A first-person review of the hemp-derived THC cocktail base I poured at our Cannabis Cup in New York. What’s in it, how it hits, and why I haven’t stopped pouring it.

There’s a moment at almost every event when the bar opens. The bottles come out. The wines, the whiskeys, the canned cocktails, the beers. The room shifts.

I’m not anti-alcohol. I drink it. I just don’t always want it.

That was the situation at our Cannabis Cup in New York. The bar was open. I had the option. I was off the clock by then. But I knew what alcohol would do to me at this particular event. It would soften the conversations I actually wanted to remember, slow me down for the rest of the night and ruin the morning after.

So I reached for the bottle on our table instead. Black currant color. 750ml. Hemp-derived Delta-9 THC.

I poured it for myself, then for the colleague next to me, then for the friend who walked over, then for the four other people who saw what we were doing and asked what it was.

Somewhere in the middle of all that, I slipped another bottle to Josh Kesselman, High Times’ publisher and a good friend who’s famously not a drinker.

“You know I don’t drink,” Josh said.

“What you don’t know yet is, this isn’t booze. It’s weed.”

He laughed and took the bottle home.

By the end of the night, the bottle on our table was empty. Nobody was drunk. Everybody was happy. The next morning, I woke up like I’d had a tea.

What’s actually in the bottle

The bottle is Black Market. It’s a hemp-derived Delta-9 THC beverage built like a spirit, not like a seltzer. The 750ml flagship gives you about sixteen 1.5-ounce pours. Each pour delivers 5mg of THC and 10mg of THCV. Onset is ten to fifteen minutes. Black currant flavor with a custom terpene blend the brand calls the “Black Market Bite.” Functional ingredients in the mix: L-theanine, lion’s mane, electrolytes and B vitamins.

Black Market is made by cannabis people. Co-founders Adam and Jason held the first medical cannabis grow license issued in Puerto Rico. Heidi Minx, the brand’s CMO, is a longtime cannabis operator with a background that runs through the Sonoma County Growers Alliance, Conception Nurseries and Juva Life before landing at Hightails, Black Market’s parent company.

The THCV is the move

THCV is a rare cannabinoid that tends toward clear-headed, social, energizing effects rather than the couch-lock that bigger doses of THC alone can produce. At 5mg THC plus 10mg THCV per pour, the lift is functional. You feel it in fifteen minutes. It doesn’t take you out of the room. It puts you further into it.

Most hemp-derived THC beverages on the market are seltzer-style, low-dose, single-cannabinoid drinks. They’re fine. They also tend to bottom out at a certain point in the night because the format doesn’t have anywhere to go. Black Market went a different way. The format is a spirit. The cannabinoid load is dialed for social use. The taste profile is built to mix or sip neat.

How it tastes

Real black currant, deep and a little tart, with the kind of botanical depth that makes you want a second pour. The “Bite” is the terpene blend doing its work, a small herbal sharpness on the back of the tongue that keeps the drink from reading as sugary fruit juice. On ice with a splash of soda, it pours like a Spritz. Mixed with lemon-lime soda, the brand calls it a Dirty Sprite. Straight up over ice, it sits next to anything on a craft cocktail menu without looking out of place.

I’ve been making one cocktail with it more than any other. Here’s the recipe.

Bright, herbal, a little tart. The kombucha gives it the acidity a sour needs without the citrus going one-note. The honey syrup smooths it out. Black Market does the rest.

The honest comparison

I love a cocktail. I love a glass of wine with dinner. None of this is anti-alcohol propaganda. But the math is what it is.

Who it’s for

Anyone who drinks but is tired of paying for it the next morning. Hosts who want a bottle on the table that gets passed around. Cannabis people at industry events where alcohol is the wrong tool. Anyone who’s spent the last few years going dry-ish and looking for a real alternative to the seltzer aisle.

The bigger point: hemp-derived THC beverages have mostly been a seltzer category. Seltzers are fine for a poolside afternoon. They’re not built for the dinner, the Cup, the networking room or the 2am drink. Black Market is. That’s what makes it different.

The verdict

Buy a 750ml. Keep it in the fridge. Pour it the next time you want a drink that doesn’t end in a hangover or a four-hour nap. The 90ml minis (10mg THC plus 20mg THCV per bottle) are for the bag.

I drank Black Market at our NY Cannabis Cup. I drank it again at home a couple of days later. I’ll drink it again this weekend. That’s the most honest review I can give.

<p>The post Alcohol Is Fun. Hangovers Suck. Here’s What I Drink Instead. first appeared on High Times.</p>

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The first-ever New Jersey High Times Cannabis Cup went down May 1 at the Steel Pier in Atlantic City. More than 2,500 judges across the state weighed in across 13 categories. Niche. swept the flower podium. ONYX cleaned up across concentrates and edibles. And here’s everyone who took home a trophy.

The first-ever New Jersey High Times Cannabis Cup is in the books.

The Steel Pier in Atlantic City closed its boardwalk for the night on May 1, 2026. The Ferris wheel kept running. More than 2,500 judges across the state had spent weeks evaluating product. Smoke DZA hosted, and High Times publisher Josh Kesselman opened the night by sparking a giant blunt and walking it through the crowd before the awards began.

