Heavy Metal Entertainment revealed this week that it is partnering with the licensed cannabis company Berkshire Roots to launch a new line of weed products for the regulated market in Massachusetts. Through the new partnership, the two companies will offer new flower strains and create unique cannabis products under the trade name “Heavy Metal,” a brand that rose to fame more than 40 years ago with a science fiction, fantasy, and horror magazine and feature film.

Heavy Metal Entertainment (HME) has made a name for itself since the company was founded in 1977 by bringing adult-oriented science fiction, fantasy and horror entertainment to the mainstream. Heavy Metal was launched as a print publication curating unique comic book-style stories with adult-themed subjects and characters the like of which were simply unavailable through mainstream media. Four years later, Heavy Metal and legendary producer and director Ivan Reitman released the groundbreaking 1981 film, bringing the magazine to life on the silver screen and introducing adult animation to a worldwide audience.

Heavy Metal was the first magazine to bring the work of European artists including Moebius, Enki Bilal and Pepe Moreno to the United States while featuring skilled American talent such as Richard Corben, Jim Steranko and Bernie Wrightson. The magazine continues to showcase emerging new talent and established creators through serialized and standalone stories, artist galleries and interviews.

Under a new ownership group, HME is focused on a comprehensive fan experience unique in the entertainment industry, delivering content across print publishing, new media and a newly launched television, film and animation content studio.

To kick off the new Heavy Metal cannabis launch in Massachusetts, James Winokur, CEO of Berkshire Roots, and Heavy Metal Studios President Tommy Coriale will be at the New England Cannabis Convention (NECANN) in Boston this weekend. The new line of products will then be available at licensed dispensaries throughout Massachusetts beginning in April.

“Building on the reputation and consumer loyalty Berkshire Roots has established since it launched, we are now in a position to guide other brands that want to enter the cannabis market and Massachusetts specifically,” Winokur said in a joint statement from the two brands. “We want to work with unique offerings that set themselves apart in a crowded field. When I first started thinking about the Heavy Metal brand and how creative we could get in our product offerings, I became really passionate about working with the HME team. I think this model is game-changing for the industry … Our customers are going to really love this pairing!”

Pittsfield, Massachusetts-based Berkshire Roots is a cannabis cultivator, processor and retailer with dispensaries in Pittsfield and East Boston. In addition to the company’s shops, Heavy Metal branded cannabis products will be available starting next month at other licensed retailers throughout Massachusetts including Budzee Delivery, Dreamer, The Goods, Honey, Nature’s Remedy, Northeast Alternatives, Nova Farms, Panacea Wellness and Zyp Run Delivery.

“When we were all introduced to Berkshire Roots, we immediately gravitated to the idea of a connection between our brand and cannabis,” said Coriale. “As conversations with company management went on and Heavy Metal got a glimpse of their follow-up product ideas, we grew increasingly excited as they really understood the DNA of the brand and its commitment to enhancing our customer experience in unexpected ways. We can’t wait to see this product connect to both the long-time fans, and the younger generation who are just getting to know Heavy Metal for the first time.”  

The cannabis community will get its first look at the new Heavy Metal products this weekend at NECANN, a cannabis industry trade show taking place in Boston from March 10 through March 13.

The post Heavy Metal To Launch Cannabis Line in Massachusetts appeared first on High Times.

The post Heavy Metal To Launch Cannabis Line in Massachusetts appeared first on Paradise Found.

The cannabis cup is virtual this year—virtually awesome, that is, with our People’s Choice Edition making it possible to judge safely from the comfort of your home. Here are the well-deserved winners of the Cannabis Cup Massachusetts: People’s Choice Edition 2021.

Thank you to all the judges who put their hearts and souls into judging the competition entries to help crown the best of Massachusetts! This is the first-ever High Times Cannabis Cup to be held in “The Bay State” of Massachusetts. We can’t wait to return next year!

For more info on how to become a judge and to sign up for updates, please visit CannabisCup.com/preregister.

