Vermont Ski Shoppe Product Review
Photos Courtesy of Author
Despite spending 5 years in rural towns in Alaska, snow really isn’t my thing. The extent of my frozen adventures began and ended with snowshoeing. I sunk up to my butt and that was the end of it. Despite my experience, there is a peaceful almost tranquil nature to being outdoors in the snow. Basically the perfect environment for a good sesh. I got connected with JB Sugar and heard how he took people's love of snow sports and meshed that with his love of cannabis. Enter Vermont Ski Shoppe.
Who’s Behind Vermont Ski Shoppe?
JB is a “ recovering New Yorker”, as he puts it. His background is in traditional advertising and marketing. After being pushed out of the space he shifted towards cannabis. His passion for the plant had been there for years and now was the time to take hold of that and make it work for him.
In his time working with dispensaries and cannabis brands he noticed a big gap in the market for the 55+ demographic. So he created a brand focused on sorting flower based on effects, and testing making it simpler to find the high you’re looking for. Thus, filling the gap for those consumers looking to come back to cannabis, or start their journey with plant medicine, without all the confusing lingo and otherworldly strain names.
Packaging
When we talk about packaging you need it to be sturdy to protect the precious products, but also convenient enough that it can tag along for the ride. After all this brand is all about getting out there, moving, and being social and cannabis should be able to complement that.
The pre-rolls come in paper boxes that are small enough to fit in my hand and easy to tuck into a jacket pocket before heading down the hill. The edibles came in a glass jar that is on the smaller side than what you typically see gummies in. The tops are easy to open just push down and twist.
The design aspect of the products is very on-brand. You can tell just by looking at them whose product it is. It’s all very smooth both in actual texture and look. They all had some sort of safety seal, for the gummies it was a standard pressed-on safety seal, and pre-rolls had safety tabs you had to break to slide the trays out.
Edibles
I got 2 flavors: Cherry Pow Pow, and Mountain Mint. Both flavors are great and none of the aftertaste edibles tend to have. They are small, compared to what I’m used to seeing but overall a great social product.
Cherry Pow Pow
The cherry has a THC:CBD: CBG 5:10:5 formulation. I love taking them before I go to bed or right after a workout. It helps my body relax in the most intense yet effective way. If you’re a more heavy user then it may take more than one to reach the desired effect. If you're a lighter user when it comes to edibles, these are great for curling up and watching a movie, maybe doing some yoga, or relaxing with some friends.
Mountain Mint
The mountain mint has a flavor reminiscent of the mint-flavored gummy drops you find mostly around the holidays. Its formulation is just THC with 5mg per gummy. I prefer this one more during the day. The effects just feel more get up and go to me. I love to take one after breakfast, then the next thing I know I've cleaned the house, finished the laundry, and cooked for the week.
Vermont Ski Shoppe Prerolls Review
Flower is separated based on THC% and effects into 5 levels of potency, from green to freestyle. Each level packs a punch, but the effects are wildly different. These are mini joints called Single Chairs designed for you to consume on your own. They come in a five-pack 1.75g total and it's the perfect product to share with friends. No passing is needed which is great especially if you’re meeting someone for the first time. The experience was very distinct between each level and I could very easily tell which I had smoked based on the effects alone.
Everything tasted fresh and burned well. The only thing I'd say is to make sure when you get a pre-roll from anywhere that you “massage” it for lack of a better word. It helps make the packing more consistent especially after being knocked around in transit or if the bud is particularly sticky. This helps avoid runs and if you do get one it evens out a little easier if you wake it up first.
Green Trail THC: 14%
This strain was Bubble Gum Chem. It was a light breezy feeling high. It didn't weigh me down but made everything feel easier and like it all had a flow. Overall it was very happy and productive, it would make a great social smoke for an afternoon with the girls. It was one of those strains where I’d find myself baking bread and crying happy tears because life is just beautiful.
Blue Trail THC: 18%
The strain was Mac & Cheese. This is a good level if you want to have a low-key week at home. It would be great paired up with yoga, or meditative practices. It offers a good mix of head and body feels, it's the perfect in-between. This hits heavier in the body than the previous level, it makes it easier for those who are constantly turned on and going to sit down and kick their feet up.
Black Diamond THC: 22%
The strain was Papaya OG. This one hits heavy on the side of a body high. If you’re the type to carry A LOT of tension and stress in your muscles, kiss it goodbye! This level makes it all disappear, period cramps who? not me, not here. This is best for when you need some deep relaxation, throw on a movie, and become the couch.
Double Black Diamond THC: 23%
The strain was Diamond Daze. At this level, I no longer smoke the entire preroll at one time. If you have a lower tolerance eat first and make sure you’re hydrated, this one is sneaky. This high is a more intense body high initially but then shifts into an equal head and body experience. It is beautiful for those who like to go deep into meditation or right before bed.
Freestyle THC: 26%
This one intimidated me a little bit. The strain was Chocolope. I had been on a T break before I got the package and wasn't sure how it would go. Unlike the single chairs, this was a glass chillum pumped up with kief. I only took a couple of hits at a time just to make sure I didn’t end up in Willy Wonkas’ nightmares. This is great for those looking for a little extra power in their smoke, perfect for a bonfire, light ‘er up and pass it around.
Did It Make The Cut?
I loved hearing the story behind this brand and the idea that there is a product for everyone. Everyone can find something they love! Ingredients are easy to find on the packaging, there’s also a QR code that links back to the COA for the product. I’m a huge believer in full transparency because I want to know what is in the product I'm consuming. Making that information easy to find is crucial when normalizing cannabis use.
What do you say, are you ready to try it for yourself?
Stay Happy, Healthy, & High!