Then the trophies started landing.

Honorable mentions to The Growfather and Sun Extractions, which each took home three medals across multiple categories, and Rosin King, which took first and third in Solventless Vape Pens.

Every winner, every category

A scene that’s only getting bigger

New Jersey’s adult-use cannabis market opened its doors in April 2022. Four years later, the state is producing the kind of cultivation, extraction and edible work that fills out a thirteen-category competition with real depth at every podium. The Steel Pier crowd reflected it: dispensary owners, brand founders, content creators, legacy growers and a few unexpected guests, all on a closed-off boardwalk under the Atlantic City lights.

The Cup is now part of New Jersey’s cannabis calendar. Every brand on this list earned the spot. And the next round is already coming.

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I try a lot of cannabis edibles. It’s my preferred format for the predictability, easy dosing, and because I love a little treat. Don’t get me wrong, nothing beats a perfectly rolled joint, but there’s something inherently more enjoyable to me in having edibles in my rotation. 

A good edible should taste delicious (why would I compromise on flavor just for a buzz?), come on easy and gradually taper off, and include more than one cannabinoid. At least, that’s my preference.

Rare Cannabinoid Company ended up being one of those brands for me—the kind you don’t just try once, but want to keep within reach.

Who Is Rare Cannabinoid Company?

Rare Cannabinoid Company came out of Hawaii with a focus on building products around cannabinoids beyond the usual THC and CBD.

Instead of leaning entirely on THC or CBD, their formulas incorporate compounds like CBN, CBC, CBG, and CBDV—each chosen for a specific role in the experience.

That approach shows up in how their products feel. To me, that experience was well-rounded, soft, and offered both body and mind high.

They also put a heavy emphasis on testing, transparency, and cGMP manufacturing, which matters in a category where consistency can be hit or miss.

The pitch is simple: not “one cannabinoid does everything,” but “different cannabinoids do different things, use them accordingly.”

Product Breakdown: What I Actually Tried

I had the pick of the litter of their impressive product lineup, but I chose three products that I knew would fit into my daily (and evening) routine.

THC + CBC Mood Mints

These are the ones that surprised me the most.

Each THC + CBC mint delivers a microdose of 2.5mg THC alongside 2.5mg CBC and 12.5mg CBD, using a nano formulation that’s designed to hit faster than traditional edibles. On paper, it sounds subtle. In practice, it’s just enough.

I keep these in my purse and take them the way people take mints: after lunch, between errands, before doing something social. One gives a light lift. Two puts me right where I want to be.

The effect feels like taking a hit of a well-rolled joint and following it up with a perfect cup of coffee. A gentle lift that feels a little bit joyful and indulgent. There’s a noticeable mood shift, a little brightness, but no heaviness. You’re still fully functional, just slightly elevated in a way that makes everything feel easier.

I took a couple before a movie and had a blast. That’s kind of the sweet spot for these.

Flavor-wise, they land in that Altoids territory—firm, minty, not overly chalky. Easy to take, no weird cannabinoid aftertaste hanging around.

If you like to microdose, this is the kind of product you want to keep on you.

THC + CBC Mood Gummies

Same cannabinoid stack—THC, CBC, and CBD—but a different experience. This time, the ratios are doubled: 5:5:25.

Each Mood Gummy delivers a more traditional edible feel. The onset is slower than the mints, but the overall effect is stronger and more noticeable. This isn’t something I’d casually take while running errands unless I planned for it. Call me a lightweight.

The difference likely comes down to how your body processes it. Gummies tend to hit deeper, and these follow that pattern.

They’re well-made, good texture, solid flavor (lime and mint), no weird chewiness or artificial aftertaste. But the main thing is the shift in intensity.

If the mints are your “anytime” option, these are more of a “set the tone for the next few hours” edible.

Same ingredients, different lane.

THC + CBN Sleep Gummies

The sleep gummies are where the lineup really locks in.

Each gummy contains:

• 5mg THC
• 30mg CBN
• 10mg CBD

That’s a serious CBN dose, and you feel it.

CBN has always been my go-to for sleep, and this hits exactly how I want a nighttime edible to hit. Not a knockout, not disorienting, just a steady drop into rest.

You feel your body settle first, then your mind follows. It’s a clean wind-down instead of a forced shutdown. One gummy works for a normal night. Two is where I go when I really want to be out all night.

The CBD helps smooth everything, which I appreciated. It keeps the THC from tipping too far and rounds out the whole experience.

Flavor is huckleberry, texture is the ideal chew, and overall it feels like a product that was actually designed for sleep—not just labeled that way.

Where These Land

Some edibles are fun to try once. Others earn a spot in your routine. That’s the difference here.

The Mood Mints are easy, functional, and surprisingly effective for how light they are. The gummies bring more weight when you want it. And the sleep formula does exactly what it’s supposed to do, consistently.

More than anything, these feel intentional. The cannabinoid combinations aren’t random, and the effects reflect that. That’s what keeps something in rotation.

Photos courtesy of Rare Cannabinoid Company.

Sponsored Content Disclaimer: High Times received compensation and product samples for this sponsored content. All opinions are the author’s own personal experience and honest use. These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA, and products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

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The new 2-gram Ice Packs Blunts are loaded with rosin, diamonds, hash, and a glass tip. More importantly, they come from a brand that usually does something rare in cannabis: it delivers.

