre-packaged or placed in a plastic container that lets the air out, 
if it's not already bone-dry by the time I buy it. Am I going to the 
wrong dispensaries, or do Colorado dispensaries not care about fresh 
bud? Right Near the Beach Boy

Dear Beach Boy: Many dispensaries, such as the Clinic, Green Solution 
and L'Eagle, sell pre-packed buds so that there's less chance of you 
buying a product that's contaminated while on display. If you don't 
like pre-packaged products, then the answer is simple: Call ahead to 
find out how the shop sells its pot. I can understand why you find 
pre-packaged purchases undesirable - what you end up with often turns 
out to be an ugly, malnourished version of that beautiful, stanky bud 
you saw on display (and thought you were getting) - but that scenario 
plays out most often at tourist-heavy dispensaries that rely on foot 
traffic and non-repeat customers. If the packaging is a bottle and 
not a sealed bag, you can always ask the budtender to check out the 
buds for dryness before making your purchase, or just ask him or her 
what has been on the shelf the longest.

If the dispensary you're buying from weighs the buds right in front 
of you, then it's usually easier to determine how fresh your purchase 
will be. If all of the buds are dry and crispy, then buy something 
else. But don't blame the pot shop for your bud drying out after 
purchase: You can buy twelve pint-sized Mason jars at Walmart for 
around $15, and it's pretty hard for air to get inside of those.

Dear Stoner: What's a better way to hit my wax: dabs or vape pens? Jackie

Dear Jackie: It depends what you're looking for: convenience and 
discretion, or getting the most potent rip. Vaporizer pens come in 
different shapes and sizes, but unless you buy one with a glass dome 
surrounding the nail, they're all discreet and allow for easier hits 
when you're out and about. Obviously, it's much harder to torch an 
oil rig and take a dab in public, so if you like hitting hash while 
on the go, buy a pen.

The cost generally ranges from $20 to $70.

For home consumption, I recommend spending the money on a water pipe 
and nail setup that provides smooth hits and is also easy to clean. 
If you're willing to spend a little more than $150, you can get a 
decent oil rig and nail (they come in glass, quartz and titanium 
varieties) that will work so well, you'll feel like it's the first 
time you ever smoked pot. Just be careful and don't overdo it: Nobody 
likes to hang out with a dab zombie.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom