Guide: Where did my favorite brands go?
Why are they so hard to find at your local dispensary…
Customer: “Do you have {your favorite product}?”
Budtender: “No, I'm sorry we don't have that product right now.”
Customer: Heart sinks with disappointment “Why not? When will it be back in stock?
Budtender: …
You know this bummer feeling. It's frustrating. You can't find it anywhere. Dispensaries are sold out or not carrying it anymore, and you're desperately in search. That brand or product you've come to rely on cannot be found.
Rose Delights, Potli, Sundae School… where you at?!
😭 What is happening, and why are they not available anymore?
Let me break it down for you, and tell you where to find these elusive unicorns.
In this Guide:
What happened to my favorite brands?
Where to find the unicorns 🦄
What is H*mp T*C vs. M*rij*ana T*C?
What happened?
It’s not you, it’s the broken system and it’s happening all over California. Many of the standout, innovative brands you’re searching for who made an indelible mark on the c*nn*bis industry are not making and selling products at California dispensaries anymore. They’re not gone… they pivoted. You can buy them online.
But why?
post “Payment Terms: Never” sums up why this is happening in a candid interview with Stone Road founder Lex Corwin. It became impossible and untenable to continue to do business within the legal California c*nn*bis system in its current state.Brands switched from making and selling products in licensed CA dispensaries to leveraging the 2018 Farm Bill loophole that allows for products derived from h*mp-based c*nn*bis in all 50 states. At first, these were mostly CBD products, but creative interpretations of the law and extraction technology have created a glut of h*mp-derived T*C products available to anyone on the internet.
“We almost went bankrupt selling over a million mochi gummies at California garden shops.”
Watch Sundae School founder Dae Kim explain the pivot in this video:
What does this mean?
For the brands: Pivoting to a direct-to-consumer model with shipping available to all 50 states is a much more attractive route. They have access to more customers, control of the sales transaction, have a hands-on customer experience, and aren’t left stiffed with unpaid invoices. There’s more flexibility and breathing room to run a business and get your products into the hands of people who want them.
For the consumer: You’re buying your favorite product directly from the producer with the added convenience of having it shipped directly to your door at the click of a button. You avoid paying the high c*nn*bis taxes or having to leave your house to go to the dispensary. But this product is not the same as the one you had before, it’s made with h*mp-derived T*C which comes with its own questions and unknown risks. You have to do your research to trust that the brand is sourcing pesticide-free, good quality h*mp, and using ethical practices.
For the licensed dispensary owner + budtenders: A shitty scenario where they’re stuck in between a rock and a hard place. As someone who explains this regularly to customers, it’s a tough one. I want to keep their business at the shop, but I also want people to support these brands and get what makes them feel better.
🤷🏻♀️ A bill to bring h*mp-derived products under the control of the California Department of C*nn*bis Control (DCC) was killed last month. Gavin Newsom just proposed an emergency ban on h*mp T*C this month. At the time of publishing this post, I have no idea if or how this will be enforced, what will happen to the companies with h*mp T*C product in California, or what this means. There’s already a patchwork of laws that vary state by state.
UPDATE 9/24/2024: California Governor Gavin Newsom’s emergency ban on h*mp was approved, effective immediately until March 25, 2025 — as reported by SF Gate
“Retailers will no longer be able to sell popular products like drinks made with h*mp T*C, an intoxicating c*nn*bis compound, and many types of medicinal products made with C*D, a nonintoxicating compound. The emergency rules are effective immediately, meaning h*mp T*C products are now illegal across the entire state.”
What does this mean? What a mess. I agree that there needs to be oversight and regulation to prevent trash products, but an all across the board ban seems extra. No idea how this will play out or how it will be enforced. Didn’t we learn that w**d is a w**d and it’s not going away.
Good luck to the brands and businesses doing good out there scrapping and fighting to survive another day.
Where to find the unicorns
Until there’s more clarity, you can find a few of your favorite long-lost brands on the internet. These brands source responsibly, do third-party testing, and are ones I trust. They continue to innovate, push boundaries, and blaze new trails.
Rose Delights: The flavors and collaborations are as inspired, innovative and delectable as ever. One of my personal favorites, they’re still making edibles with real fruit and whole plant rosin. Try the Lychee Martini and Salty Plum.
Sundae School: Their mochi gummies are squishy, bouncy, chewy, and delightful in all the ways. They crushed it with a 420 runway show during NYFW. Try the White Strawberry.