Rove has launched a new product, but the interesting part is not just what’s inside it.

It’s the name on the box.

The company’s new Ice Packs Blunts arrive as 2-gram, triple-infused blunts made with flower, THCA diamonds, solventless ice hash rosin, an additional ice hash coating, a natural hemp wrap, and a glass tip meant to keep the draw open and the smoke cooler. They can reach up to 50% THC potency and describes them as the world’s first triple-infused blunt.

That all sounds intense, and it is supposed to. But the reason this release stands out is simpler than the ingredient list.

Rove tends to deliver.

That may sound obvious. It shouldn’t. Cannabis is full of products that promise too much, strain names that barely connect to the experience, flavor notes that feel pulled from a branding deck, and potency numbers that matter more on a menu than in real life. Rove, in my experience, has usually been one of the exceptions.

Whenever we spend time with the brand’s products, the thing that stands out is not just that they get us high. A lot of products do that. It’s that they do what they say they will do. If something leans grape, it tastes like grape. If it’s supposed to hit hard, it hits hard. If it promises a heavy, flavorful ride, that is what shows up. There is very little daylight between the label and the actual experience.

That matters more than ever in a market where everyone wants to sound premium.

Rove’s earlier Ice Packs pre-rolls built part of that reputation already. That line uses premium flower infused with THCA diamonds and solventless ice hash rosin, then coated with more ice hash, all in pursuit of a product that is both potent and smooth. The new blunt format takes that same general idea and pushes it further, with more material, a slower-burning wrap, and a glass tip that suggests this was designed to feel like an event, not a quick smoke.

That is probably the smartest thing about the whole launch.

A blunt should feel like a blunt. It should take up space. It should announce itself a little. It should not feel like a lab experiment disguised as a session. Plenty of infused products forget that and end up smoking like a dare. Too much concentrate, too little balance, not enough airflow, all force and no grace.

Rove is clearly aiming for something else here. The rosin is there to preserve flavor, the diamonds are there to concentrate the potency, and the outer hash layer is there to deepen the experience without wrecking the smoke. The glass tip is part of that same pitch: cleaner pull, cooler finish, less mess, more control.

But, does it actually all come together?

If this were any random brand, I’d be more skeptical. But Rove has earned at least a little benefit of the doubt. That does not mean every product is perfect or every flavor is for every smoker. It means that when they tell you a strain is going to taste a certain way and hit a certain way, they usually seem to understand the assignment.

That is not small.

It is one thing to make a strong product. It is another to make one that feels intentional. A lot of cannabis gets people very high. Far fewer products leave you thinking, yes, that was exactly what they were trying to do.

That is why these new blunts are worth paying attention to. Not just because they are heavy, or flashy, or loaded with enough buzzwords to make a dispensary menu blush. They are worth watching because they are coming from a company that has already shown it can translate promise into experience.

And honestly, that may be the real luxury in cannabis now.

Not diamonds. Not rosin. Not glass tips.

Reliability.

Rove Ice Packs Blunts are available in California, Nevada, Massachusetts, and Arizona.

<p>The post Meet The Blunt for People Who Think Most Blunts Are Weak first appeared on High Times.</p>

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Major breakthroughs in dry herb vape tech have pushed performance to new levels of potency and power. At-home vaporists are experiencing stronger, more flavorful sessions than ever before, and a new level of cannabis extraction has emerged.

What Is a Ball Vape? 

Ball vapes are a newer type of dry herb vaporizer that can deliver a dab-like flavor and intensity using small doses of dry herb. They’re like a tiny espresso machine, but for weed vapor. Instead of hot water, these vapes use super-heated air. Much like espresso, this vapor can be thick and potent.

Ball vapes use powerful convection to vaporize dry herb without combustion. Tiny glass or ruby balls inside the convection heater increase surface area and maximize heat transfer while maintaining high airflow. The result is a fast, open, direct-inhale vaporizer designed to extract 0.1–0.3g of dry herb in a single session.

There’s no secret about what makes these vapes work. The technology was developed by vape enthusiasts and DIY builders seeking more performance than the broader vape market offered. Glass or ruby balls were initially added to existing vapes to increase thermal mass and power. The technique first appeared around 2017, and by 2020, a new category of dry herb vaporizers had emerged.

Most ball vapes are desktop vaporizers designed for use with a water piece, as their vapor is often hot enough to benefit from additional cooling.

How Ball Vapes Work 

The heated balls never touch your herb. Instead, they heat the air, and that air passes through a small pressed puck of dry herb. Trichomes absorb the heat and release vapor as the air moves through.

Much like an espresso machine, a finer grind and a perfectly tamped bowl yield the best results. 

Modern ball vapes use a coil heater to warm a ball-filled housing and maintain a stable temperature. The balls store heat, like a battery. Air is drawn through the heated balls and directly through the cannabis. The super-heated air vaporizes the trichome heads using convection. 

The experience is typically a fast, open inhale, and many users consider it one of the most potent and flavorful ways to consume cannabis. These vapes are designed for rapid extraction, often finishing a bowl in one or two inhalations.