Indica Flower

First Place: Bountiful Farms – Secret Formula

Second Place: Northeast Alternatives – Runtz

Third Place: Rythm – Brownie Scout

Fourth Place: Apothca – Vanilla Gorilla

Fifth Place: Trulieve – Banana OG

Sativa Flower

First Place: Happy Valley – Super Lemon Haze

Second Place: Bountiful Farms – Piña Grande

Third Place: Berkshire Roots – Orange Chemeleon

Fourth Place: Rythm – Tahitian Punch

Fifth Place: Apothca – Honolulu

Hybrid Flower

First Place: Happy Valley – White Wedding

Second Place: Northeast Alternatives – Ice Cream Man

Third Place: Nature’s Heritage – Crescendo

Fourth Place: Sira Naturals – Wedding Cake

Fifth Place: Rev Clinics – Gelato #33

Pre-Rolls

First Place: Nova Farms – Southie Sundaze Infused Blunt

Second Place: Yamna – Tropicanna Cookies Cannagar

Third Place: Triple M – Triple Monster Infused Pre-Roll

Fourth Place: Insa – Kush Mints Pre-Roll

Fifth Place: Funky Monkey – Tropic Truffle Monkey Bones Pre-Roll

Concentrates

First Place: Rythm – Energize Durban Live Resin Sugar

Second Place: Bountiful Farms – Garlic Juice Live Rosin

Third Place: Nova Farms – Southie Adams – GMO Live Hash Rosin

Fourth Place: Northeast Alternatives – Tangerine Cookies OG Diamonds

Fifth Place: Berkshire Roots – Zombie Virus Crumble

Sativa Vape Pens

FIrst Place: Insa – Clementine Sativa Vape

Second Place: Pioneer Valley – Mango Super Silver Haze Sativa Vape

Third Place: Fernway – Red Headed Stranger Sativa Vape

Fourth Place: Happy Valley – T. Sage Sativa Vape

Fifth Place: HÅVN Extracts – Durban Poison Solventless Terpene Sativa Vape

Indica Vape Pens

First Place: Church – Watermelon Zkittlez Indica Vape

Second Place: HÅVN Extracts – Hindu Kush Solventless Terpene Indica Vape

Third Place: Rove – Skywalker Indica Vape

Fourth Place: Rythm – Brownie Scout Indica Vape

Fifth Place: Insa – Zlife Indica Vape

Edibles: Gummies

First Place: HÅVN Extracts – Lemon Sour Amnesia Gummies

Second Place: Happy Valley – Strawberry Margarita Gummies

Third Place: Marmas – Blue Raspberry Gummies

Fourth Place: Cannatini – Cranberry Lime Mojito Gummies

Fifth Place: Insa – Black Cherry Sleepy Drops

Edibles: Chocolate Non-Gummies

First Place: Insa – Double Caramel Sea Salt Chocolate Bar

Second Place: Coast Cannabis – S’mores Chocolate Bar

Third Place: Koko Gemz – Cookies & Cream Chocolates

Fourth Place: Pioneer Valley – Habañero Dark Chocolate Bites

Fifth Place: Cheeba Chews – Trifecta Caramel Taffy

Edibles: Fruity Non-Gummies

First Place: Hi Burst – Raspberry Lemonade Fruit Chews

Second Place: Forbidden Fruit – Dried Mango THC Slices

Third Place: Berkshire Roots – White Peach Roots Fruits Pâte de Fruit

Fourth Place: Nova Farms – Strawberry Honey Sticks

Fifth Place: Incredibles – Fruit Trio Tarts

Topicals and Tinctures

First Place: Treeworks – Daily Drops Sunrise Punch

Second Place: Happy Valley – Remedy Tincture

Third Place: Sira Naturals – Nordic Goddess Body Balm

Fourth Place: Doctor Solomon’s – Doze Drops

Fifth Place: Insa – Tropical Express Tincture

The post The Winners of The Cannabis Cup Massachusetts: People’s Choice Edition 2021 appeared first on High Times.

The post The Winners of The Cannabis Cup Massachusetts: People’s Choice Edition 2021 appeared first on Paradise Found.