Potli: Known for their infused oil, honey, and infused Sriracha, Potli has a brand new line of edibles made with h*mp infused honey and other functional ingredients. I’m obsessed. Gummies in Ginger Chew, Touch Grass (passion fruit), and Good Night (salted plum) flavors. Try all of them!
Sonder: I love the Space Crystals and am so hyped for their return after a long hiatus. Try all the flavors and don’t be afraid to get a little weird. Try the Wake n’ Bacon. It’s an odd one, but give it a try anyway. It tastes like maple bacon.
Mesobis: The Aztec pyramid shaped Gomitas have everything I want in a gummy: satisfying textures, unique flavors, and a most excellent high. Glad this brand is sticking around. Try the Mango Con Chile.
Cann: Still available in dispensaries but often hard to find or out of stock. On their website, there’s an option to subscribe and build your own bundle. Cann can also be found at Erewhon and Total Wine. Try the Yuzu Elderflower.
Pamos: Delightful w**d cocktail drinks! Mix your own drinks or try a mocktail in a can. The C*nn*bis Cocktail Club merch is super cute. I have the sweatshirt. Try the Strawberry Margarita Spritz.
Kiva: Even the #1 edibles brand in the U.S. is joining the h*mp game with a line of Camino gummies. Try the Fresh Squeezed Recover with CBG.
Wyld: These geometric shaped boxes are hard to resist and the fruit flavors taste damn delicious. Try the Pear 1:1 Refresh with CBG.
Happy Chance: My favorite chef crafted, healthier edible is planning to launch a h*mp line in the coming months. Try the capsules.
🪦 R.I.P.
Pour one out for the homies, these brands are out of the game.
TSUmo Snacks: The savory snack darling who pioneered c*nn*bis collaborations with Snoop Dogg and Chef Roy Choi tapped out at the end of 2023. Their last run is sold out. Owned by a VC, it’s possible to revive the brand, but unlikely.
A Cosmic View: Nicole and her mother left their fans with a goodbye playlist. They’ll continue to be healers and plant medicine makers in other ways. I miss their honey sweets and sun lollies the most.
P&B Kitchen and Papa’s Select: A sad loss. The entire team of award-winning expert hash makers, chocolatiers and confectioners were let go following a company acquisition. Their ice water hash gummies, raspberry quinoa crunch chocolate bar, cucumber melon hash infused gummy, and phenomenal caramel filled chocolates were of exceptional quality. The Papa & Barkley Elderberry Sleep gummies will continue to be produced.
Swami Select: Legendary elders in the sun-grown, regenerative c*nn*bis community announced their retirement at the 20th Emerald Cup Awards. They were positively giddy at not renewing their c*nn*bis license and look forward to teaching and passing their knowledge onto the next generation.
What is H*mp T🌱C vs. M*rij*ana T🌱C?
It’s the same 🫖HC, just extracted from a different varietals of c*nn*bis. Plants grown for fiber and industrial uses come from h*mp, which contain a variety of cannabinoids but mostly high in CBD. Due to the Farm Bill loophole, the cannabinoids from the h*mp plant can be extracted and made into edibles and other T*C products. The c*nn*bis grown for medicinal use and recreational markets is a varietal that’s higher in T*C.
The products made using h*mp-derived c*nn*bis do not undergo the same testing and review standards as those in licensed dispensaries. Although good companies will choose to undergo third-party testing and provide Certificates of Analysis (COA) to prove quality control.
When researching a brand, there should be transparency about their ingredients, sourcing, third-party testing certificates, and quality control process. If they’re not upfront about basic questions, that’s a red flag.
🔥 Hot Take
Both are viable plant medicines that serve different purposes. I look for the most natural and least processed possible, whether it’s from a licensed dispensary or a brand I like online.
I don’t think h*mp should be villainized, and I’m clearly a fan of the ones listed above. I’d rather they exist and are able to safely provide products to people rather than languish. The regulatory snarl around this subject is complicated.
To the woman who checks in with me once a month to find a replacement for Rose Delights Sleep, go online and get it while you can because who knows what the future will bring. You deserve to sleep through the night and feel rested.
Hello from Santa Rosa! An inside look and recap of the first-ever open to the public Hall of Flowers Marketplace and Festival coming up next week for paid subscribers.
Find out if I got to smoke out with Wiz Khalifa, won my game of Exploding Kittens, and how spicy is too spicy with garlic noodles.
XOXO, Christina W.
Thank you sharing! I hate when my favorite products disappear. I personally love Kiva and once I find something I like I stick to it for as long as I can.