What Makes a Ball Vape Different? 

Dry herb vaporizers have used convection for decades, and powerful units have existed for years. However, ball vapes generally require less specialized inhalation techniques and are engineered for higher heat delivery than many traditional vaporizers. After reviewing hundreds of devices, ball vapes clearly represent a distinct category.

Flower Dabs 

Ball vapes operate in a class of their own. Their high-heat convection can deliver vapor intensity that some users compare to dabbing. For first-time users, the experience can feel surprisingly strong.

The hit and overall effect from a ball vape can be intense, especially at higher temperatures. Because there’s no combustion, vapor can feel cleaner and more concentrated. Some models are capable of extracting up to 0.5g in a single session, while others are optimized for microdoses around 0.1g.

Ball Vapes are Still Evolving 

These vapes are the cutting edge of dry herb vapor extraction. Today’s innovators are refining the experience to make it more user-friendly while further optimizing the flavor. 

Many ball vapes aren’t ready for the mainstream. These devices have hot surfaces and require dedicated space. The tech is only pushed by the demands of vapor enthusiasts and early adopters. 

Consumer-ready ball vapes come as wireless desktop vaporizers. The coil is mounted in a stationary housing, and the ball vape stays heated there. The hot ball vape is only removed when in use. As an added advantage, the stationary coil can be used to heat traditional quartz bucket bangers for a true dabbing experience, making wireless ball vapes the truest dual-use desktop vaporizer. 

Most wireless ball vapes use a standard 30mm, 25mm, or 16mm coil. 

Factors of Flavor & Performance 

Ball vapes are made for flavor chasers and frequent usage consumers. The evolution has been driven by the demand for maximum potency without sacrificing flavor. These vapes cook the herb evenly, which means fewer wasted cannabinoids. 

Ruby balls are the material of choice for most ball vapes. Ruby tastes as pure as glass, but with better thermal performance and durability. Smaller balls yield more power potential, but at the cost of airflow restriction. Most ball vapes are using 2mm-4mm balls.

Reducing the amount of metal used in the heater and airpath, or eliminating it completely, maximizes the flavor purity. The Universal Baller by Terp Chasers Club features an all-glass bowl and a glass-lined ball chamber, providing a 100% all-glass air path. This vape has a protective metal exterior wrapped around an all-glass heater. 

Temperature Control & Customizing the High 

Ball vape temperatures don’t directly translate to vape temperatures. It’s one of the gotcha points of the category. PIDs are used to control the coil temperature, and the balls are usually several insulating layers beneath the coil. Coil temperatures range from 500F to 650F, but the vaporization temperatures are lower. 

Higher temperatures and darker roasts often yield a more stoney and sedative high. Indicas will have even more of the expected indica effects at higher temperatures.

Lower temperatures leave more behind, but yield a headier high. Sativas can get even more driven with an intense low-temperature hit. These vapes deliver the most complete presentation of a strain’s potential flavors. 

Effects will ultimately depend on cannabinoid and terpene content rather than simply indica or sativa labeling.

Some ball vapes are designed to leverage conduction and radiant heating for even deeper levels of flavor and extraction. Industry-leading ball vapes, like the Universal Baller, feature a modular design that allows them to be fully customized. It’s also the first ball vape to use a fully glass-lined air path. 

Are Ball Vapes Safe? 

These devices are intended for experienced adult users. They operate at high temperatures and can cause burns if mishandled. A dedicated space and attention to safety are strongly recommended. Many modern designs incorporate coil guards or protective housings to reduce accidental contact.

Ideal Uses 

Ball vapes are currently best suited for experienced or frequent consumers. Those who prefer at-home sessions and powerful extraction will likely appreciate their performance.

Portable ball vapes exist, but the category remains primarily desktop-focused.

All images provided by Terp Chasers Club.

About the author: Troy / 420vapezone 

Troy has been reviewing vaporizers since 2015. He’s been deleted from YouTube twice and remains an independent vape reviewer. He documents and reviews the evolution of ball vapes and other dry herb vaporizers on 420vapezone.com.

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PuffCon dropped into downtown LA like it owned the lot. Not metaphorically. Literally. A working film studio became the backdrop for two full days of rosin, glass, beats, heat, and everything in between.

The streets were fake, but the sesh was real. There were prop LAPD cruisers parked in one area, glassblowers throwing flame just past the gates, vendor-lined alleys that led to a stage where Eric Andre later launched a live game show. The whole thing looked like a simulation, but hit like the real thing.

The new Puffco Proxy had already been released before the event. But this was the first time I got to hit it surrounded by the noise, the terps, the foot traffic, and the people who make this world spin. It was a fitting place to get to know the device. And the community that helped shape it.

Here’s what went down.

A Backlot Turned Block Party

This didn’t feel like a trade show. It felt like a neighborhood that got high and decided to throw a party. Two main corridors ran like alleys through the lot, flanked by booths pouring out dabs, conversation, and limited drops. There were hydration stations, real food, open space to roam, and a main stage tucked at the far end like a prize.

