227.
That’s the number of cannabis products available at the government-run pot shops (SQDCs) in Quebec, 163 of them dried cannabis.
But no Acapulco Gold, the legendary 1960s weed I enjoyed during a trip to California. We laughed and laughed and laughed . . .
At least, I’ve yet to see a strain with that name. It’s pretty hard to tell what’s what in the ever-expanding cannabis universe of hybrids.
Choosing a cannabis product is a more complicated, if not sophisticated, process than selecting a bottle of wine. With wine, I look for, among other things, sugar content, types of grapes, growing conditions and country of origin, which can be viewed at a glance on the website of the provincial retailer (SAQ) in Quebec or in-store on their devices. I don’t need to seek out a wine critic. (My preferences: wines from Portugal and California.)
And drinking wine is all about taste for me. It’s not about getting a buzz.
It’s quite the opposite for cannabis, which is all about the buzz and only minimally about the taste for the people who might smoke it. (I don’t; I bake it and go the edible route.) Each strain, presumably, has unique effects, if only slightly different from other strains.
Typical questions pot shoppers might ask: Will it inspire you to clean the house? Or lock you on the sofa? Will it make you more creative? Or induce contemplation and meditation? Might it make you feel divine? Or paranoid?
The provincial retailer (SQDC) does provide essential product info on its website: strain, brand, supplies, category (indica, sativa, hybrid, blend). It also gives a brief description devoid of adjectives. Take a Sensi Star strain from 7Acres as an example: “This Indica strain, in dried flower form, has a strong THC content and may contain CBD. It may alter concentration along with creativity levels. Its naturally occurring terpenes emit lemony, spicy and diesel aromas.”
It is strong, indeed. But what kind of strong? I found it does alter my creativity levels — negatively. But there are other cannabis products that enhance my creativity levels.
So, add another complexity to the puzzle: a strain that makes some more creative might do the opposite for others.
Sites like wikileaf.com and lift.co provide reviews from their writers and readers, along with a list of information. Some explain the origins of the strains and how they may have evolved over time.
Hence, I order cannabis online, after I’ve done some research.
Some tips for baked flower: A little goes a very long way. A half a pinch may be all you need. A 3.5-gram purchase can last for months.
We’ve come a long way since the days when consumers pretty much had one choice: whatever their street dealer had at the time, quite often a smelly skunk weed. One didn’t ask if it was a sativa, indica or hybrid.
It’s exciting to see the industry growing by leaps and bounds now, and to have such variety in products.
Now, if only they would resurrect Acapulco Gold . . .
I would love to be able to laugh like that again.
— Jillian
Jillian Page 
Pot is one of the few things that allows me to relax when I’m in a social situation. Alcohol relaxes me too but also allows my Asperger’s to come out. Very fine line between relaxed and moving into nincompoop mode.
Pot does not do that. Instead I get relaxed and mellow. I may be an Aspie but I’m a very laid back and mellow Aspie. If I get really stoned I’m more likely to fall asleep than to act crazy. But I don’t do pot often. It is comparatively expensive and I don’t cook. So I’d smoke and burn my throat. Ow!
I remember something we called “skunkweed” from when I was young. It really stank but it had an incredibly sensual high. I also remember Acapulco Gold.
Here in the US, it is illegal under federal law and many state laws. Calfornia is one of the few states that has legalized it. There’s a bill before Congress to legalize it nationally. I don’t believe there’s any chance that will happen unless the Democrats take the Senate and the White House.
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In Canada, it was legalized at the federal level. But the provinces were able to set age limits and control the sales. In Quebec, the provincial government set up outlets to sell it. Meanwhile, across Canada, there is still a black market. But given the quantity and quality of what is being sold by the government,I can’t see the black market lasting much longer.
As for baking it, I just grind the flower, bake it, and add half a pinch to something sweet now and then, or take it with a cup of coffee. I don’t make cookies or anything. I would recommend those of legal age who want to try it that way — and save their lungs — do their research first.
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