Buy This: Gummies for Gourmands
The best (marijuana) edibles in the game
I grew up in the D.A.R.E era so talking about my marijuana use in a newsletter is new territory. I’ll give it a go, regardless. At the end of the day, this is a lifestyle newsletter centered around eating well, travel/adventure, being active, engaging with community, and staying curious. Somewhere in that soup of my interests is weed.
Recreational marijuana use is now legal in 25 states, with another 14 clearing marijuana for medical purposes. Understandably the US is witnessing a boom in dispensaries and new products to meet growing interest. I use THC edibles (I never smoke) once or twice a week for a variety of reasons. It helps me relax, destress, focus at home during busy/stressful periods, and reducing my alcohol intake. I keep them in a safe box with a combination lock.
While the discussion around drugs and alcohol is a complex one, I can only speak from personal experience about what works for my personality. My doctor (who I am very honest with!) tells me marijuana is a gateway drug. He doesn’t approve. Perhaps he’s right - but on the other side of my gates I’ve only found relaxation and the occasional bout of munchies. I am a disciplined, health focused person with a thoughtful relationship to weed. I know what works for me.
Naturally, my growing interest means I’ve taken to exploring new dispensaries when I travel. I love seeing how products are being positioned, what kind of packaging and graphics are being used, and how the interiors are designed. I recall my first visit to Portland, Oregon in 2018 when I stopped into Serra and understood that weed was no longer lurking in the shadows - it was stepping into luxury retail. Their newest store in LA (below) was designed by Commune.
Another favorite dispensary is Gotham in NYC, adjacent to one of my favorite hotels in the city, The Bowery. In addition to the actual marijuana for sale, there are a variety of lifestyle products available like Seth Rogen’s line of ashtrays and accoutrements, lockboxes from Ally, and even weed-adjacent decor, whatever that is.
Gotham is where I go to stock up on my favorite product in the edible space: Rose Los Angeles. Rose takes a very cheffy, ingredient driven approach to their edibles that any food lover would appreciate. Outside of the immaculate branding, they partner with regional farms and respected food personalities and chefs to develop delicious, unique edibles that deliver a high quality experience. Their cubed edibles, which they call “delights” are a clear tip of the hat to the beloved treat Turkish delights.
Their roster includes gummies made with Frog Hollow Farm mulberries, Albion strawberries grown at Chino Farms, and even a gummy made with cider from Bernie’s Best.
Over the years they’ve released collaborations with Brad Leone, chocolate bars with Pujol in Mexico City, and even A24, to celebrate the release of Nic Cage’s newest film, Dream Scenario. It’s all just too good.
For the intrigued consumer who is not yet comfortable with THC, they offer a variety of CBD products - all branded and packaged with the same aplomb.
If you’re not planning to be anywhere near a stockist anytime soon, I do have some interesting news: this week I was served an ad that suggested they would sell their edibles online. I assumed it was only for the CBD products, but further investigation suggests it might include all of their products.
It’s a brave new world out there. Sorry, Dr. Jones.
I’m a BIG fan and agree on all fronts! Keeps me from drinking alcohol as well.
They do indeed ship all of their delights, even the THC ones. The Gotham pop-up near us sold out of my favorite flavor, so I ordered them directly from Rose and they were delivered a few days later. What a glorious world we live in.