Day two took a sharp turn into absurd brilliance. Eric Andre hosted a live version of Rapper Ninja Warrior. Contestants had to rap while doing balance tests, dodging flying objects, or spinning until the beat melted. Reggie Watts was judging. Nobody knew what the rules were, but the crowd was locked in. Some MCs pulled it off. Some collapsed mid-verse. Nobody cared. It was hilarious.

At one point, I wandered past a building labeled LAPD and froze. Looked real. Turns out it was part of the set. Inside, there was air conditioning, snacks, drinks, and a quiet zone for media and creators. A welcome break. More events should think like that.

The Proxy in Practice

Let’s talk tech.

The new Proxy looks and feels like Puffco figured out what worked and just made it sharper. Taller. Slimmer. Matte-frosted. The kind of thing that blends into a record shelf or a dinner table without screaming for attention.

It’s not just looks. The deeper 3D chamber means you can drop bigger globs without losing flavor. The joystick carb cap, pulled from the Peak line, gives smoother airflow and a better feel in use. The Proxy cycles through four temps. I started on blue and moved my way up to white. With the right hash, every level hit.

And I had the right hash. I tested it with some full-bodied live rosin from Yapo Farms and another batch from Girls in Green, the brand co-founded by Alice Reis. Both extracts ran beautifully through the chamber. Clean pulls. No char. Full flavor.

There’s a hidden mode too. Five taps on the white setting unlock a secret profile that pushes the heat up to 630 degrees Fahrenheit. Not for rookies. But I tried it. It worked.

Puffco’s app adds even more: you can build custom sessions, adjust LED colors, track usage, and check your battery. I barely scratched the surface there, but the features are deep if you want to dial things in.

Battery life? Around fifteen sessions per charge. You can use it while plugged in, which helps.

Hash and Homies

PuffCon wasn’t just a tech demo. It was a meet-up. A smell-test. A soft launch of friendships. I floated between booths and brands, stopping to sesh or chat or just vibe.

At Yapo Farms, the rosin was bright, textured, and expressive. At Girls in Green, the flavor came in layers. I crossed paths with Champelli, a name you hear in lyrics and whispers. The Bay Area legend was there in the flesh, talking flower and presence.

The First Smoke of the Day crew was floating around, showing love and rolling nonstop. Proper Doinks held their own too, in conversation and in combustion.

We saw Susie Plascencia, co-founder of MOTA Glass and founder of Latinas in Cannabis, a consistent presence and advocate. Her impact was felt. So was her warmth.

A special shoutout goes to Chelsea from Puffco, who puts real effort into making sure women extractors and cultivators get proper visibility. That work doesn’t always get noticed. But it should.

Final Take

PuffCon 2025 didn’t try to do everything. That’s probably why it worked. It gave people space to sesh, connect, and explore without being overwhelmed. No lines snaking for miles. No brands screaming over each other. Just good weed, good rhythm, and a lot of thoughtful design.

The new Proxy held up. It looks good. Hits right. Travels light. It isn’t the answer to every problem, but it solves a lot of them. Pair it with something from Yapo or Alice’s jars, and it becomes the kind of tool you’ll reach for without thinking.

PuffCon made sense. Not just because of the device. But because of the people, the flavors, the moments between hits. It felt lived in. Like a world built for hash heads by hash heads. That matters.

<p>The post We Tried the New Puffco Proxy at PuffCon LA: Here’s How It Ripped first appeared on High Times.</p>

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Some gear earns your respect the moment you open the box. Not because it’s flashy or expensive, but because it feels like it was made with care. That’s what happened when I got my hands on the Grado Hemp Headphones, a limited-edition, hand-assembled pair made from compressed hemp and maple wood in Brooklyn, New York.

At first glance, it sounds like a novelty. Headphones made out of weed? Cute. But then you plug them in. And suddenly, the whole thing makes sense.

These are not gimmick headphones. They’re refined, warm, and weird in the best way. They have soul.

The Build: Analog Energy, Old-School Soul

The Grado Hemp Headphones feel like they were built by people who actually care about what they’re making. You can see it in the texture of the wood, the sturdiness of the cable, the clean minimalism of the design. There’s nothing showy here. No Bluetooth, no active noise-canceling, no lights, no app. Just a big analog plug and the option to use the included mini-jack adapter (or an iPhone dongle, which you can find easily online).

They’re meant to be plugged in. Meant to be listened to. Like a record.

I’m not one to romanticize cables, but even the cord here feels right. Thick, durable, and long enough to give you space to move without feeling like you’re tethered to a desk.

The Sound: Warm, Balanced, No Bullshit

Plugged into a MacBook or headphone amp, the sound surprised me.

I expected something quirky. Instead, I got depth. The bass is round and natural. The highs sparkle without getting sharp. Vocals sit right in the mix, and the overall tuning feels balanced. Not clinical, not artificially hyped, just real.

They’re not loud in the way some modern cans are. But they invite you to stay. To keep listening. That’s rare.

I tested them with Thundercat, Milo J, Bizarrap, Gang Starr, Guru, Samara Cyn, Young Mico, Miles Davis, Sarah Vaughan… At home, on a plane, during a cab ride. Every track opened up. Not in a dramatic, cinematic way, but in a subtle, satisfying way that made me smile.

They’re slow burners. The kind of headphones that make you want to re-listen to everything you thought you knew.

A Word From the Source

When I reached out to John Grado, the man behind the brand, he shared this:

“We are a U.S. manufacturer of headphones and this is our 72nd year in business.
Myself, being a product of the 1960s, when I heard that hemp wood was available for commercial use I was intrigued. I thought: we’ve made headphones out of various species of wood, why not try hemp.
To my surprise and pleasure, we were impressed on how they sounded and decided to put them into the mix of products we offered. And when we introduced them we felt the appropriate price was $420.
I’m told they enhance the entire experience, my feelings also.”

Hard to argue with that.

The Fit: Good for Me, Might Not Be for You

They come stock with F-cushions, the standard flat Grado earpads. I found them comfortable enough, even after a few hours. Even as my ears heated up. But some people with sensitive skin might want to swap them for upgraded pads.

They’re open-back, so they leak sound and don’t block out noise. Still, they worked perfectly on the plane. But, ideally, you’d wear them in a quiet room with the lights low, a playlist queued up, and maybe a little something-something lit up.

The Vibe: Functional Luxury

The Grado Hemp Headphones aren’t trendy. They’re not trying to win over TikTok or gamers. They’re made for people who still care about fidelity. People who listen closely. Who collect things not because they’re expensive, but because they’re meaningful.

They remind me of studio monitors or vintage turntables. Tools, not toys.

They also look cool as hell.

The Price: A Stoner’s Easter Egg

The original price was set at $420. Which tells you everything you need to know about Grado’s sense of humor.

These days, you’ll find them online for around $469, if you can find them at all. They’re a limited edition, and like most (fine) things made in small batches by hand, once they’re gone, they’re gone.

That said, I genuinely believe they’re worth it. The sound is great, the build is solid, and the vibe is all class.

Final Take

Grado’s Hemp Headphones are strange, subtle, and soulful. They don’t chase trends. They don’t scream for attention. They just are — and in an age of algorithmically tuned everything, that’s refreshing.

They’re for people who get high and want to listen to music the way it was meant to be heard. People who miss physicality. Who want to touch what they use and feel connected to the sound.

If that’s you, plug in. Sit back. Let the hemp do the talking.

<p>The post High Fidelity: I Tested Grado’s Hemp Headphones and Got Lost in the Sound first appeared on High Times.</p>

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Every cannabis consumer knows the feeling. You’ve just enjoyed a smooth joint, a flavorful dab, or maybe a heavy-hitting bong rip, and as you lean back, satisfied, you realize your mouth feels like the Sahara desert. That unmistakable dry, sticky, tongue-heavy sensation we call cotton mouth can crash a sesh faster than a bad playlist. For decades, smokers have been improvising remedies, chugging water, chewing gum, even crunching on an ice cube, but nothing has ever quite felt designed for us.

Enter Dr. Buzzkill’s Cotton Mouth Killers, a stoner-friendly innovation that aims at one of cannabis culture’s most notorious side effects. I recently tested their Strawberry Flavor, and I’ve got thoughts on the product itself and on why cotton mouth exists in the first place.

What is Cotton Mouth, Really?

“Cotton mouth” (also known as dry mouth or xerostomia in medical terms) isn’t just in your head. THC and other cannabinoids interact with the body’s endocannabinoid system, and in the process, they affect receptors in the salivary glands. When those glands stop producing as much saliva, the result is that dreaded dry, tacky mouthfeel.

It’s not dangerous, but it can be uncomfortable. Beyond just thirst, saliva is essential for tasting food, speaking clearly, and keeping your mouth fresh. Without it, flavors feel muted, conversations get awkward, and that  perfect post-smoke snack doesn’t hit the same way. It’s part of the cannabis experience that most of us tolerate, but secretly wish we didn’t have to.

Over the years, I’ve tried it all: water, sports drinks, mints, even sticking slices of lemon in my mouth like I’m prepping for tequila shots. They work for a second, but the dryness always creeps back. That’s what makes a product like Cotton Mouth Killers so interesting. It is a candy engineered specifically for smokers, not just a generic mint repackaged for the culture.

Of course, Cotton Mouth Killers are not the only player in this space. Flintts Mouthwatering Mints have built a strong following for their sugar-free, vegan formula that delivers a unique tingling sensation to jumpstart saliva production. Their watermelon and strawberry flavors in particular have become cult favorites among smokers looking for something both functional and fun. The “sparkle” effect can be divisive, but there is no denying Flintts are effective at tackling dry mouth in a novel way.

On the opposite end, you have Biotène, a more clinical solution designed for people dealing with chronic dry mouth. Their oral rinses, gels, and sprays are alcohol-free and often recommended by dentists. Biotène products do provide lasting moisture, but they feel more like medicine than part of your smoking ritual.

Then there are the old-school remedies. Chewing sugar-free gum, sipping water, sucking on hard candy, or using an alcohol-free mouthwash all offer some relief. They are easy fixes but never last long enough to carry you through a full session.

Compared to all of these, Cotton Mouth Killers stand out as both practical and playful. They work, taste good, and feel like they were actually made for smokers.

First Impressions

Dr. Buzzkill’s Cotton Mouth Killers come in a bright, compact package that’s instantly eye-catching. The design feels fun without being gimmicky, like something you’d be proud to pull out at a session, not embarrassed by. It’s a small detail, but in the cannabis space, packaging often matters as much as performance.

Inside, the Strawberry Flavor candies look unassuming enough. Pop one in, though, and the experience kicks in fast. The strawberry profile is bold and juicy, leaning more toward sweet candy than fresh fruit, but that works in its favor. Within seconds, my mouth felt noticeably less dry. It wasn’t just masking the feeling with sweetness; it actually brought moisture back, making it easier to talk and taste again.

The Relief Factor

Let me be clear: these things work. The relief is quick, and the effect lasts long enough to carry you through a conversation or to the next hit in the rotation. For me, it was a night-and-day difference. Instead of sipping water nonstop, I could relax, laugh, and hang out without worrying about my lips sticking together mid-sentence.

The only downside? The flavor and freshness fade quicker than I’d like. I found myself reaching for another piece sooner than expected. It’s not a dealbreaker, but it does make me wish the formula had just a bit more staying power. That said, the candies aren’t heavy or chalky like some mints; they melt cleanly, leaving no weird aftertaste.

Culture and Convenience

What I love about Cotton Mouth Killers is that they lean into stoner culture without making it a punchline. We’ve all accepted cotton mouth as part of the cannabis ritual, almost like a badge of honor. But it doesn’t have to be. This product acknowledges the issue, fixes it, and makes it feel cool in the process.

Think about the tools we already carry: lighters, grinders, rolling trays, storage jars. Adding a sleek little pack of Cotton Mouth Killers to your kit just makes sense. It’s a utility item, but it’s also fun. The strawberry flavor feels like a treat, not just a remedy, and that matters. Cannabis is about pleasure as much as it is about relief. Why shouldn’t the solution to cotton mouth taste good, too?

Beyond Strawberry

While I only tested the Strawberry Flavor, Dr. Buzzkill’s whole line plays into this idea of being the “unsung hero” of the sesh. From air fresheners that tackle lingering smoke to pipe cleaners that restore your glass, the brand is clearly building a toolkit for every little nuisance cannabis smokers face. The Cotton Mouth Killers fit right into that philosophy: practical, playful, and effective.

If strawberry isn’t your go-to, they offer other flavors, which I can imagine broadens the appeal. Personally, I’d love to see a sour version, something that shocks the salivary glands into action. Still, strawberry works well; it’s a flavor that almost everyone enjoys, and it delivers nostalgia alongside functionality.

Final Verdict

At the end of the day, Dr. Buzzkill’s Cotton Mouth Killers aren’t just another novelty product. They solve a real problem in a way that feels tailored for cannabis consumers. The strawberry flavor is tasty and fun, the relief is legit, and the package design is slick enough to fit right in with your rolling papers and stash jars.

Yes, I wish the flavor and freshness lingered longer, but that’s a minor critique of a product that actually does what it promises. If you’re someone who regularly battles cotton mouth, and let’s be honest, that’s most of u, this is worth adding to your stoner kit.

Cannabis culture is built around sharing: joints, stories, snacks, music. Dry mouth has always been the awkward interruption to that flow. With Cotton Mouth Killers, Dr. Buzzkill has given us a simple way to keep the good times rolling, the conversations flowing, and the flavors hitting just right.

So the next time cotton mouth creeps in, don’t reach for another glass of water, reach for Dr. Buzzkill. Your taste buds (and your friends) will thank you.

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Today Puffco announced the release of its latest product, a 3D Chamber designed to optimize user experience of the award-winning Puffco Peak Pro. 

The 3D chamber heats on all sides, fully enveloping the dab material evenly. Bringing the heat into the bowl itself—where the oil sits—results in bigger clouds, better flavor, more efficiency and a faster heat-up time, the company promises. 

The 3D chamber uses 30 percent less battery power and produces more vaporous dabs at a lower temperature, optimizing the experience for the dabber. Additional heat sensing capabilities also provide more accuracy, keeping the bowl at its pre-set temperature. 

Connoisseurs and dabbers already know about the cutting-edge torchless design of the Puffco Peak Pro—providing electronic heating accuracy without losing any quality. It’s the “best and first” smart rig design, capable of next-level customization and control. The company plans on doing the same with its new chamber technology.

“Puffco created the Peak to make the best experience in cannabis accessible to everyone, designing it to evolve along with its users’ needs and wants,” Puffco CEO and Founder Roger Volodarsky explains. “The 3D chamber delivers on that evolution with better flavor, improved battery efficiency, and more vapor—even from such delicate materials as water hash. It levels up the entire experience instantly.” Puffco was originally founded by Volodarsky in 2013 and is still held privately, with headquarters in Los Angeles, California. 

Fans of the standard chamber need not worry: The 3D Chamber is capable of the same four pre-set heat settings as the Peak Pro Standard Chamber, and can be customized on the Peak Pro Platform. Keep in mind that any firmware updates are required to use the 3D chamber. 

The 3D Chamber will be available in late October through www.puffco.com.

The company manufactures devices for cannabis concentrate connoisseurs including the Puffco Peak, Peak Pro and the easy-to-carry portable Puffco Plus. The company is known throughout the industry for its award-winning product designs and advanced cannabis concentrate technology. 

The company has sold over one million orders of the Puffco Plus since first launching the product in 2016. The company’s recent products are selling at an ever faster pace. The company released The Puffco Hot Knife, an innovative battery-powered dabbing tool earlier this year. You don’t even have to wipe off concentrates with the tool, because it features a ceramic tip that heats rapidly, thus allowing the concentrate to slide off on its own.

Puffco Peak Pro at Puffcon

Puffco is all about meeting its consumers face-to-face, showing appreciation, which was highlighted recently at a local event.

The 3D Chamber made its debut earlier this month at the inaugural Puffcon Block Party. Puffco fans, including High Times representatives, attended the first-ever Puffcon Block Party event on October 2 and had a chance to try out the 3D Chamber’s capabilities first-hand, prior to its public release and on-sale date.

The event transformed approximately four blocks of Downtown Los Angeles, located near the 110 freeway. 

The inaugural Puffcon Block Party even featured performances from Flatbush Zombies, Action Bronson and Buddy, and an all-star line up of vendors ranging from Talking Terps and Trove SF to All My Hats Are Dead and Elbo. Puffcon Block Party was free to any vaccinated consumer over the age of 21 who owned a Puffco Peak Pro or Peak OG, or who bought one of the items before the registration closed.

The event featured vendors ranging from, as the event’s “shakedown street” was filled with unique merch and creative wares.

The addition of the 3D Chamber provides better vapor clouds and better flavor, among other perks to the Puffco Peak Pro family of products.

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It seems like every month there’s a new cultivar vying for our attention. Fancy mylar this, rapper founder that—nine times out of 10 the hype isn’t living up to the product. While consumers are hungry for the new, many brands are just rushing to market and hoping their marketing and influencer network will sell their product. Unfortunately for them, the most commonly overlooked, and frankly most important factor in breeding a new genetic, or growing for the top shelf, is the strength of your cultivators. That’s why when The Cure Company says they’ve got that new fire, I drop everything and tap in.

Founded all the way back in 1996—the very same year Prop. 215 passed—it’s clear to even the farthest outsider that these guys care about their products, and that they are producing something special. While frequent readers of High Times should be more than familiar with The Cure Company by now, let their time in the space be the first co-sign for those out of the know. You don’t last this long in the industry if you don’t know what you’re doing, or if your product is low quality. The industry will eat you up. To the contrary, The Cure Company has successfully rode the waves of legalization—not just hanging on like most, but growing in both reputation and skill.

The subject of our Brand Spotlight in the September Art Issue specifically for the variety and vibrancy of their cultivars, The Cure Company has brought standout flavors with their own unique twist to market for years. In the past I’ve written about their Curelato, its descendent King-lato, and I even dropped some hints about this particular cultivar in my Quarantine Cop List, but now it’s time to open the kimono further…

Introducing Fritz

The latest branded variety grown by The Cure Company team, and bred by the incomparable J Beezy from Seed Junky, is standout by just about every measure. With picturesque buds absolutely covered in trichomes, it wouldn’t be a Cure Co staple if the nose didn’t punch back. With a sampling of several of the different iconic cannabis terpenes, the Fritz produces an aroma that moves from pine to diesel to mint, and all come through in the smoke.

Though a lot of these flavors hint that you can expect to knock out, this is a truly balanced hybrid, providing both energy and relaxation—a rare pairing! Taking things even further, and I know, it’s just in production and not here yet, but you’re going to want to keep an eye on the Cure Co’s packaging updates over the next few months.

They’re gearing up to list their terp profiles of their strains on the packaging to help better educate the consumer, even if the State of California isn’t interested in helping yet. I think we can all agree that’s an important step in the right direction, and a huge reason to shop with these guys even if you’re just dipping your toes into the space—anyone trying to help you understand what works for you, and not just shill you whatever they happened to have that day, is someone you should trust.

While the brand knows flavor is paramount, it’s worth noting the Fritz clocked in at 32.3 percent THC for those of you out there only buying off percentages. (And if that’s you I hope you’ll start to dig deeper when looking for the fire—you’re being misled with that number alone…)

A World of Flavor

While the Fritz can of course stand on its own, The Cure Company knows exactly how to make sure their unique varietals pop off. With seven crosses already in production, and some already on shelves, the Co crossed Fritz with the genetics the market has already dictated are category leaders, like Biscotti and Gelato, and developed a product that pulls the best elements from both—just like they did with their Curelato cut.

Having already debuted the Fritz, and its Animal Cookies cross, Animal Fritz, a few weeks back, the newest flavors hitting the shelves are Miami Fritz and Biscotti Fritz, which have already propelled the terps to new heights. Going in I was expecting Miami Fritz to be the king of the litter, but the Biscotti cross not only put me on my ass, but provided a unique flavor I can’t stop myself from running back to.

Their upcoming releases include Triangle Fritz, Curelato Fritz, and a yet to be named heater I’ve dubbed ‘Skinny Fritz’ but will likely be called something else, so keep an eye on The Cure Company’s socials for the drops or head over to City Compassionate Caregivers to see what’s in stock. Having smoked all the cultivars available on shelves today, I’m happy to report that each of these truly hit. Trust, if you were a fan of the Curelato, you’re in for a real treat.

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